Ellis Amdur - Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions, Expanded Edition

First Edition:

Copyright 2002 by Ellis Amdur

All rights reserved. Published August 2002.

Edgework Books

www.edgework.info

www.arakiryu.org

www.todahabukoryu.org

Second Edition

Copyright 2013 by Ellis Amdur

All rights reserved.

Freelance Academy Press, Inc, Wheaton, IL 60189

www.freelanceacademypress.com

No part of this book may be reproduced or used in any form or by any means without prior written permission of Freelance Academy Press, Inc.. Exceptions exclusively include brief passages for reviews or scholarly works.

First Edition cover and interior design by Thomas J. Spiegelberg

Expanded Edition cover and interior design by Rebecca A. Smith

Printed in the United States of America

by Publishers Graphics

21 20 19 18 17 16 14 13 12 1 2 3 4 5

ISBN: 978-1-937439-13-2

Library of Congress Control Number: 2014951623

My thanks to the many instructors I have described in this book, most notably Iizasa Shuri no Suke Yasusada and Otake Risuke of the Tenshinsh-den Katori Shint-ry, Higuchi Sadahiro of the Maniwa Nen-ry, Nitta Suzuyo of the Toda-ha Buk-ry, Kin Shizue of the Higo Ko-ry, Toya Akiko and Higashi Tomoko of the Jikishinkage-ry, Sakurada Tomi of the Suzuka-ry, Mitamura Takeko and Abe Toyoko of the Tend-ry, and Tobin Threadgill of the Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin-ry. Over the years, I have been informed that some of these instructors have passed on, and I pray that their passage beyond continues with as much vibrant courage and warmth as they showed in their dealings with me.

For assistance with research: Kashima Susumu of the Tokyo National Museum, the members of the Tokyo Central Library, Yamazaki Yukio of the Kokend (an antique crafts and weapons shop), the Nippon Budokan, the Otsuka Kogeisha Publishing Company, Laszlo Abel

Also:

To Kini Collins, with whom the initial drafts of many of these essays were written. My first and very fierce editor and companion on a number of road trips in the 1980s to observe many of the ry described here

To Meik Skoss, for the use of his personal library and for his invaluable advice on several chapters

To Kurt Schmucker, for his comments on my description of atarashi naginata

To Wayne Muromoto, editor of Fury, for publishing several of these chapters in original essay form, and also for vital information on Takenouchi-ry

To Michael DeMarco, editor of the Journal of Asian Martial Arts, for publishing several of these chapters in original essay form, and also for his kind permission to use several illustrations

To Phil Relnick, Kentaro Relnick, Robert Galeone, Kent Sorensen, and the members of the Noda-ha Katori Shint-ry for their separate readings and critiques of Tenshinsh-den Katori Shint-ry

To Phil Relnick, Meik Skoss and Rick Polland, for discussions and assistance regarding Isshin-ry

To William Jensen and Michael Wert for their reading and critique of Maniwa Nen-ry; as well as invaluable information on Edo-era swordsmanship

To Tobin Threadgill, for his reading and critique of Takamura-ha Shind Yoshin-ry: A Maze of Willows

To Peter Goldsbury, for his reading and critique of Ancient Weapons: A Prologue to the Development of Japanese Weapons of the Classical Era

To William Bodiford, for his reading of several essays that, due to his acerbic criticism, will not again see the light of day

To Thomas Spiegelberg, for his excellent work in editing and layout in the original edition

To Dave Lowry, Liam Keeley, Larry Bieri and for their critical reading of the first version of this manuscript in its final stages

To Dave Hall and Michael Wert for their critical reading of this, the second version of this book, in its final stages

To Guy Le Sieur for his translation of the French version of the first edition of this book, which included a very extensive glossary, the basis of the one in this book, and Magali Messac for translating this glossary

To other martial art practitioners, researchers and historians who, for various reasons, requested that I do not cite their assistance publicly. Nonetheless, their help has been invaluable. Some of the most important information in this text came from such quiet sources.

To Gregory Mele, practitioner of one of the rare European martial systems with an unbroken lineagemy editor and publisher. The work we have done together here has given me a rare opportunity to have a dialogue with a practitioner of a kind of kory from the other side of the world.

Above all, to the members of Araki-ry and Toda-ha Buk-ry, both teachers and studentswhatever meager skill and knowledge I may possess is due to them.

Despite the weight of such debts of friendship and kind assistance, I take full responsibility alone for anything written here in hopes that it will be true to the spirit of those who gave me such help.

I have used photographic images and artwork from a variety of sources. Those not cited are my own.

All drawings were done by Eric Johnson.

To my father, Sidney Allen Amdur, once Special Agent of the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Special Intelligence Services, twice lawyer, splendid husband and fatheralways Old School.

To my sons, Kai Shamir Amdur and Akiva Makito Amdur. I hope I have left enough footprints so that you will find what you need if you ever need to retrace your path.

Published by Edgework

www.edgework.info

EVERYTHING ON THE LINE

Calming and De-escalation of Aggressive and Mentally Ill Individuals
on the Phone; A Comprehensive Guidebook for Emergency Dispatch
(9-1-1) Centers -Ellis Amdur

FROM CHAOS TO COMPLIANCE

Communication, Control, and De-escalation of Mentally Ill, Emotionally
Disturbed and Aggressive Offenders; A Comprehensive Guidebook for
Parole and Probation Officers - Ellis Amdur & Alan Pelton

GRACE UNDER FIRE

Skills to Calm and De-escalate Aggressive and Mentally Ill Individuals
in Outpatient Settings: 2nd Edition; A Comprehensive Guidebook
for Health and Social Services Agencies, and Individual Practitioners

- Ellis Amdur

GUARDING THE GATES

Calming, Control and De-escalation of Mentally Ill, Emotionally
Disturbed and Aggressive Individuals; A Comprehensive Guidebook
for Security Guards - Ellis Amdur & William Cooper

IN THE EYE OF THE HURRICANE

Skills to Calm and De-escalate Aggressive and Mentally Ill Family
Members: 2nd Edition - Ellis Amdur

SAFE BEHIND BARS

Communication, Control, and De-escalation of Mentally Ill and
Aggressive Inmates; A Comprehensive Guidebook for Correctional
Officers in Jail Settings - Ellis Amdur, Michael Blake & Chris De Villeneuve

SAFE HAVEN

Skills to Calm and De-escalate Aggressive and Mentally Ill Individuals:
2nd Edition; A Comprehensive Guidebook for Personnel Working in
Hospital and Residential Settings - Ellis Amdur

SAFETY AT WORK

Skills to Calm and De-escalate Aggressive and Mentally Ill Individuals;
A Comprehensive Guidebook for Corporate Security Managers,
Human Resources Staff, Loss Prevention Specialists, Executive
Protection, and Others Involved in Threat Management Professions

-Ellis Amdur & William Cooper

THE THIN BLUE LIFELINE

Verbal De-escalation of Mentally Ill and Emotionally Disturbed