No comments about Shotokan Karate JKA Kata Vol.3.

1 comments about Shotokan Vol. I.

1. 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 As well as shotokan 2 & 3!

3 comments about Shotokan Karate: Advanced Shotokan Kata, Volume Two.

1. For any serious Shotokan Karate students, this is a must have to continue the development of their training. Joel and Anita demonstrated the katas clearly and is easy to understand the applications of the techniques. I recommend this video along with other advanced kata volumes from Joel and Anita.
   T.Le



2. I really enjoyed the Advanced Shotokan Kata DVD series from E/B Productions. I feel that I have benefited from their knowledge and I respect their willingness to share their expertise. Joel Ertl and Anita Bendickson's kata performances are fun to watch. I feel that I have been able to internalize some of the body dynamic and feelings that these Sensei's demonstrate from watching this DVD. I also found that their explanations of the history and underlying concepts in the kata introductions to be very interesting and useful.
   
   I consider this DVD the best in my collection of Shotokan DVD and I recommend this DVD for everyone to have in their collection.



3. 
   These DVDs have been a huge asset to my Shotokan training. I have a ton of books on kata and techniques, but these kata DVDs really work for me. Sometimes it is very hard to understand the concepts as they are described in a book. It makes such a difference to be able to actually see the proper form and timing of each move. It's great to be able to replay the moves again and again until I get it right.

2 comments about Shotokan Karate Kumite DVD.

1. This dvd is unique because it's perfect to use as you practice. The techniques are divided into short segments. I have it on as I workout; stopping after each technique and working through it. There are 26 different sets of techniques as well as partner drills and footage of sparring. Many of the drills I hadn't experienced before. The techniques are not flashy, but will work in a match. Don't let the Shotokan title fool you, these techniques are usable and applicable in any style. I own several dozen sparring videos and would rate this video as the best because you can use it while you train and is not filled with psychological fluff.



2. I enjoyed this DVD. It contains some fundamental martial arts sparring concepts that can be used by beginners, but which can also be used for more advanced practitioners wishing to really work basic techniques in sparring. I definitely recommend this for martial artists who are just beginning to spar.

1 comments about Shotokan Karate: Advanced Shotokan Kata, Volume One.

1. This DVD was very useful for me in preparing for my brown and black belt tests (3rd, 2nd, 1st kyu, and shodan) and I will need it again for my nidan test in a couple of years. It is very professionally done by people who have been teaching traditional Shotokan karate together for about 30 years. Clearly, senseis Ertl and Bendickson know and can demonstrate every nuance and detail of the kata. Each kata is presented by introduction, embusen, move by move, breakdown, and full speed demonstration. The narration is descriptive and crystal clear. I've seen and helped produce instructive videos myself, and I can say that this is as good as anything I've seen done by the pros. It is quite uncommon to have expert-level instruction combined with professional-level production. Worth every penny if you are serious about learning these katas.

3 comments about Shotokan Mastery Volume Two.

1. Having enjoyed Amos sensei's DVD 1, I was curious to see whether number 2 would come equal in every respect. I was not disappointed. As the subject matter and level advances, so do his commentary and tips. Amos sensei continues to impress with the refinement of his already exacting standards in DVD presentation.
   
   Kihon and additional kihon partner drills and bunkai exercises are demonstrated. These are practical and straightforward. And most importantly, effectively convey how to implement proper technique. We are encouraged to analyse possible applications and not just to "make shapes" as is so often the case in your average class context. Amos sensei makes us think. Ask yourselves, he suggests, whether envisaging the ideas we have for bunkai, will enhance our performance of the kata. It's the idea of injecting kumite into what would otherwise be a pretty piece of choreography.
   
   The pointers and imagery offered for gohon kumite were helpful and clear, and I liked especially his freeze frames of "Focal Points" with explanations. These are not just descriptions of techniques, but include biomechanics and the bodily sensations we should achieve, say in our inner thighs or shoulder blades once we are committed to a technique. We get both Heian Nidan and Heian Sandan in the DVD and comprehensive commentary for both.
   
   While the level is green belt, higher level karateka will still gain from a viewing. As Amos sensei states, learning the sequence of steps in Heian Sandan is not particularly hard. But its continued practice is necessary to build important layers of emphasis. The kata is full of sudden contrasts between light and heavy, fast and slow, big and small. So the ability to focus on a technique and immediately respond for the next change in stance or another move, while maintaining clarity and balance, can only be attained by studying the subtleties of the kata thoroughly. This comment can of course be said for all the Heian kata.
   
   Amos sensei takes shotokan karate to a cerebral level, reminding us of the multi-layered and deeply complex (yet somehow very simple) reasons we love this art.



2. Below is my review of the first Shotokan Mastery DVD. This second DVD builds on the first, demonstrating Heian Nidan & Heian Sandan and some bunkai. I feel the need to reiterate - this is the most beautiful martial arts DVD I have ever seen.
   
   "I have been using martial arts dvds in other arts for over 15 years now. As I am new to Shotokan, I wanted to see what videos were available and Shotokan Mastery is the first DVD that I decided to purchase. The content is spot on with what I'm doing, and it is very helpful to me in training. What really impresses me is the amount of work that must have gone into such a production as this. It is a work of art in itself! I've never seen a martial arts instructional dvd like it and I look forward to more in the future!"



3. Sensei Richard Amos has done it again with the second in his Shotokan Mastery series. Clear and concise, this video embodies the essence of traditional Shotokan karate training. Just as the first video this one presents the basic, beginner level fundamentals of Shotokan Karate in a manner that makes it accessible for anyone. One could literally learn karate straight from this program. The production quality is top notch. Each technique is shown from various angles as Sensei Amos gives detailed explanations on proper form and muscle position. The music that plays in the background throughout lends a very traditional Japanese feel to the program. I would highly recommend Shotokan Mastery to anyone who has ever had any interest in real karate training.

2 comments about Shotokan Karate Kihon Kanazawa.

1. The best bargain in the Shotokan Karate world is the Kanazawa kata dvd in this series.
   
   This is another wonderful presentation. In it, Sensei Kanazawa (and if you're not a karate person, take it from me that he's the real deal; forget his belt rank, he knows his stuff) goes through the major techniques and drills that make up Shotokan Karate, in much the way that he does in his kata dvd.
   
   Is this as good a bargain and as comprehensive as the kata dvd? No, but be fair. To fully cover the Shotokan syllabus, he would have needed a LOT more dvds in this package. And he has the important stuff in here.
   
   His technique is flawless, of course, and this dvd can be a real inspiration to students (and don't get silly; of course you can't do all these things as well as he can-but if you watch closely, you can improve what you're doing now!).
   
   I'm lucky enough to have an advanced Shotokan teacher in my backyard; Sensei Shojiro Koyama is in Phoenix, Arizona, and I get to study live, with feedback from a similar teacher, so I'm in fat city.
   
   But if you're studying with somebody who didn't survive the Japan Karate Association instructor's course, get this dvd and its companions, and watch and study them obsessively.
   
   NOTE CAREFULLY: IF THIS COMES TO YOU IN NTSC format, you can play it on your dvd player. If you get the one with a PAL format, you MAY be able to play it on your computer. That's what I'm doing with this one.
   
   Weirdly, Amazon sent me the kata dvd (see my review) in the NTSC format, and this one and the kumite dvd in the PAL format.
   
   On the other hand, for the low price here, and given the Amazon return policy, you'd be silly not to buy this if you're a Shotokan student.
   
   The three dvds in this series do a remarkably good job of setting out the entire syllabus of Shotokan Karate. The only clear holes in this series are freestyle sparring and kata bunkai, and there are plenty of sources for those.
   
   This series is very, very good, and if you can find a workaround for the PAL vs. NTSC issue, or if they send you the NTSC format the first time (I was lucky that way with the kata dvd), you'll have a remarkable addition to your Shotokan library for very little money.
   
   If you're not a Shotokan stylist, this might be somewhat interesting just to see how a different style trains its students.
   
   If you're not a student of karate yet, but are thinking about it, the three dvds in this series will provide you with a mostly complete roadmap of the territory, at a very low price, and at the highest level of quality of technique.
   
   If you can only afford one of the three dvds in this series, go with the kata dvd, because it has within it all the stances, blocks, and punches and strikes that make up the system.



2. This is a great DVD that covers basic Kihon, and for me, still making my way up to Shodan, this is a fantastic reference. Highly recommended. :)

1 comments about Shotokan Karate Knazawa 3 DVD Box set Kihon Kumite & Kata.

1. I've reviewed these separately, but the price is better if you buy all three at once.
   
   If you're a Shotokan karate practitioner, you must have these dvds. The provide the closest you'll get to the entire Shotokan syllabus in three dvds.
   
   The dvd with all the Shotokan kata is itself worth the price being charged here for all three.
   
   Remember that you might or might not have compatibility issues with one or two or all three of these; but Amazon's return policy means you have no risk, so go for it!
   
   I'm able to play one of these that I bought separately on my dvd player. The other two play on my computer.
   
   So go ahead and buy these; they are remarkably good in every way that counts; production quality, quality of instruction, amount of information, and so on.
   
   The only areas entirely lacking here are bunkai and freestyle sparring.
   
   Everything else is here.
   
   Read my reviews of the individual dvds, and then buy these.
   
   You can thank me later.

3 comments about Shotokan Karate Kata Kanazawa.

1. 
   I recommend this dvd "Shotokan Karate Kata Kanazawa" for any martial arts practioner. It will help you to improve your katas and overall basics which are the foundations of Shotokan Karate.



2. This dvd is about as good as it gets in the kata department.
   
   This presents all 26 of the Shotokan Kata. But it's not just any presenter. The presenter here is Kanazawa, the winner of the first All-Japan Karate Tournament. He is a legend, and here he's at his physical prime, so his presentation of the kata is robust and precise.
   I generally like to say something bad in my reviews, because that give a review a little more appearance of balance.
   
   But...guys! This is ONE dvd. With ALL of the Shotokan Kata. In perfect form and timing! And it costs nickels and dimes! Okay, there's one thing. This dvd doesn't address the bunkai for the kata.
   
   But it's not a bunkai dvd! It's a kata dvd! This one is for sequence of timing and perfection of the techniques. For bunkai, you'll want the series bunkai-jutsu by Iain Abernethy.
   
   If you're a beginner in Shotokan and want to see where you can go if you're very talented, have a great teacher (Nakayama,for instance), and work very hard, this is a combination roadmap and destination signpost.
   
   If you're an experienced Shotokan student of many years standing, you have here a remarkable achievement: a one-stop source for all your kata reference.
   
   In terms of production quality, price to value ratio, quality of content, quality of presenter, and overall great value, this is the single best kata dvd I've ever seen. And I have hundreds of martial arts dvds, with a good number of those devoted to kata.
   
   Putting it a different way, you can always buy twenty or twelve or five dvds to get the same data in a slightly different (and probably inferior) package.
   
   But why would you?



3. This DVD featuring 10th dan black belt Hirokazu Kanazawa performing much of the Shotokan katas is nothing short of amazing. An inspiration to any karateka studying the forms. Kanazawa really is a great master! However, this particular DVD is in the PAL format ( not readily viewable in the US) and my Toshiba DVD recorder (fairly new) will not play this disk, nor will my JVC or Sony. The only way I could watch it was on my computer. I would have given this DVD 5 stars if not for the format problem. Still worth the purchase to me but this should be sold in the US in the NTSC format as most machines will simply not play it.

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

1. Both my daughter and I are so very pleased with the quality and professionalism in which your DVD's are made. It has made such a difference in understanding and implementing Katas 1-5. We both believe that with this DVD our advancement and application of all moves has been greatly increased thanks to how well all of these motions/moves are demonstrated and explained. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you.



2. I LOVE the Heian Kata 1-5 DVD. I am now able to practice at home, on my own timeframe (with 3 kids in a blended family, my husband and I each having 1.5 jobs, our lives are extremely hectic and finding the time to work out can be a bit of a juggling act). I've already, just with the one DVD, saved a ton of both money and time (versus private lessons). The DVD has definately sped up my progress *and* my proficiency. I fully intend to buy more in the series. Thank you so much!



3. I bought this DVD after reading all the reviews here and elsewhere. It is a very good DVD and I for one am happy that I ordered it. The instructors really do a great job in teaching you the katas.



4. This is an important product for the new student wno is serious about Shotokan Karate. The demonstrations of the full katas, coupled with the breakdown of each segment of each kata, provide an excellent resource for the student. Since purchasing this product, my katas have improved dramatically and I am looking forward to progressing to the more advanced katas on subsequent DVDs once I have reached the appropriate skill level.



5. it have good techniques but i cannot play on my laptop but works on desktop?.so i still havent been able to practice it.. guess i have to setup my tv linked to dvd.. to see if that will work.