The Phenomenologist : Interview with Ellis Amdur

Ellis Amdur is a renowned martial arts researcher, a teacher in two different surviving Koryu and a former Aikido enthusiast.

His books on Aikido and Budo are considered unique in that he uses his own experiences, often hair-raising or outrageous, as illustrations of the principles about which he writes.

His opinions are also backed by solid research and boots-on-the-ground experience. "The Phenomenologist" is no exception to that: read about Amdur's point of view on Aikido and his debt to Daito-ryu, discover the differences between past and present at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo, relive the tragic figure of Yoshio Kuroiwa, see what he has to say about any attempt at politicizing Budo training and much more.

Table of Contents: Discovering Aikido. Father and Son. Aikikai Honbu Dojo Past and Present. Kuroiwa vs Yamaguchi. Ukemi and Misogi. The Dawn of "Harmony light" in Aikido. "Oh, I Don't Need Any Power To Do That!". The Cross-Training Dilemma. Ueshiba Morihei and Daito-ryu. Filming Aiki. Performance Problems. Extending Ki. The "Big Equalizer".