Ellis Amdur

Ellis Amdur first began studying martial arts in 1968, with a ‘backyard’ karate teacher. He then studied several years with a disciple of Alan Lee, one of the first instructors of Chinese martial arts in America to openly teach non-Chinese. In 1973, he began studying aikido, which brought him to Japan in 1976. There, he found Araki-ryū torite-kogusoku as well as Tenshin Bukō-ryū. He discontinued aikidō in 1978 to focus on these two koryu bugei. He has trained in Araki-ryū since 1976, with thirteen years of direct study in Japan.

Araki-ryu Ai-rokushaku-bo: 1977, Meiji Shrine – Amdur and Instructor

Ellis Amdur has cross-trained in a number of other martial systems over the years, most  notably  Kodokan judō at Tokai University’s Fifth Branch High School; muay Thai at Koei Gym in Tokyo, and xingyiquan.  Amdur has most recently been focusing on principle-based training regarding integration of the body so that it is used most efficiently, something he discusses in detail in his book, Hidden in Plain Sight.

Amdur’s work, encapsulated in his writing can be found at EdgworkBooks.

Amdur taught Araki-ryū as an assistant to his own instructor in Japan from the mid-1980’s.  Fully licensed as shihan, he began teaching  upon his return to America in 1988.  He has set up several subsidiary schools in Athens and Thessaloniki, now led by 20th generation shihan, Thanassis Bantios, shihandai, Leonidas Gouliotis & shihandai Giorgos Chronopoulos.


HOKUSEI DOJO, Athens, Greece, 2021