We are indeed fortunate that such a figure as Amdur is willing to dissect both himself and the arts he studies for public delectation.
—Review in Kendo World
Articles By Ellis Amdur
It Aint Necessarily So: Banquo’s Ghost
Here I discuss what for many might seem to a trivial thing–whether a photograph of several prominent martial artists together really proves that one was the student of the other. Not trivial to the legacy of both men–particularly Shioda Gozo, who was claimed to be the student of Horikawa Kodo, something that would contradict his own biography.
It Aint Necessarily So: Rendez-vous with Adventure
In this essay, I question (through first hand interviews of witnesses) several apocryphal tales of superhuman power that have been taken as gospel within the modern aikido world.
It Aint Necessarily So: Where’s My Money!!!???
I revisit a ‘standard myth’ that Takeda Sokaku charged Ueshiba Morihei an outrageous fee per student, putting him in an unpayable debt. But things are not always what they seem
Written Interviews Of Ellis Amdur
Aikido Journal 2018: Three Part Interview
The Rise of Traditional Japanese Martial Arts
The Role of Martial Arts in Modern Society
The titles speak for themselves. “Ellis sat down with Aikido Journal to discuss the evolution of Japanese martial arts, their role in the present and future, and his insights into aikido’s past.” A three-part interview (the last part to be released in mid-April).
ASK ME ANYTHING – A Reddit entitled I am Ellis Amdur, author of The Girl with the Face of the Moon, Dueling with O-sensei – and a lot more books
Being Old School: An Interview with Ellis Amdur on the Classical Martial Arts of Japan
At The Freelancer blog: Ellis Amdur, author of Old School, discusses common misunderstandings about koryū, challenges in maintaining and transmitting archaic martial traditions in the modern world, and even a few thoughts about the growing movement in redeveloping Historical European Martial Arts (HEMA) from the perspective of an inheritor of two living martial traditions.
Beneath the Eyes of Unseeing Masters: An Interview with Ellis Amdur on Aikido Myths and Masters
There is perhaps no popular martial art more susceptible to the “wise master” and abusive teacher complex than Aikido, an elegant throwing art whose founder, Ueshibal Morihei, was ascribed nearly supernatural ability, was a practitioner of an obscure, highly mystical religion, and whose students seemed to be particularly adept at factional in-fighting while practicing the Art of Harmony. Therefore, there is no one better to talk about the beauty and beasts of the Aikido world than Ellis Amdur. Iconoclastic, rebellious, yet fiercely holding to some of the most traditional values of Japanese martial culture, Ellis Amdur brings something new to martial arts writing – a startling honesty about the flaws, not only within martial arts culture, but also within its practitioners, often using himself as an exemplar of the latter.
De-escalation Tactics: Zen and the Art of Tactical Communication
Conflict resolution techniques are best utilized before the aggressor becomes violent. Often, when employed early enough, verbal de-escalation tactics can help calm the situation before it escalates into a physical confrontation. But there is finesse involved in successful de-escalation, and we spoke with Ellis Amdur about this unique art.
Exploring Koryū With Ellis Amdur
A dialogue with Ashe Higgs of I Liq Chuan, exploring my training history within koryū, as well as its overlap with methods of internal strength training and profession-specific training, namely that appropriate for law enforcement
Interview with Guillaume Erard: (Part 1) – Martial Journey from Aikido to Koryu & (Part 2) – The De-escalation of Violence and the Relevance of Budo
Part 1 is a wide-ranging interview on the writing and practice of martial arts, with discussions on the nature of aggression and what value, if any, martial arts training can provide beyond skill in fighting or life-and-death combat. Part 2 focuses on the role of martial arts practice in training to actually de-escalate or stop violence in the real world.
Podcasts With Ellis Amdur
Modern Aikidoist Podcast with Tristan Chermack
Aikido’s History and Background: An Interview with Tristan Chermack
A general overview of the martial arts that Takeda Sokaku and Ueshiba Morihei are known to have actually studied. With numerous tangents on a variety of topics, that if I wasn’t on heavy medication after an operation, I probably wouldn’t have taken – but it all worked out.
Conversation with Bruce Bookman and Ellis Amdur
A one and one-half hour long podcast with Bruce Bookman, my collaborator and training brother, on our innovative work developing staff and sword forms with martial virtue that are suitable for aikido training, and discussing the larger issues of aikido and any martial art regarding self-defense, combative efficacy, and what it means to attempt to preserve a tradition while extending it’s boundaries. Were I to sum up our approaches, were aikido a house, Bruce strives to add extensions to the house: a new atrium, a gazebo in the garden, a deck and a new bedroom, while preserving both the architectural integrity and the foundation of the home. I try to preserve the house exactly as I found it – while attempting to change the wiring system and adding a new heating system while I’m at it.
Did Aikido Come From the Battlefield?: An Interview with Tristan Chermack
It is often taught that Aikido’s heritage was the ancient Japanese battlefield, where its techniques were born. Is this true? This episode is a conversation which is a follow up to a previous episode (Episode 167 – see above). This offers an overview of Japanese combative history, and explains how modern arts such as Daito-ryu and aikido developed from these old warfare arts, but are definitely not battlefield arts themselves.
Ellis Amdur joins the podcast to discuss his unique approach to verbal de-escalation, conflict resolution, and more. Ellis is a crisis intervention specialist with more than 50 years of traditional Japanese martial arts experience. He has published various books on martial arts, crisis intervention, hostage negotiation, and fiction – including Words of Power: A Guide for Ordinary People to Calm and De-Escalate Aggressive Individuals. With a background in karate, aikido, judo, Muay Thai, and xingyiquan, Ellis is an expert in the study of ‘internal strength’ paradigms. Using his diverse knowledge of martial arts, he has provided training for competitive grappling practitioners and law enforcement professionals alike. Are there proven strategies to de-escalate aggressive anger? How can we use verbal control tactics to manage the behaviors of enraged people? Tune in now to hear Ellis’s unique perspective on this complex topic… In this episode, we cover: 1. How martial arts play into de-escalation and handling aggressive people. 2. Proven methods to deal with someone who is an obvious aggressor. 3. The ways that most aggression manifests itself. 4. The difference between angry and enraged people.
Is Aikido A Defensive Art?” An Interview with Tristan Chermack
Discusses the ramifications of the concept of budo as fundamentally defensive, countering attacks, with much discourse about aikido being the exemplar of that perspective. As usual, the interview ranges in history, anecdotes, and includes the felicitous idea that koryu were essentially the Boy Scouts of the era (at one point, 50% of American Spec Ops personnel had been through boy scouts, and that childhood training prepared them to be self-sufficient and able to function in small units for specific missions).
A wide-ranging discussion on etiquette and ritual within martial arts. Among the high-points is the emphasis that etiquette in its pure form enables armed individuals to interact in predictable ways – and in a larger sense, was a training methodology to engrain behavior appropriate to social roles. We also talk about how etiquette can become formalized to the level of fetishization – and how, when one imports a cultural activity into another culture, how this can go awry.
A Variety of Podcasts With a Variety of Interviewers
AIKI LIVE MEET – Daniel Messisco and Ellis Amdur (Part 1) & (Part 2)
Dan and I take on a number of questions at random. We have very different approaches to our training – both the overlaps and the divergences of opinion were fascinating. I’ve heard about Daniel Messisco for years, and what a wonderful way to meet a fine, thoughtful man.
Budo no Kuni (with Grigoris Miliaresis)
“Budo no Kuni” (武道の国) or “Land of Martial Arts” is a series of videos from BAB Japan, “Hiden” Magazine and BudoJapan.com website. In this series, “Hiden” writer Grigoris A. Miliaresis interviews non-Japanese who have lived/are still living in Japan and have gained unique insights in its martial culture.
In this first episode of the series, Grigoris interviews Ellis Amdur, licensed instructor in two classic martial traditions (Araki-ryu Torite Kogusoku and Toda-ha Buko-ryu), internationally acclaimed researcher and author of 20 books on psychology and the martial arts. Here is a link to a YouTube page with the same interview.
Ellis shares his extensive experience and deep understanding of traditional Japanese martial arts, emphasizing the real-world application and historical significance of these ancient practices. Starting his journey with backyard karate and moving through Aikido to the rigorous practices of Araki-ryū and Tenshin-Bukō-ryū, Ellis’s narrative is a fascinating exploration of martial arts culture. Discover how Ellis integrates these traditional arts with modern training techniques, addressing both the spiritual and practical aspects of martial arts. His discussion spans the necessity of specific martial arts techniques for real-world scenarios, such as law enforcement, reflecting on how traditional methods can inform contemporary practices.
Managing Violence Podcast (with Joe Saunders)
An interview which concerns koryu, the integration of principles derived from koryu into crisis intervention and a brief over-view of my schema regarding inter-personal aggression.
Martial Thoughts Podcast – Lost Boy (with Jarredd Wilson)
2021 interview concerning both my martial arts history and my novel, Lost Boy
O-sensei the Shaman, Ueshiba the Man: Part 1 & O-sensei the Shaman, Ueshiba the Man: Part 2
This two-part podcast focuses on the rather confusing question of Ueshiba Morihei as a ‘spiritual’ being. I strive to do justice to the complex nature of this man, who was simultaneously, a seeker after the unknown, a supporter of far right-wing Japanese nationalism, and a creator of an innovative form of martial arts practice that has the potential to truly assist people in defending themselves in the context of living in 21st century civil society, governed, for the most part, by the rule of law.
Rollicking Interview with Ellis Amdur on HIYAA Martial Arts
The interview, well over an hour in length, starts about 20 minutes into this podcast. Talk about koryu, aikido, internal training, and some great stories.
The Martial Arts Podcast: #4 (with Mark Jacobs)
In this episode of The Martial Podcast, host Mark Jacobs talks where he and Ellis Amdur talk about the ancient martial arts of Japan, Ellis’s work in crisis intervention with a particular focus on how to remain calm in a crisis situation (zanshin, kiaijutsu, fudōshin).
A discussion about what it is like to be older and still be practicing in the martial arts. Ellis Amdur, Maija Soderholm, and Mike Panian dip our toes into what lifelong practice in the martial arts is like, relationships with younger practitioners, martial traditions that include life stages and those that do not, the effects of health challenges on practice and the Yoda Effect!
The Phenomenologist – Interview with Ellis Amdur (with Simone Chierchini)
An interview that mostly focuses on aikido, and in particular, the human aspect of teachers and organizations. This interview has now been published as a book.
The “Shu-Ha-Ri” Dialogues (with Miles Kessler)
A dialogue between Ellis Amdur & Miles Kessler (Aikido, Buddhist Meditation, Series Host) discussing a particular classical way of mapping the learning process within traditional Japanese arts.
Trauma. Recovery. Revenge? Managing Violence Podcast (with Joe Saunders)
This podcast centers around themes in my novel, Lost Boy. We discuss moral injury–how violence, even for the ‘best’ of intentions or causes, can cause more harm, and whether forgiveness is always a necessity for the recovery of trauma or if there are other ways to fully heal
Whistlekick: Martial Arts Radio (with Jaredd Wilson)
An extensive interview about the release of my book, Little Bird & The Tiger, as well as a wide-ranging discussion regarding traditional martial arts in Japanese history, particularly such weapons as the naginata and the kusarigama, as well as the role of women in Japanese martial culture.
Articles on Martial Arts Either About My Work or Using My Work as a Primary Reference.
A Review of Old School 2nd Expanded Edition
From the Review: “That said, though, this book, Old School, is one of the best books on the traditions of martial arts — and how time changes, erodes, and enhances them — ever written. In fact, you might even say it stands alone as an attempt to bring modern scholarship and even philosophy (like Husserl’s notions of the study of history) to bear on the heavily mythologized, incredibly nuanced, hothouse world of Japanese combat arts and their evolution—or devolution—into stylized sport fencing and manicured kata—and even that statement is a distortion of the complex arguments in the book.
Atemi: Conversation with Robert Van Valkenburgh – Part 1
Atemi: Conversation with Robert Van Valkenburgh – Part 2
Robert Van Valkenburgh is a student of Budd Yuhasz, a former student and training brother of mine. Budd has been researching internal strength training methods as they are applied to grappling (be it body-to-body and and arms length). This extended podcast makes extensive reference to my work through my concept of atemi not as ‘hitting a person’s body;’ rather it is developing a ‘hitting body.’
NAMT 2013 Araki-ryu & Buko-ryu
An informed critique of two embu in Paris, France, 2013. From the essay: “I really enjoyed both of them, even though they typified very different expressions of martial arts. Buko-ryu is elegant, powerful, and austere while Araki-ryu is ferocious to the point of being at times disturbing to watch. The closest thing I can relate is the image I have in my mind recently of a pedestrian being hit by a car. You cannot deny the power involved and you wish such a thing never happen upon anyone’s path.”
The Innovators: Five People Who Are Changing The Face Of Martial Arts
Brief article concerning people who have taken new roads in martial arts: John Danaher, Craig Douglas, Anatoly Lomachenko, Greg Thompson, and myself.
The Origin and Practice of Solo Training in Aikido
by Guillaume Erard
Much of this article involves a dialogue between Erard and myself concerning “Hidden in Plain Sight” training within both koryu and aikido