2 comments about Aikido Self Defense for the Modern Warrior Vol. III.

1. The quality of all three Videos are outstanding. I have learned so much that can be used for today's self-defense.
   The techniques here are awesome.



2. Don't want to sound like a broken record if you read my first two reviews. But this is a great instructional video. It's like having the instructor in your house, but nothing like going to the mat yourself and learning hands on. Another ten minutes introduction with basic instruction of break falls and rolls, same as the first two. The big improvement is the 40 minutes of instructions against weapons. This is how a good martial art instruction video ought to be. Hmmm... How to put it in words... I don't like gun defenses. They tend to be unrealistic. Just not safe nor smart, but then it's your life on the line. My best advice is to give them your money or car keys... you can replace those, not your life. More ten minutes of advertisements. This video may be worth the $30.

4 comments about King of Aikido Vol. I.

1. This is like the best footage I have seen with Morihei Ueshiba. Many of his techniques are beyond reproach and seem nearly invisible.Totally awesome stuff. Highly informative and I?m sure will be great in anyone?s video collection that is into Aikido



2. This dvd, along with part two, is an excellent documentary of aikido's founder. There is no narration, and the music can get cheesy, but if you have a sense for what aikido is about, or just physics in general, this set is for you! The footage is black adn white, often of poor quality, but still a gem in the rough for all enthusiasts.
   
   I would also suggest that you purchase the three disc set of Yoshinkan aikido founder Shioda Gozo, which is in part bi lingual, english-japanese, although the master sessions with Gozo are not translated or subtitled. The main point of what he says, however, is that if you just master the basics, you can do everything.



3. I got the DVD today and viewed it twice already. The quality of the footage is not great but good enough to get the best out of a 70 years old film with O Sensei! (what more can we ask!)
   
   DVD Volume one starts with a footage of an Aikido class in the 1930' in Iwana (?). We can see Saito Sensei Uchi Deshi with O Sensei, then we see footage of O Sensei in his latest years also with Saito Sensei assisting in supersing a class and with the first Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba.
   We also see Tohei Sensei, and a boken demonstration with O Sensei and Tamura Sensei.
   We can see O Sensei in Iwana training, praying and drinking tea with wife Hatsu.
   This DVD shows that O Sensei was truly living his art, and that his training was rigourous and constant (a great lesson for practitioners)
   The DVD ended and I wanted to see more of it... Great and recommended purchase
   I am looking foward to viewing Volume two...



4. Nice to see O-Sensei and very happy to discover the founder of Aikido .Unfortunatly it is just a mix of old footage without sound and without any comments or explanation .For historic purposes only.

2 comments about Aikido Self Defense for the Modern Warrior Vol. II.

1. The quality of the Video is outstanding, I really learned alot.
   The techniques here are awesome for today's self-defense. Volume one is great also!!



2. Like I said before this is a great instructional video. It's like having the instructor in your house, but nothing like going to the mat yourself and learning hands on. It has the SAME ten minutes introduction with basic instruction of break falls and rolls, as the first. Biggest disappointment is now your 30 minutes of instruction shrunk to less than 20 minutes of instruction. AND then you get ten minutes of advertisement. I was really hoping to get different advertisements per volume, but no luck. But in defense they do make it up in the third volume with 40 minutes of instruction. The instructor knows his stuff. But is it worth $30 for 20 minutes?

5 comments about The Art of Aikido DVD.

1. First, this disk would not play on my DVD player. It would only work on my computer.
   
   Second, this disc briefly mentions that it illustrates the Tomiki branch of Aikido, which uses very different terminology and basic techniques than the more prevalent styles of Aikido.
   
   Third, there is very little information of how most of the demonstrated techniques actually work. (Note carefully: these techniques are DEMONSTRATED, not taught.) The concept of "breaking balance," is briefly mentioned at the end of the DVD, but is never related back to the basic techniques demonstrated.
   
   Last; the websites mentioned on the disc no longer seem to have any information about Aikido.
   
   If you want to learn something about Aikido, go to a local Dojo, watch a training session, and talk to the sensei. Then use the money you'd pay for this DVD for an introductory lesson.



2. The disk plays fine for me. It is helpful in that I can replay a technique over and over and over ... I use the disk to review techniques. I then consult Aikido and the Dynamic Sphere: An Illustrated Introduction for some description, then back to the DVD ...
   
   Regardless, Sensei does things slightly differently and Sensei is the top authority in his own dojo. But the books and DVDs do help.



3. I wished I had a good video of Aikido when I was first studying it. I cannot compare this video to others as this is the only one I have seen. It does show the various techniques. I would have liked more content and explanation, but I'm pleased with the video. I feel good about this purchase.



4. This film is easy to learn, with it's step by step learning. Everybody can follow it.



5. This disk played fine for me. I just started taking Aikido, and this disk allows me to see at my own pace the techniques of the movements. In class, it's done so quick, this gives me the chance to study the footwork and movements at a slower speed and understanding of how it is done.
   Good purchase.

2 comments about King of Aikido Vol. II.

1. Good DVD packaging with front cover of Akido master. No problem playing the DVD on both Apex and Mustek players. I bought this DVD as a historic document for my library, and not knowing the film quality. I am happy there is a lot of film footage of the master with his students (both indoor and outdoor classes), but the quality is very poor. Many scenes are filmed with way too much light (it may be film deterioation) so that if the students are wearing white, they blend in with the extreme brightness of the room. There is more contrast in bright light of the film when students are wearing black clothes, but not much. You see very little detail in the footage because lack of contrast washes out the figures. Do not buy this DVD to study the form of the master. Buy it if you want a rare historic document to add to your library.



2. This is like the best footage I have seen with Morihei Ueshiba. Many of his techniques are beyond reproach and seem nearly invisible.Totally awesome stuff. Highly informative and I?m sure will be great in anyone?s video collection that is into Aikido.

3 comments about Aikido no Kokoro The Heart of Aikido.

1. "This DVD has helped me understand how the principles of Aikido - e.g. harmony, connection, centeredness, oneness with the universe - give birth to the techniques we use on the mat, and it has helped me to articulate this relationship to my students. There is a lot of wonderful footage of Anno Sensei. I was very moved by his heartfelt encouragement to the participants to carry on the art. His humility is clear and contagious, and I feel that showing the DVD to my students has reinforced the loving community spirit of my dojo. In addition to Anno Sensei, the DVD includes some other teachers who studied closely with O'Sensei, as well as teachers from the next generation from a wide range of dojos. It was especially inspiring to witness the contributions of so many women in the art, as well as to see how some very dedicated young people are preparing to carry the art forward into the future."
   
   --Penny Sablove, chief instructor,
   Heart of San Francisco Aikido



2. I found this DVD to be very helpful, both as a student and as a teacher of Aikido. The demonstrations are well shot and clearly presented. Senior instructors featured in the DVD include Motomichi Anno 8th Dan, head of the Kumano Juku Dojo in Shingu Japan, and Robert Nadeau, 7th Dan, head of City Aikido of San Francisco, plus many other teachers from the Bay Area and the West Coast. On-camera commentary about the meaning and purpose of Aikido adds depth and context. Well worth the price!



3. AIKIDO NO KOKORO is truly inspiring. The elegant techniques and heartfelt instruction of Motomichi Anno Sensei, 8th dan, leads one to a clearer understanding of the message of the founder, Morihei Ueshiba Osensei. Also shown, are the powerful yet delightful techniques of Mary Heiney Sensei, Jack Wada Sensei, and Linda Holiday Sensei.
   
   This as a very high quality production which I plan to watch many more times.
   
   Glen Kimoto, Aikido 5th dan

1 comments about Aikido|Brazilian Jiu Jitsu|Art of the Wristlock.

1. I want to start off by saying that you should not think that this is a DVD set purely focused on wristlocks. There is a truly massive amount of information contained in these two discs. While the first disc is primarily an overview of the various jiu jitsu wristlocks and their application (I will talk about this more below), disc 2 contains two very extensive seminars taught by Mr Dean. I am a blue belt in BJJ (and former Aikidoka) and I can honestly say that even after watching the seminars several times, I have not yet begun to get all of the purely BJJ material out of these, not to mention the cross-over Japanese Jiu Jitsu stuff. This second disc alone is probably worth the price of the discs.
   
   Now to the wristlocks. Mr Dean does a really great job of showing the most common forms of wristlocks. Furthermore, he provides some really valuable insight into how each of these is implemented into different types of Japanese Jiu Jitsu. For anyone who does not have a background in JJJ, it is a very good introduction to this material. Even if you have studied these techniques in the past, I can almost guarantee that you will find some new information here. Of course, the truly unique part of this disc (and is covered in the seminars) is how these techniques work with the ground fighting techniques of BJJ.
   
   This blending of jiu jitsu styles is really where Mr Dean has a lot to offer. In the past, very few traditional jiu jitsu practitioners have delved into the world of BJJ. Conversely, BJJ practitioners typically stay away from (and in some cases look down on) traditional forms of jiu jitsu. This is really too bad because these techniques can work very well together. Sensei Dean, who holds black belts in Judo, Aikido, Seibukan Jiu Jitsu, and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu has managed to keep an open mind about all of these approaches and through his own experiences is able to demonstrate very effectively how to use these techniques together.
   
   Whether you are a hard-core BJJer looking to add a little more to your game, an Aikidoka who is curious about BJJ and how their own skills can apply, or just a serious student of martial arts looking for something new, you will not be disappointed with this disc set. I can tell you from my own experience, that after my first few session of getting destroyed on the BJJ mat, I was afraid that all of those years of Aikido had been wasted. Because of the material here, I have been slowly finding ways too work all of these valuable techniques back into my game. I now regularly surprise my BJJ compadres with wristlocks while sparring. It has been invaluable to me and I am sure that anyone who studies this material will be able to find there own gems.
   
   I highly recommend these discs.

4 comments about Aikido Self Defense for the Modern Warrior Vol. I.

1. Wow.. The kotegaeshi techniques here are great. Dye has an amazingly powerful aikido approach. The effective Yoshinkan style is clearly the foundation of his system. I think the late Gozo Shioda would smile looking at this. Now, you can do these throws smooth and soft and feel all spiritual, or you can slam the attacker hard to the ground/mat. This DVD-series is about self-defense in the real world. It takes a lot of practice though. Keep up the good work Sensei Dye! :)



2. The instructions and quality of the Video are outstanding.The Kotogaeshi is showed from different attacks. I'm working to get the other 2 videos.For me Quality in instructions and Video is a plus, this DVD passed it with Flying Colors.
   Nihon Goshing aikido Purple Belt.



3. 
   The quality of the Video is outstanding, I really learned alot.
   The techniques here are awesome for self-defense for today.



4. This is a great instructional video. It's like having the instructor in your house, but nothing like going to the mat yourself and learning hands on. It has a ten minutes introduction with basic instruction of break falls and rolls. Be warn though, these ten minutes of introduction is also repeated in the other two volumes. Overall you get less than 30 minutes of instruction. AND then you get ten minutes of advertisement. I was really hoping to get different advertisements per volume, but no luck. All in all good instructional, but you should go to your dojo. The 30 minutes of instruction may not be worth the price of $30. = T

2 comments about Military Police Combatives.

1. I was skeptical when I purchased this DVD but was not disappointed once it arrived. There are no "bells and whistles" on this hour plus DVD and sometimes I had to rewind and pause the DVD itself to understand the techniques, but this DVD is PACKED with great hand to hand combat stuff! It is worth the $25. I really learned a lot from it and the techniques are simple to learn but realistic at the same time. It is geared for the military but I recommend this DVD to anyone who wants to learn some good self defense moves!



2. If you need great martial arts techniques, Military Police or not, buy this DVD! The sound quality is good (not great) but the techniques are well worth the price. I would expect this DVD to be sold in seperate DVDs for $50 a piece. I think it will benefit anyone who serves in the Army or not. I especially enjoyed the chapter on ground combat.

5 comments about Budo: The Art of Killing.

1. This dvd was exactly what I thought it would be, a comprehensive view of all of the major martial arts of Japan: karate, kendo, iaido, judo, sumo, Okinawa kobudo,and yabusame(archery on horseback). Anyone serious of martial arts should have a copy of this dvd.



2. I really enjoyed "Budo: The Art of Killing." I usually watch and review instructional videos, and it was a nice change to watch this documentary on the martial arts of Japan. One thing that really stands out is the beauty of Japan that is shown throughout the film. Seeing some of the scenic settings reminded me of places I visited while living in Japan, and how there are so many beautiful and peaceful places in the land of the rising sun. It's not a fast paced DVD, with some scenes in slow motion with slower music, but that added to the beauty of the film.
   
   Peace and beauty in a film about the art of killing? Yes, and I found the relationship between the two to be calming and reflected on some of my own training. Seeing some of the masters train with Mt. Fuji in the background, on beaches, or in other aesthetically pleasing places (most dojos are simple elegance) or the scenes in fields or forests, made me think of how often it is my training in martial arts that calms me and becomes the most serene time of the day. Meditation and physical training go together.
   
   The training scenes in the film are not instructional. You are not going to learn how to do the things you see from this film. Nor does the film elaborate on the training that got the people in the film to that point other than saying it takes a long time and much dedication. However, watching this can motivate one to pursue their training to reach the higher levels.
   
   For those interested in the various martial arts of Japan, this DVD serves as a nice introduction. You get to see people training in Judo, Karate, Sumo, Aikido, and more. The section with women training with the naginata will be interesting for females to see the samurai art practiced by women of all ages. There was also a lot of time spent on the sword, which the Japanese samurai are known for. Besides seeing some masters of the sword, the film shows a blade being made as well. I was surprised that the Ninja and Ninjitsu were not covered.
   
   Overall, I enjoyed this DVD, just as I enjoy reading the older Samurai writings that have been translated to English, and books about the samurai, ancient Japan, Korea, China, and related works. If you are interested in an artful film about the martial arts and beauty of Japan, you will enjoy this film.
   
   Reviewed by Alain Burrese, J.D., author of Hard-Won Wisdom From the School of Hard Knocks and the dvds: Hapkido Hoshinsul, Streetfighting Essentials, Hapkido Cane, the Lock On Joint Locking Essentials series and articles including a regular column on negotiation for The Montana Lawyer. Alain Also wrote a series of articles called Lessons From The Apprentice.



3. Saw this a long time ago on VHS and was glad to see
   it was available on dvd, takes you through many of the
   disiplines of the Samurai, as well as showing how a
   sword is crafted, more a documentary but a good one!
   G2



4. Documentario eccellente, ottima fotografia. Forse molto retorico, conoscendo un po' i maestri di cui si parla direi che sono stati descritti con troppa enfasi, tanto che a volte alcune situazioni possono apparire "comiche" ad uno spirito moderno e disincantato, ma ritengo in ogni caso che lo spirito che dovrebbe animare le arti marziali è stato chiaramente evocato.
   Perfino la colonna sonora è degna di nota.
   Da consigliare.



5. I have always loved martial arts,from a young age.This dvd captures the essence of martial arts,very realistic.Now that im older, i try to life the life of of harmony,health,peace,still practice martial arts.This dvd would be a graet teaching tool for any martial arts [...]