JKA Shotokan Karate The Kawasoe Way Part 2 Heian Nidan, Yondan & Godan (Tsunami) Review

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(More customer reviews)I purchased all four videos in this series three years ago. I continue to use these videos and I have learned a lot from them! They contain a lot more than just kata, but the kata are the best part. Also contained on the tapes are warmup exercises, basic technique, bag work and some sparing. When combined with the use of the "Best Karate" books (volumes 5,6,7,8), the learning of new Kata is relatively easy. The kata are demonstrated once from the front view, in half speed, then a second time at full speed from the front view and then full speed from the side view.
The best "selling point" of these videos, is the value.
Volume 1 contains two kata (and a lot of basic technique.)
Volume 2 contains four kata.
Volume 3 contains two kata.
Volume 4 contains four kata.
I wish Instructor Kawasoe would produce videos of some of the black belt katas like Sochin, Unsu, Gojushiho Sho & Kanku Sho.
In summary, if you are looking for help to learn Shotokan kata, I recommend you buy these videos.

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In the second tape the author demonstrates further advanced striking and kicking techniques and introduces basic one step attack sparring.He also completes the Heian series of kata with detailed instruction in Nidan,Yondan and Godan

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Shotokan Karate Kanazawa Mastering Karate 9 DVD Box Set Review

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(More customer reviews)Whatever your style of karate, a set of DVDs from Master Kanazawa is a 'must have' item! However, the world-class instruction is poorly let down by the production quality.
The disks are cheaply burned DVD-Rs rather than pressed from a factiory produced glass master. This meant that some portions of my set were unviewable (for me), or jumped and stuttered at best. The sound quality is poor and Kancho's speech is continually 'clipping'.
I feel that Rising Sun Productions has let down Master Kanazawa and his tream badly, making it difficult for the dedicated student to get the maximum from the content provided, which is why I knocked two stars off an otherwise 5-star set.
I'm also suspicious of the positive reviews from 'Colin of Canada' for all the Rising Sun Productions DVDs. He couldn't possibly work for .. no . couldn't be could it?

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TE WAZA- Hand Techniques including strikes, blocks, and much more.ASHI WAZA Foot techniques including kicks, stances, hips and shifting.KIHON IDO - Combinations of hands and feet together plus shifting and much more.KYU KATA - Below Black Belt katas including the Heians, Tekki s plus others.DAN KATA Black Belt kata. Each kata includes the form being done first slow and then fast along with the bunkai (explanation) of each move by Kancho.NI JU HACHI HO White Crane form done in slow speed and then full speed by Kancho Kanazawa including many explanations of the moves.KUMITE In this DVD you will see why many consider the Shotokan practioners to be the best fighters in traditional Japanese karate as two SKIF champions go full out demonstrating ippon kumite sanbon kumite, gohon kumite and jiyu kumite. Manabu Murakami and Nobuaki Kanazawa will show you what their teacher taught them.INTERVIEW WITH KANCHO This is a tell all interview that we have all been waiting for. Have you ever wondered how and why the JKA did what they did? Ever wonder why Kancho Kanazawa left the JKA or England. Its all here plus he talks in depth about what he learnt from Funakoshi, Nakayama, Okazaki, Nishiyama and the rest. Plus just so much more it is amazing. The interview was conducted by acclaimed author, writer, interviewer Don Warrener. Don t miss this it is excruciatingly interesting as the Master is put on the hot seat.A MASTER GOES TO HOLLYWOOD Hirokazu Kanazawa is not above having a laugh, even if it is at his own expense. You will see all the bloopers, errors and mix ups plus when he met Marilyn Monroe and Elvis Presley (look a likes) on the famous Hollywood Boulevard. You will see people from all over the world giving testimonials and accreditation to the one they call Kancho. Plus many surprises as you are taken behind the scenes of the making of Mastering Karate and more.

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Shotokan Karate Vol. II Review

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(More customer reviews)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.

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Shotokan Karate: Advanced Shotokan Kata, Volume One Review

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(More customer reviews)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.

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Advanced Shotokan Kata, Volume OneThis DVD presents the katas that are typically practiced at the levels of brown belt and the lower levels of black belt. These kata are also useful for any student that has a good understanding of the Heian katas. ADVANCED SHOTOKAN KATA, VOLUME ONE demonstrates the following advanced kata as taught by the Japan Karate Association:Bassai-Dai: Turn a disadvantage into an advantage. This kata emphasizes strong hip rotation, U punches, lifting actions.Kanku-Dai: The Heian katas are largely based on this kata. This kata contains many useful sequences for defending against several attackers at once.Empi: Practices quick changes of direction. Very good for smaller karate-ka. Jion: This powerful kata is very good for large and tall karate-ka. Tekki Shodan: Shows an overview of the kata presented in the video "Tekki Shodan".The DVD uses menus and chapter to allow you to jump directly to the section you want to practice. Each kata is demonstrated slowly move by move and with the correct speed and tempo. An overview of the important points in each kata is presented along with close-ups of the most difficult sequences in each kata.This ADVANCED SHOTOKAN KATA DVD is designed to help the advanced karate student learn these kata in-depth and with detail. The applications are not demonstrated in this DVD. For those wishing to learn the applications, check out our Kata Application DVD series, also available from E/B Productions.

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