Dueling with O-SenseiEllis Amdur began his martial arts training in America before spending 13 years in Japan gaining teaching licences in 2 koryu: Araki Ryu and Toda-ha Buko Ryu. In addition he studied other martial arts including aikido at Tokyo Hombu Dojo. He now lives in Seattle.

Amdur stopped training at aikido for a number of years. This book is a collection of his writings [or more accurately his musings] on aikido coloured by his training in the koryu. There is no "thread", except perhaps Amdur's obvious humanity, each chapter stands on its own:

1. Aiki: A State of Union
2. Aiki is not Always Pretty
3. The Use of Weapons in Aikido Training
4. A Conversation with Daito-ryu's Other Child
5. Atemi: Striking to the Heart of the Matter
6. So How Tough do You Want to Be When you Grow Up
7. Toward Simple Morality - Or How Come Something so Fine Turns out So Ugly?
8. Otoko [Manhood]
9. There is no Such Thing as Tenkan...Without Irimi
10. Hiding in the Shadows of the Warrior
11. Life as a Movie
12. Setsuninto - Katsujinken
13. Tenchi: Head in the Clouds and Feet in the Muck
14. Did you ever Meet O Sensei? O Sensei Who?
15. The Knights of the Mouldy Rope
16. Oniisan [Elder Brother]
17. Afterword.

Whether you agree or disagree with Amdur's writings [and you probably will do both], he challenges you to think and in that I believe lays the value of this book. Some of the stories are profound, and some simplistic; he has a tendency to concentrate on negative aspects of martial arts and aikido in particular. In Amdur's words "I have wished to generate controversy, a creative ferment that enrages some and intrigues others" [p 215]. In this he succeeds, although I often find myself nodding in agreement rather than being enraged or intrigued. Amdur, as a person who is on the "edge" of aikido, reminds me of a phrase coined by an English writer - "that it is easier to tell the state of the tide if you are sitting on the beach rather than in a boat in the middle of the ocean".

This book written from the "edge", will give Aikido students plenty to mull over for some time.