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OUR PUBLICATIONS

The American Martial Arts Institute adheres to the traditional philosophy of the martial arts. Part of this philosophy is the belief that martial artists have a responsibility to better their communities and the world by serving as leaders and positive role models. It has been said that the martial arts are 90% mental. We believe that much of the strength this school is derived from its many adult black belt instructors who believe in the importance of education and making a positive difference in the world. In keeping with this philosophy many of our instructors, under Grandmaster Crandall's direction, have authored books, produced instructional DVDs, created professional websites, assisted in the Public Service Announcements and television programs, authored magazine articles, and worked diligently to document and share their knowledge and experiences for the benefit of others. We are proud of our core of instructors who actively teach the traditional martial arts to the next generations so it may be perpetuated just as they received it, and we are proud of the instructors who have chosen to become involved outside of their community by publishing and sharing their skills with the world. Below are some of the publications produced by American Martial Arts Institute Instructors.

OUR BOOKS

American Martial Arts Institute Guidebook
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The American Martial Arts Institute is much more than a martial arts school.  It is an umbrella school that houses four distinct styles of traditional martial arts.  This book is a guide to the American Martial Arts Institute and the four distinct styles.   It is a guide for it helps you understand the styles, classes and programs without going into too much detail.  Each distinct style has its own complete textbook.  If you are interested in training it is that textbook for that style that will make a difference in your understanding of that particular art.

American Eagle Style Instructional Textbook

In 1996, the American Martial Arts Institute became one of the only schools in the world to document their style in an instructional textbook. The second edition, released in 2002, was 324 pages in length, hardcover, and offers detailed information about the style and its techniques. The 3rd, and final, edition of the textbook was released by Grandmaster Crandall in 2012 and is 424 pages in length.

Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall
Iaido and Batto-do Style Textbook
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This book documents the Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall Iaido style. It was authored by KyoshiNathan Morris and coauthored by Headmaster Clifford Crandall, Jr.

American Eagle Cane Style Instructional Textbook
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This 280-page instructional textbook documents much of the American Eagle Cane Style and includes 75 self-defense techniques in step-by-step photos, 12 traditional kata, 22 basic forms, stances, cane history, philosophy, 3-point sparring, and much more.  Written by founders and Master Instructors: Grandmaster Clifford Crandall, Master Eric Stalloch, and Master Lynn Jessee.

Kendo for Fun: Americanized Eagle Kendo
Informational Handbook
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This informational handbook was first produced and released by Grandmaster Clifford Crandall and Kyoshi Nicholas Chuff as a a guide for students of the Americanized Eagle Kendo style at the American Martial Arts Institute. It details equipment, stretching, class procedures, body postures, shiai processes, kumi tachi, and the kata Falcon's stoop. 

Reflections of a Grandmaster
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Be Safe Physically and Mentally with the Crandall System
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This book documents the four levels of the Crandall System and was written to heighten the awareness of people of all ages. It is 160 pages in length and contains dozens of self-defense techniques that are both described in text and complimented by step-by-step photographs. Many of these techniques are also required as part of American Eagle Style training at colored belt and black belt levels.

Women's Self-Defense in a Changing World
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Moving Beyond Disabilities
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The Tiger Lily and Julia Adventure Series:
Book 1: Down Block for Defense
Book 2: Center Kick for Confidence
Book 3: High Blocks for Hazards
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This children's book series was written by Master Instructor Amanda Crandall and illustrated by Instructor Sabrina Crandall. It follows a young girl named Julia as trains in traditional martial art style and her pet cat, Tiger Lily, who follows her, learning valuable life lessons along the way.  Written for preschool aged children, the books are often also used in the American Martial Arts Institute's Superkick class for ages 3-5 to assist in teaching topics such as stranger awareness, confidence, and being aware of your surroundings.  

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In Book 1 Tiger Lily learns how to confront a bully. ​In Book 2 Tiger Lily must find her confidence and overcome obstacles in order to see Julia's flute solo.  â€‹In Book 3 Tiger Lily learns that personal safety is about being aware of your surroundings.

American Martial Arts Institute: American Eagle Style
Superkick Workbook 
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This workbook and informational guide for students and parents is also used by 3, 4 and 5 year olds in the Superkick program. It is a 122-page educational book that features information about American Eagle Style, safety and awareness information, and fundamental physical skills. Includes mazes, coloring, diagrams and other activities.

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OUT OF PRINT. Click Read More for more information about what has replaced it for current use.

OUR VIDEOS

American Eagle Style Self-Defense, Volume 1
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This instructional DVD was co-produced by Master Instructor Dr. Nicholas Chuff and Grandmaster Crandall. It contains nine fundamental takedowns (from grabs, punches, and kicks), five come-along techniques with control stages, several gun and knife techniques, and other important information regarding American Eagle Style. 

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Many of these techniques are also documented in the American Eagle Style Instructional Textbook; however, this video provides additional details and allows the viewer to see the techniques executed in motion, in flow, and with a partner. 

American Eagle Style Self-Defense, Volume 1
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Documentation can serve an important role in assisting qualified instructors in maintaining the consistency and high standards of a traditional style, but books and videos do not teach.  With that concept in mind, it is important to note that this is not an instructional DVD; instead, it is a refresher, a reference for instructors and students of the American Eagle Style who have already been taught the katas presented on this video.  This video presents ten different tools with thirteen different katas, but our school does more; these are only the katas most often taught to students.  The extension tools include: tonfa, sai, kama, bo, eku, sword, cane, naginata, escrima, and the half-moon staff.

Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall 
Iaido and Batto-do Informational DVD:
Foot Stances, Body Postures, and Kumi Tachi
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This 35 minute DVD is intended for Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall style students as a resource to assist them in better understanding the primary foot stances, body postures, and kumi tachi taught in class.  The video includes some footage shot in Kobe, Japan in 2002 of the late Headmaster Tsuneyoshi Matsuno demonstrating the kumi tachi: kubi and te kubi. Some of the body postures (kamae) include mae no kamae, hi no kama, waka no kamae, and others.

Kumitachi include kubi, te kubi, dotai, atama, and ashi atama. The video was instructed by Headmaster Clifford Crandall with assistance from his designated successor to this 300-year-old iaido tradition, Kyoshi Nathan Morris.

Self-Defense and Awareness in a Changing World
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This two-hour instructional DVD was produced and instructed by Master Gisella Stalloch and Grandmaster Clifford Crandall. It contains step-step instruction for a variety of assault scenarios and is appropriate for all levels of training. 

his DVD includes scenarios or grabs (wrist, arm, bear hug, choke holds, throat grabs, hair grabs from behind and front, and several others), punches, kicks, knife assaults, hand gun assaults, being restrained on the floor, and rifle assaults.

In addition, Master Gisella Stalloch and Grandmaster Crandall produced a webpage with free self-defense resources, including 50% of this DVD's techniques and videos.

TELEVISION

In 1987, Grandmaster Crandall launched the Martial Arts Today Show (see below). This began an ongoing involvement for the American Martial Arts Institute with television and later online video resources, including full television shows. Many are archived on YouTube an this website. Read more below.

WEBSITES

ARTICLES

OUT OF PRINT

The Tonfa: An Extension of the Mind and Body - VHS
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OUT OF PRINT.

In 1984, Grandmaster Crandall had the opportunity to train in Japan under Master Seikichi Toguchi where he studied tonfa. When he returned from training in Japan he retired from the State of New York educational system where he had been a Superintendent of Schools, to teach martial arts full time. In 1985, he released The Tonfa: An Extension of the Mind and Body on BETA and VHS, which was distributed by Century Martial Arts and other suppliers. This video documented the single tonfa kata, Yom Chi, developed by Grandmaster Crandall. This video was unique a few ways for time. First, tonfa forms are traditionally executed using a pair of tonfa, and Yom Chi is a single-tonfa form. This made it an ideal training format for law enforcement agencies using the PR-24. Click Read More.

Women's Self-Defense, Volume 1 (VHS)
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OUT OF PRINT. In 1988, Tonfa Master Enterprises released Women’s Self-Defense, Volume 1. Produced by Grandmaster Crandall and co-instructed with Jill Crandall, this one-hour VHS was a pioneer in self-defense for women. One of the unique features was its emphasis on awareness and avoidance with segments depicting common set-ups and scams. This was followed by self-defense techniques for a variety of assault scenarios. This VHS went out of production with the popularity of the DVD format in the late 1990’s, but it paved the way for later publications which expanded upon the foundation it laid. This included the women’s self-defense chapter in Be Safe Physically and Mentally with Crandall System. This, in turn, was further expanded into the full-length book Women’s Self-Defense and Awareness in a Changing World and in the two-hour instructional DVD titled Self-Defense Techniques and Awareness in a Changing World.

The Passing of the Sword (VHS)
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OUT OF PRINT.

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In 2002, Headmaster Tsuneyoshi Matsuno recognized his long-time iaido student Clifford C. Crandall, Jr. as his successor to Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno and as the Headmaster of Takenouchi-Hangan-Ryu-Matsuno-Crandall in a ceremony in Akashi, Japan. Headmaster Matsuno passed away in 2005, but had chosen to retire from iaido students. Headmaster Crandall’s certificate of position and succession hangs in the main office training hall of the American Martial Arts Institute. In addition to this historic ceremony, Grandmaster Crandall led a group of iaido students to train in Japan with Headmaster Matsuno.

Action Martial Arts Magazine International Hall of Fame
Inducts Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr.  (VHS / DVD)
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OUT OF PRINT. â€‹In 2001, Action Martial Arts Magazine founded its International Hall of Fame. Grandmaster Crandall was selected for induction into the inaugural hall of fame on January 20, 2001 in the category of “Outstanding Contributions to the Martial Arts by a Grand Master.” Masters and Grandmasters from 12 countries traveled to the Tropicana in Atlantic City, New Jersey for the ceremony.

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he cover depicts Grandmaster Crandall with Master Alan Goldberg, the publisher of Action Martial Arts Magazine and Chairman of the nomination committee. The video was first released on VHS and later on DVD.

The Crandall System: Just Get Away
Escape Techniques for Teenage Girls (VHS)
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OUT OF PRINT. First Released in 1999.

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This VHS is a short, eight-minute, refresher video that included an instructional booklet for educators. The Crandall System is a safety and awareness program developed by Grandmaster Clifford Crandall for use by educational institutions and community organizations. There are four “levels”, target groups. The Crandall System, Level 2, was taught across NYS to physical educators through the BOCES system for implementation in schools. This VHS was one of the instructional resources to assist teachers in presenting the content in their classes and programs. It was also used by various community agencies.

China-America International Martial Arts Team -
Documentary (VHS)
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LIMITED RELEASE. First Released in 1995. VHS. In 1992, a group of Chinese delegates visited the United States and one of the performances this country offered them was of the martial arts under the direction of Grandmaster Clifford C. Crandall, Jr. The Chinese delegation was so taken by the performance that Grandmaster Crandall was asked to bring a performing American exhibition team to China. The team was made up of eight certified black belt instructors, all members of the American Martial Arts Institute. The team consisted of four women and four men with Grandmaster Crandall as the coach. Click more to read about the historic performance and for a link to WATCH the full video.

American Martial Arts Competitors in Russia - Documentary (VHS)
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OUT OF PRINT. First Released in 1997. VHS.

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A 50-minute educational documentary video tape was done about this group of competitors and their trip to Russia. Over 500 copies were distributed to schools, libraries, and colleges. 

 

American-Russian International Martial Arts Tournament

In June and July 1996, the International College of Martial Arts in Europe invited the world to come to St. Petersburg Russia to share in the knowledge of the martial arts cultural differences and ideas.

The BEST of the Martial Arts Today Show  - VHS Series
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OUT OF PRINT. VHS. In 1987, Grandmaster Crandall founded the television series called the Martial Arts Today. The show aired on NBC affiliates throughout Central New York, New York City, and by satellite in Canada. It aired for over 12 years and reached more than 11 million homes. As the Producer and Host, he traveled to over 22-different countries and covered marital artists and their schools. The Martial Arts Today show helped to spearhead the growth of the martial arts, not only in the subject area of martial arts styles, but in the areas of women's self-defense, child abduction prevention and, through personal interviews, provide true insight into the background of some of the actual pioneers of the martial arts as we recognize it in the world today.  This series of VHS tapes includes classic interviews and demonstrations.  Click Read More for more details

​The Swirling Dragon VHS - will be posted soon.​​​​

American Martial Arts Institute

8382 Seneca Turnpike: New Hartford, NY 13413

Tel: 315-768-1859

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