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BOOK:
Dueling with O-sensei: Grappling with the Myth of the Warrior Sage
Far more than just a martial arts book, Dueling with O-sensei has wide applicability in any field where questions of integrity and leadership arise. This series of 16 essays first appeared in Aikido Journal.
If there were an "ordinary martial arts book," this would be its evil twin. Unflinchingly honest, writing from a perspective both authoritative and unique, Amdur explores aspects of budo, its philosophies and dilemmas, its remarkable rewards and yes, its pathologies, in a way no other author has. He does so with humor, compelling creativity, and a wickedly sharp-edged insight that make this book a delight.
— Dave Lowry, author of Persimmon Wind
–Aiki: A State of the Union
–Aiki is Not Always Pretty
–The Use of Weapons in Aikido Training
–A Conversation with Daito-ryu’s Other Child
–Atemi: Striking to the Heart of the Matter
–So How Tough Do You Want to Be When You Grow Up?
–Toward Simple Morality – Or, How Come Something So Fine Sometimes Turns So Ugly?
–Otoko (Manhood)
–There Is No Such Thing as Tenkan…Without Irimi
–Hiding in the Shadows of the Warrior
–Life as a Movie
–Setsuninto – Katsujinken
–Tenchi: Head in the Clouds and Feet in the Muck
–Did You Ever Meet O-sensei? O-sensei Who?
–The Knights of the Mouldy Rope
–Oniisan (Elder Brother)
BudoSeek! Martial Arts Community. This is a very well written and easy to read book that will grab your attention from the very beginning. It will bring forth a variety of emotions from the reader, from outrage to laughter and once you pick it up, it is very hard to put down again. Honest and to the point…this book will make you think and explore your own heart. Full review.
Iaido-L, a web-based discussion group for Japanese Marital Traditions. The anecdotes are well-told and well-placed, and Amdur is so at ease at showing how not "at ease" he has been that the readers can identify and sympathize with his shortcomings…Amdur's variety [of humility] does not grow from easy excuses, and will charm the reader as it provokes thought and laughter. Full review.
AikiWeb. Full review.
The Ernest Becker Foundation Newsletter. Full review.
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Use the secure shopping cart provided above. During checkout, you can specify your payment option, either:
1. Credit Card via PayPal (please note that you'll need to fill out two sets of forms, one for shipping and a second one on Paypal's site for payment; until you've pressed "PAY" at Paypal, your transaction is not completed. (Don't stop too soon!) - or -
2. Check/international postal money order. Checks should be made out to EDGEWORK.
Add $5.00 shipping for the 1st copy to U.S. and Canada, plus $1.50 for each additional copy sent to U.S. and Canada. Add $12.50 shipping to other countries, plus $3.75 other countries)
DELIVERY: 2 - 4 WEEKS
Dueling with O-sensei can also be purchased at Koryu.com along with a number of the finest books published on Japanese martial traditions.
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BOOK:
Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions
Includes photographs of practitioners of Japanese Martial Traditions
There are few non-Japanese exponents/masters of Koryu who are capable of commenting on these traditions and their arts and weapons at the same level of complexity and depth as Ellis Amdur. I am drawn more and more to the conclusion that there are fewer still who demand the same respect for their passionate objectivism.
If you profess to practice a Koryu, are a practitioner of naginata in any of its forms, practice jodo, are a female martial artist or simply desire an education in the wonders and complexities of the classical martial traditions of Japan then this book should be on your bookshelf.
— From a review in Kendo World
Koryu
–Tenshin Shoden Katori Shinto Ryu
–Maniwa Nen Ryu
–Higo Ko Ryu
–Weapons
Japanese Ancient Weapons
–The History of the Naginata
–Chigiriki -The Japanese Flail
–Kusarigama - Chain-and-Sickle
History and Traditions
–Women Warriors of Japan
–The Origins of the Araki Ryu
–Blood Vows in Japanese Martial Traditions
BudoSeek! Martial Arts Community. In a series of essays, this book has the feel of an “insider” that is telling you the little known secrets of the classical Japanese martial arts. And indeed it is! Amdur has teaching licenses in two Koryu traditions, Araki Ryu and Toda-ha Buko Ryu. So he is uniquely qualified in this respect. Also a scholar, it is apparent from the very first chapter that he has extensively researched the topics covered in this book, and is unafraid to separate the facts from the myth. Full review.
Aikido Journal. Full review.
Electronic Journal of Martial Arts and Sciences. Full review.
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Use the secure shopping cart provided above. During checkout, you can specify your payment option, either:
1. Credit Card via PayPal (please note that you'll need to fill out two sets of forms, one for shipping and a second one on Paypal's site for payment; until you've pressed "PAY" at Paypal, your transaction is not completed. (Don't stop too soon!) - or -
2. Check/international postal money order. Checks should be made out to EDGEWORK.
Add $5.00 shipping for the 1st copy to U.S. and Canada, plus $1.50 for each additional copy sent to U.S. and Canada. Add $12.50 shipping to other countries, plus $3.75 other countries)
DELIVERY: 2 - 4 WEEKS
Old School can also be purchased at Koryu.com along with a number of the finest books published on Japanese martial traditions.
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DVD:
UKEMI from the Ground Up
This DVD offers a step-by-step procedure to learn and/or instruct safe aikido ukemi. Whether entirely new to the art, or desiring to retool one’s skills, the methods here will enable any reasonably fit practitioner to be able to take falls in aikido (and other similar arms-length grappling systems) safely. The methods here are not merely to assist in learning how to collude with the person executing the technique these methods enable one to be prepared and able to gracefully manage both the malevolent and the inept as well as skilled practitioner executing ordinary technique.
Ellis Amdur's elegant, no-nonsense approach to ukemi training has been a huge positive for my aikido classes in NJIT's Phys Ed Department. I've found that new students taught using this method are typically able to safely execute both basic and advanced ukemi, including breakfalls, within one or two classes, rather than weeks, months, or years.
— Fred Little, Aikido Instructor
Department of Physical Education
New Jersey Institute of Technology
If I had the benefit of this method of training 20 or 30 years ago, I believe that I would not have incurred most of the injuries I’ve gotten taking ukemi.
— Dennis Hooker, 6th Dan
Director of the Shindai Dojo
Orlando Florida
E-Budo.com. Amdur is a highly qualified, senior instructor in classical Japanese martial arts, and has ample experience and insights to the subject to produce such materials publicly. You'll be in good hands with this DVD. Full review.
BudoSeek. The verdict on Ukemi: From The Ground Up is a definite “must have” for instructors and students of arts that include throwing techniques…It will give you reason to reevaluate why you teach and do things the way you do and maybe even adapt some of the methods in this video to your own curriculum. I know it has in my case, and has given me some ways to help improve how I teach ukemi in my dojo. Full review.
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Use the secure shopping cart provided above. During checkout, you can specify your payment option, either:
1. Credit Card via PayPal (please note that you'll need to fill out two sets of forms, one for shipping and a second one on Paypal's site for payment; until you've pressed "PAY" at Paypal, your transaction is not completed. (Don't stop too soon!) - or -
2. Check/international postal money order. Checks should be made out to EDGEWORK.
Add $5.00 shipping for the 1st copy to U.S. and Canada, plus $1.50 for each additional copy sent to U.S. and Canada. Add $12.50 shipping to other countries, plus $3.75 other countries)
DELIVERY: 2 - 4 WEEKS
*This DVD is a DVD-R and its format is NTSC. Please check that your system is compatible before ordering. Delivery will take 2-4 weeks.
Inquiries regarding bulk or wholesale orders should be directed to Ellis Amdur.
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Dueling with O-sensei…is filled with wit and humor, every drop of sweat and blood balanced by bouts of mirth. |
—Kevin Tsai,
on web-based “Iaido-L”
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