No comments about Japan Karate Association Shotokan Kata Series Vol 5.

No comments about Shotokan Karate - Advanced Training Methods - Volume 3.

No comments about Shotokan Advanced Training Methods Vol 4.

No comments about Shotokan Advanced Training Methods Vol 2.

No comments about Japan Karate Association Shotokan Kata Series Vol 4.

No comments about Japan Karate Association Shotokan Kata Series Vol 3.

4 comments about Shotokan Karate Vol. II.

1. i have come across this dvd before in a martial arts webstore. unfortunately there have been no reviews on the product to help me decide whether to purchase it or not. after going through the dvd in a little less than an hour, the only high point of this grainy, black and white dvd is the opportunity to see gichin funakoshi, as well as masatoshi nakayama and other senior karate senseis go through various techniques briefly. it was clearly intended to explain karate to those who do not know what karate is, and not to those who are interested in further instruction. sensei nakayama's dynamic karate, or master funakoshi's karatedo kyohan would be a much more useeful investment. if you already have both and a member of a good dojo, you can pass on this one.



2. This was a home produced DVD with stuck on label. It wouldn't play in either my computer's DVD drive or my home DVD player. Useless. But as I live in the UK the cost of return to the US is prohibitive. Keep your cash in your pocket and learn from my bad experience.



3. Th rare historical footage on this DVD is priceless. These are the famous and now deceased shotokan masters demonstrating their art as it should be done. I appreciate the opportunity to own such rare footage even though it was originally shot on 8mm film, which was the technology available at the time of filming,I found the content worth viewing. I was able to learn much from the footage and own all three volumes.



4. I was totally awed to be able to see these famous shotokan masters. It is truly a beautiful artform. I have really learned alot. I highly recommend this dvd!

No comments about Mastering Shotokan 3 Volume Set.

No comments about Shotokan Karate - Advanced Training Methods - Volume 1.

3 comments about Shotokan Karate: Heian Kata 1-5.

1. This is by far the best instructional video on Shotokan Heian Kata's I have ever seen. Ertl and Bendickson are amazing teachers. Professionally produced and easy to use.



2. I've run a traditional Japanese Karate dojo in San Jose for almost 50 years. In a search to find a tape/dvd to help my students learn their kata better and faster (and motivate them to practice more at home), I reviewed every tape/dvd I could find on the subject. Joel Ertl's Heian 1 - 5 was the best, on many levels. It's not only clear and comprehensive in its presentation of the sequence of steps within each Heian kata (making it great for beginners), but also offers realistic versions of the bunkai (or self defense techniques hidden within each kata). Plus, it was obviously produced with very professional equipment, unlike many of the others, which are poorly edited and appear to be shot with hand-held, low-resolution camcorders. I highly recommend it to all my students. It is so good, in fact, and has sped up the progress of all my students who have bought it, I'm may require all of my new students to purchase a copy. I couldn't recommend it more.
   
   Jim Mather,
   Chief Instructor, California Karate Academy



3. As a student of Sensei Ertl for the past four years and a grateful new Shodan (first degree black belt) I can vouch for the authenticity of the Heian Kata DVD. Senseis Ertl and Bendickson are clearly dedicated to the spirit of traditional Japanese Shotokan karate. Their dedication is obvious in the quality and completeness of this (and their many other) instructional DVDs. I'm one of those people who has a hard time remembering katas, even after I do them many times over. Along with my 3-4 hours per week in the dojo, I used this DVD regularly during my first two years of karate training in pursuit of my orange, green, and purple belts. Other reviewers have mentioned the exceptional high quality production of this DVD, but I'd like to add that all of the video footage is shot, edited, and produced by the Senseis themselves in their St. Paul, MN dojo, which is the same place I and many dozens of diligent students worked our way through black belt any beyond over the past 30 years.