Seminar with Ellis Amdur, 18 & 19 October 2025 in London

I have known Ellis a long time and am very happy to be able to finally welcome him to London to teach a seminar!

Ellis is widely known to the Budo and Aikido community as a prominent and prolific writer (as well as practitioner). His books include:

• Dueling with O-Sensei
• Hidden in Plain Sight
• Old School: Essays on Japanese Martial Traditions
• The Phenomenologist: Interview with Ellis Amdur

and his online writing, such as the kick starting and contributing to the AikiWeb “It Had to be Felt” columns - Full list.

His KogenBudo web site is required reading for serious students of Budo with some wide ranging articles including many guests.

His primary area of study has been koryu (classical Japanese martial traditions), specifically the Araki-ryū torite- kogusoku and the Tenshin Bukō-ryū, with thrteen years of direct study in Japan from 1976. He is shihan (full instructor) in both these arts, one of only a few non-Japanese to attain teaching licenses in any koryu.

He trained in aikido with Terry Dobson, Yoshio Kuroiwa and Yasunori Kuwamori (see interviews below), and to this day, works with various aikido dojos, offering his unique take on the art, under the rubric of Taikyoku Aikido. See also interviews with Ellis:

• Interview with Guillaume Erard
• Interview with the Freelancer

The focus of the seminar will be Tenzan Heihō

Costs

18 & 19 October 2025 (Sat 10-1pm, 3-5pm, Sun 10-1pm, 2-4pm)

Location: Alder Road, East Sheen (London SW14, near Mortlake Station)

Payments in advance: £80 for the weekend, £50 per day.

To reserve your place email Robert Cowham: robert@vaccaperna.co.uk (please put Ellis Amdur in subject line!)

Other information

Please bring bokken and jo, and a book for Ellis to sign!