Influences, scholars and good reads.

As time has gone by I have been contacted occasionally by those of you who actually read this blog. I can not take all the credit for some of the ideas I write about. A lot of what I write about is my own experiences in budo. However, some of my posts are also inspired by something I have read. This post is about those influential authors and I hope some of you will delve deeper into what these people have to offer.
Disclaimer: Many of the profiles written below have come from Koryu.com.

Ellis Amdur

Ellis Amdur

I have all three of Ellis' books on the martial arts. I really enjoy his writing style and he has a lot of knowledge to share on koryu bujutsu and aikido. 

Ellis began his martial arts training in 1968. He spent 13 years in Japan, and currently holds instructor licenses in Araki-ryu Torite Kogusoku and Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu. He teaches these two martial traditions in Seattle. He began aikido training in 1973 with Terry Dobson in New York City, and continued his training in Japan with an number of instructors, most notably Yasunori Kuwamori and Yoshio Kuroiwa. He is the founder of Edgework, which offers training and consultation to law enforcement and social service personnel for the de-escalation and management of the behaviour of emotionally disturbed individuals. He has his own budo website you can view here. Many chapters in his books inspired me to write my own feelings and ideas about my martial arts practice. The first piece of writing I read from Ellis Amdur was called "Hiding in the Shadows of the Warrior." and I discovered it as an article on the Koryu.com website (see below). The experience Ellis was writing about was so raw and honest that I was hooked on his writing from then on. I looked everywhere online for his writings and eventually bought his books. My TSYR instructor and another member of my dojo were in Seattle this year for karate training and met Mr Amdur. They said he was a very interesting guy and had a discussion with him on generating internal power.

Meik and Diane Skoss

It was the website Koryu.com that was my gateway into the world of koryu bujutsu. Living in New Zealand means I live in a remote area of the world so the internet is my main source of quick and free information. I stumbled upon this website while trying to decide if training in a classical Japanese martial art was right for me. In fact, many of the authors I write about in this post are mentioned at Koryu.com and that is the first place I read about them. 

Diane Skoss founded Koryu Books in 1996, and is the creator of Koryu.com. Prior to moving to Tokyo in 1987, she earned a Masters of Library Science and an MA in English. She was Managing Editor of Aiki News/Aikido Journal for six years, beginning in 1990, and was in charge of producing most of the books published by Aiki News between 1990 and 1996. In late 1997, she returned to the U.S. where she and her husband (Meik) run a dojo in New Jersey. Her own training began with Tomiki aikido in 1982 at Indiana University, and she now holds a 4th dan, Jiyushinkai, and 4th dan, JAA. Started training in jukendo (bayonet) and tankendo (short sword) in 1990 under All-Japan Jukendo Federation instructor Wakimoto Yasuharu, hanshi 8th dan; she is currently 5th dan in jukendo and 3rd dan in tankendo. Began training in Shinto Muso-ryu jo under menkyo kaiden Phil Relnick in 1991; she is now menkyo kaiden and also holds Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei jodo 3rd dan, and Jodo Federation of the U.S. 2nd dan. Entered the Toda-ha Buko-ryu under Soke Nitta Suzuyo in 1993, and holds the okuden license. Has also trained in atarashii naginata and judo. She is the editor of Koryu Bujutsu, Sword & Spirit, and Keiko Shokon, the "Classical Warrior Traditions of Japan" series (of which I have the first and hope to buy the other two in the future).

Meik Skoss began training in martial arts in 1966 in Los Angeles. In 1973 he went to Japan to continue his training in aikido. After moving to Tokyo in 1976, Skoss started studying Shinto Muso-ryu jo under Shimizu Takaji, Toda-ha Buko-ryu naginatajutsu with Muto Mitsu, and Tendo-ryu naginatajutsu under Sawada Hanae. It was also at this time that he began to work with Donn F. Draeger and accompanied the master hoplologist on several field trips to Southeast Asia. In 1979 he began his study of Yagyu Shinkage-ryu heiho/kenjutsu and Yagyu Seigo-ryu battojutsu under the 21st generation lineal headmaster, Yagyu Nobuharu Toshimichi. He has also practiced judo, t'ai chi ch'uan, Goju-ryu karatedo and is currently training in jukendo and atarashii naginata. An MS in Physical Education, Skoss holds the ranks of 5th dan Zen Nihon Kendo Renmei jodo, 5th dan jukendo, 4th dan aikido (Aikikai), 3rd dan tankendo, 2nd dan atarashii naginata, the okuden mokuroku and shihan licenses in Toda-ha Buko-ryu, and menkyo in Shinto Muso-ryu jojutsu. Fluent in Japanese, and the owner of a substantial library of martial arts books in both English and Japanese, Skoss is one of several hoplologists continuing the work of Donn F. Draeger. He has travelled throughout Japan visiting various koryu and modern budo dojo and collecting information on the Japanese martial arts. Now resident in New Jersey, he and his wife (Diane) run a dojo there. Meik is quite active on certain facebook groups and online forums concerning koryu bujutsu. 

Stanley Pranin

Passed away in 2017 leaving behind his legacy: Aikido Journal (formerly Aiki News). Stanley shattered many myths about Aikido and its history while still being a strong promoter of the martial art. As a beginning Aikido student I would read many articles that Stanley put out, including an interview with Takamura sensei. I immersed myself in the information I found on Stanley's website.

Aikido Journal continues under the supervision of Josh Gold.

Wayne Muromoto

I came across Muromoto's writing much later than the other authors. He is the publisher of Furyu: the Budo Journal (appears to be out of print) and Furyu Online (no longer active). He began his martial arts training some twenty-five years ago, and has spent several years studying Urasenke chanoyu (tea ceremony) and various martial arts in Japan. He is a direct student of Ono Yotaro, headmaster of Bitchu-den Takeuchi-ryu and holds the rank of yondan (shihandai or official representative instructor under the old system) as well as the chu-mokuroku in that school. He is also a student of Ohmori Maso in Muso Jikiden Eishin-ryu iaijutsu. Muromoto has experience in a wide variety of martial arts including judo, aikido, karatedo, t'ai chi ch'uan, jodo, and kendo, and holds the rank of sandan from the Zen Nihon Kendo Federation in iaido. What I value the most is Mr Muromoto's writings on his blog, The Classic Budoka. Last count he had 111 posts up there. I still have much to read of his works. 

Dave Lowry

Dave Lowry has been involved in the study of traditional Japanese martial arts and Ways since 1968 and has written about them for more than twenty years. His articles have appeared in magazines in the US, Japan, and the UK, including work as a long-time columnist for Black Belt magazine. I have several of Dave Lowry's books in digital form. My favourite are his two books on his experiences learning Yagyu Shinkage Ryu, Autumn Lightning and Persimmon Wind. He has many others if these don't suit you. 

Threadgill sensei with my own instructor (Photo taken in New Zealand)

Toby Threadgill

Yes, of course my TSYR sensei is on this list.
In 1985 Toby Threadgill initiated training under Takamura Yukiyoshi, headmaster of Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin ryu. In 1992 he founded the Soryushin Dojo and in 1994 was appointed a branch director of the Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin Kai. In 1999, he was one of three people to be awarded a menkyo kaiden in Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin-ryu. Following the passing of Takamura Yukiyoshi in 2000, he was asked by the other TSYR branch directors to accept the position of administrative head (kaicho) of the Takamura-ha Shindo Yoshin Kai. He currently oversees instruction at the Shindo Yoshin Kai Hombu Dojo in Colorado and maintains a busy international teaching schedule.
Threadgill sensei has written the student handbook for the kai and some of his articles can be found online. For more information go here.

These people have been invaluable in giving me access to Japanese ideas and experiences about budo that I would otherwise not get in English. They are the reason myself and so many others can now enjoy koryu bujutsu in the West.