book review: "Hidden in Plain Sight" by Ellis Amdur

[Tom]

There are no how-to books I would support.
Good luck
Dan

That's not quite true. Using a pretty waitress to distract his intent, I defeated Dan (conversationally) with several repetitions of the second technique contained on p. 205 of this book:



http://www.amazon.com/reader/0811843513?%5Fencoding=UTF8&ref%5F=sib%5Fbooks%5Fpg&qid=1252611535&query=vodka%20gimlet#reader

If do right, no can defense.

[Bodywork]

Argghhh!
My weaknesses!! Exposed for all the world to see; pretty girls and vodka gimlets!
All this shit started with Ellis and his Mojito's and his persuasive arguments!!
Damn that guy!
And who talked me into meeting with Ellis in the first place?
A girl!!
I am undone

[Interloper]

And who talked me into meeting with Ellis in the first place?
A girl!!

She obviously knew that Ellis is the only guy with the chops and professional training to handle "charging alpha male bulls" so the MA world can finally see and appreciate the value of their knowledge and skills.

[Tom]

¡Ole!

[JAB]

Along the same lines here is a short review (nothing as extensive as Tom's) of Ellis' book "Old School."
http://threeharmonies.blogspot.com/2010 ... eview.html

Cheers
Jake

[WVMark]

I don't believe it's "comprehensive" yet, Tom. I think Peter Goldsbury is going to do at least one more article on Aikiweb reviewing other chapters in Ellis' book. But, I do agree it's well worth reading it and the comments.

EDIT: Hey, Tom, where'd your post go???

EDIT the EDIT: Okay, since Tom and his post disappeared with ninja like stealth and speed (Is Tom a Ninja? If I've just outed him, am I on a hit list now?), here's the link he had posted about Peter Goldbsbury's review of Ellis' book.

http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17313

[Interloper]

I don't believe it's "comprehensive" yet, Tom. I think Peter Goldsbury is going to do at least one more article on Aikiweb reviewing other chapters in Ellis' book. But, I do agree it's well worth reading it and the comments.

EDIT: Hey, Tom, where'd your post go???

EDIT the EDIT: Okay, since Tom and his post disappeared with ninja like stealth and speed (Is Tom a Ninja? If I've just outed him, am I on a hit list now?), here's the link he had posted about Peter Goldbsbury's review of Ellis' book.

http://www.aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17313

Shoot. Whenever Tom "disappears" a post that I didn't get a chance to see, I always think I've missed something juicy and maybe just a bit naughty...

But since there's still a reference to Dr. Goldsbury's excellent review, I'll throw in my exhortation to read it. Not only is it comprehensive in a way most of us would never have the forebearance and focus to accomplish, the additional articles and biblio references he includes are worth it in themselves for anyone who is interested in pursuing the tangential (and related) topics.

[yeniseri]

Thanks guyes for the great review!
As a aikido observer, I see many competencies with like arts such as baquazhang and xingyi.

Thanks Mr Amdur

[Tom]

Peter Goldsbury continues his excellent, even provocative (if you are an MA history nerd), consideration of Ellis Amdur's Hidden in Plain Sight here:

http://aikiweb.com/forums/showthread.php?t=17673.

The dialogue between Goldsworth and Amdur in the comments following Goldsworthy's review are very interesting.

Please note that Professor Goldsbury's entire series of "Transmission, Emulation and Inheritance" columns at the Aikiweb forum are worth reading. The subject matter--the training and teaching of two master martial artists acknowledged near universally to have epitomized very high-level internal skills, and the personal drive and cultural milieu providing the context for that training and teaching--is very relevant to our own aspirations for progressing in skill.

[TaiChiTJ]

Great review! Thanks.