The Phenomenologist

Ellis Amdur is a renowned martial arts researcher, a teacher in two different surviving Koryū and a former Aikidō enthusiast. His books on Aikidō and Budō 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 Aikidō and his debt to Daitō-ryū, 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 Budō training and much more. Table of Contents: Discovering Aikidō. Father and Son. Aikikai Honbu Dojo Past and Present. Kuroiwa vs Yamaguchi. Ukemi and Misogi. The Dawn of "Harmony light" in Aikidō. "Oh, I Don't Need Any Power To Do That!". The Cross-Training Dilemma. Ueshiba Morihei and Daitō-ryū. Filming Aiki. Performance Problems. Extending Ki. The "Big Equalizer".