Videos are an excellent way of suplimenting your training. Benifits from both watching other people
as well as yourself on video are definetly there but, using videos as a sole means of learning is not
good enough. I have heard many people claim that they can learn from a video as well as from any
teacher which I find quite amazing because I have yet to see a video that can point out corrections
and teach you like a good instuctor can. Choosing between paying to go to train with a master in
any given art or to buy him on video and train with him there should not take any time. Although I
realise that not everyone can afford to go wherever their particular teacher is they should not rely
on videos of them to be their sole means of training. I think that if you are dedicated to whatever
you are doing you will seek to experience the real thing regardless of the obsticles you have to
overcome.
Wayne Paulsen
I think the value of video tapes in ones training deppends on that person. And what they learn best
at. If they learn the move(s) better by doing or by seeing.
Carol Surabnian
O'Sensei:
The purpose I would use video tapes for, is only the refinement of a currently practiced form. The
true spirit of a form is generally not derived from the media, just the physical movemnets. Forms
should be practiced regularly to keep from forgetting their finer points.
Trying to teach or refresh a form using tape is far better than a book. How true the adage is that a
picture is worth a 1000 words. Video is just another recording media. Better, since the viewer can
see the entire spectrum of movement rather than point to point movements as in a book. For
historical value video is just as important as is any other published work. Why not a CDROM of
kata? Just think it would be easier to lookup and search the CD for individual refresher points
rather than having to stream an entire video tape. More portable too!
However, it is ultimately what the student wishes to learn. A video or book are merely tools for
training. Experince is the ultimate teacher.
You've been busy. This Web Site just keeps getting better every time I visit. I was sorry to see that
George Bosworth passed away. He along with Jack Summers were my instructors many years
ago. Where is Jack these days?
Best regards,
Frank Nash
Jack is alive and well and in great demand as a teacher throughout the country. Everyone
enjoyed his seminar at camp last year and hopefully he will do a repeat performance this
year. GEM
I would like to second Paul Giella’s recommendation of the book Mastery by George Leonard. I
have found it to be of great value personally and also to students who are frustrated with their
training and have as yet to learn that you have to love the plateaus in order to Master any subject.
A further story I just heard on regarding the use of video tapes and penetrating philosophical
discussions in perfecting martial arts skills…..
Centuries ago, in a small village somewhere in Asia a great Master of Martial Arts lie near death
surrounded by his devoted family, friends and students. With a withered hand he beckoned his
senior student to come close.
"I must…" he gasped, "Share…Tell you…THE secrete of the martial arts—to make you
powerful---and ……" gasp……."BUT you must share the secrete only through example and
reveal it through actions—never speak it EXCEPT upon your death bed to one of your senior
students-----as I do you…"
The senior student, tears streaming down his face, placed his ear near his beloved Master, a few
word were whispered.
The eyes of the student opened wide in surprise ..he expressed shock then serious resolve.
"Yes Master……..yes… so it shall be."
With a gasp the great Master passed on to an great anguish of those present. And so it began....
For generations the secrete of the Martial Arts was passed on in this manner.
Many students tried to learn the secrete, but it was only known by a very few who were charged
by honor and duty to reveal it only through action and deed. The impatient tried to find the secrete
through ancient writings, and in later years by looking deeply into pictures of the Masters, drawings
and recollections of the False Memories of the many Sempai who, though not privy, thought they
KNEW. Perfection of the STANCE, of the HAND of all things viewed.......lead to frustration.....
In Modern times the quest extended to books, magazines and a proliferation of video tapes, music,
mystical chants, herbs, hypnosis and days spent surfing the world wide web for the answer.
In a home in an urban city a Great Master lie dying. With a withered hand he beckoned to his
Senior Student, to pass on the secrete of the Ages---THE secrete of the Martial Arts!!!!! Little
does he know that an impatient student has placed, beneath his pillow a microphone to record
these most precious of words….
The Senior Student leans close to his beloved Master, the words are whispered with gasps for
breath---the secrete passed on…the Master’s spirit departs.
The impatient student with shaking hands replays those last words……the secrete of the
ages….........
This story was made known to me by a very dear friend who sent me (at considerable personal
risk) a recording of the Last Words, which I share with all of my friends and fellow martial artists.
Through static, one can clearly discern the Master’s rasping and pained voice. The translation is as
follows
" The ultimate secrete...my most loyal of students...is…..Practice……train harder…..practice….."
I’m outa here and heading into the dojo, or as Mr. Nakahodo once said to Mike Keller and I
looking out at some students stumbling through Dankumite as he assessed their problem…. "Too
much no karate!!"
Later,
Best Wishes,
Ron Klein
Shinwa Dojo
Topic: Video tapes, silliness, bunkai and reality.........
I wanted to share a few thoughts on the posting from Bill Glasheen regarding the Century sale of
the Uechi video tapes and some related things.
I received as a gift from Larry Mahar a video of the Taiwan trip and a composite of Master Uechi
performing kata. It is a wonderful tape, grainy and dark-which adds just the right element of
mystery.
I found Bill's comments regarding Master Uechi's kata and interpretation of movements interesting.
After many years of exploring kata by personal training and training with many fine and pragmatic
martial artists I have begun to view the tapes of Master Uechi (and others) quite differently. My
view was shaped by and reinforced by seeing so many interpretations and variations of the Uechi
kata as performed by numerous "Masters." (Add to this the annoying habit of Seniors correcting
the corrections of other Seniors previous corrections of other corrections and of course being
absolutely correct.)
It seems to me that the taped kata of Master Uechi is perhaps more of a demonstration of the
forms for students and viewers. Demonstrations often differ from how we actually perform our
kata. In this I mean that a "demonstration" of a form is considerably different from how the
instructor does the form or would like to see a student do the form as he/she matures. Also, the
forms are not static but change over time, despite the desire to have them be the common language
through which the Uechi Ryu community communicates.
I have had the good fortune to train with people who studied under the direction of Master Uechi
and each has a different interpretation of how Master Uechi did kata. Some have spilled a lot of
emotional blood over which of Master Uechi's students is the True representative. This of course is
without realizing that it is unavoidable to place one's signature on the movements and forms.
Memory is not reliable, and video tapes are ,but like even "good" memories can only be a snap
shot of a more dynamic phenomena. The kata evolve and change around a scaffold of movements
that we try to maintain. Do not get me wrong, I really enjoy the tapes of Master Uechi, but I do not
try to imitate them exactly nor use them to justify all that I do and instruct.
I use video tapes as a general reference if, for example, I forget a movement. I am very reluctant to
use tapes to fine tune movements. I think there can be a tendency to over interpret kata movements
and rely to heavily on what we see in tapes. Some questions we need to ask include: "Does this
movement make sense?", "What is an interpretation?" "What is the history of the kata and the
movement?" . The one question I now ask more than ever is "What other styles or forms have
similar or identical movements and what is the interpretation?"
This leads to something else. Learning the "Pangainoon" Supraempi (Super Empi) this summer was
incredible for many reasons. One thing that was obvious was how anal Americans tend to be in
performing kata to absolute standards. This is reinforced, in my opinion, by reliance on videos as
the "final" arbitrator of technique. This is wrong. The comments of the instructors, personal
interactions with people like Dr. Liu go a long way to helping us understand the finer points and
essence of our art. Tapes are but a tool.
The history of what we do is also important. For a long time I was an advocate of doing THE
SanSeiRyu Bunkai and it was not until after I had moved out on my own that I realized how foolish
I was. The bunkai we were practicing was performed as a demo on Okinawa. We saw the tape
and became enamored with the bunkai. In retrospect doing the bunkai was a reasonable learning
experience despite the superficial interpretations of some of the movements. (The latter probably
useful for an audience but not necessarily for a martial artist.)
While I am on bunkai let me point out the absolute silliness of the sword attacks in Seisan Bunkai.
Movements more appropriate for a club attack are embellished with the katana! Ah, the myth of
the open hand versus the sword. In a recent MASNET posting someone compared the average
Okinawan (living in feudal times) using sai (or whatever) to deal with a trained samurai to be like
someone in modern times attacking a Navy SEAL with a broom stick. The original bunkai,
whatever that may have been, probably used a boring old broom stick. Now the Seisan bunkai,
katana and all is an integral part of our art. (As a training gesture I suggest we have our best
bunkaists give a demo at camp-I nominate John Ray to be the attacker-with a shinai of course).
We need to understand that Seisan bunkai provides at best a very simple (simplistic???)
interpretation of the kata.
Summary: Video tapes entrench in permanent memory historical snap shots of how people
demonstrated techniques. They are great learning tools, entertaining (I have quite a collection!!!)
but, unless one has an open mind and wider perspective, they have the potential of being stifling. I
recommend reading "A Canticle for Lebowitz" which may better illustrate the point of how
something trivial in context can be seen having incredible and great significance through the filter of
history and memory.
Oh yes-the disco music in the background, like kata done to hip-hop at tournaments, is just adding
another layer of silliness and embarrassment.
Ron Klein
I received the three historical videos you sent. The first one with Kanei Uechi demonstrating the
kata was incredible. I think every serious Uechi practitioner should see that one. However, the third
one really intrigued me. (Correct me if I am wrong: I believe the majority of it was Ryuyu
Tomoyose teaching at the Wakiyama dojo). The kata that were being demonstrated seemed so
different from what I am used to seeing. What were the reasons for these differences? Was his
teachings closer to Kanbun's, since he was the first student outside of China, or did he diverge
considerably? It also made me realize that hardly anything is ever mentioned about Ryuyu other
than in connection with Kanbun starting to teach in Japan. Even Alan Dollar's book mentions very
little of him after this period. I assume he is no longer alive since Dollar describes Seiko Toyama as
the last surviving student of Kanbun's; in what year did Ryuyu pass away? Did he have very much
influence on Uechi Ryu after it became established? Since he was the first student and Kanei's
senior by eleven years, was he supportive of Kanei becoming head of the style after Kanbun
passed away? I am not looking for any "dirt", I am just curious to find out more about him since he
played such an important role in the start of Uechi Ryu yet seemed to virtually disappear after that.
Any info you could provide would be greatly appreciated. Thanks.
Glenn Humphress
th20405@ltec.net
Lincoln, NE
I am an avid watcher of training videos and have incorporated drills ,techniques and exercises
learned from videos into my teaching and training. It is my humble opinion that video tapes make an
excellent supplement to Dojo training for advanced students but may be of little value to people
new to the Martial Arts. A strong grounding in the Martial Arts is the product of hard work under
the watchful eye of someone who has mastered the art being studied. There are a myriad of
subtleties that no video could possibly capture ( I struggle with subtleties of form with Sensei
Mattson demonstrating right in front of me). Further, learning any martial Art (of value) means
learning the "Natural Laws" that govern all Martial Arts. Once a solid foundation is built a student
can identify the "Natural Laws" in any thing they watch and thus incorporate new information into
their personal "style".
Go to the Dojo, work hard, go home, watch tapes
(PS I personally recommend "Rumble In The Bronx")
If Sanchin, Seisan and all the other compulsory exercises aren't preparing us for self-defense, then
why the heck are we doing them? I have always thought it paradoxical that we should train so hard
on the classics, then think we need to do some other "practical" exercises for "real" effect... I have
always been of the opinion that the "practical self-defense" classes were mostly a way to attract and
expose new and potential students to what we are all about... once, involved, they should quickly
proceed to the standard curriculum... which is as "practical" and ultimately more effective, than any
"ten easy lessons" series- videotape or otherwise. What could it be about the classic exercises that
would lead people to think they aren't practical or realistic? Taught too pedantically? Take too long
to do correctly? Not enough Hollywood?
I recently read a book that I would recommend to anyone pondering this question. George
Leonard's " Mastery"... written by an accomplished aikido teacher who makes the point very
clearly that true mastery is the journey of longterm, plodding, year after year,
spring-summer-winter-fall study that cannot be circumvented, sped-up, short-cut or otherwise
avoided if one is looking for something truly "practical" ... As Harvey Liebergott says in the
summation of his wonderful book; Have I ever used karate (in the practical sense)?... I use it every
day!
Videotapes themselves certainly have a place in the library of any serious martial artist. This
wonderful technology did not exist a few years ago, and very few of us had ever been able to see-
let alone own- films of Kanei Uechi or the other legendary figures, or study in three dimensions the
ideas of a George Mattson or others who may be geographically remote...
Videotapes were never meant to substitute for the hard routine of dojo study: they complement it.
Paul Giella
Hi, very interesting article. in your opinion what are the best video series for learning practical, real
life self defense?? I am interested in buying some videos but there are hundreds. thank you for your
time
regards,
Luis Herrera
Of course, I can highly recommend Jim Maloney's practical self defense series on Pressure
Points and Gun and Knife defenses, but your request raises lots of questions for which I
don't have the answers. Can a person learn from videos or books without an instructor?
Even with an instructor? Can viewing a video on self defense without lots of hands-on
practice, give one a false sense of confidence? What responsibilities do the producers of such
tapes have to their clients? Hopefully, our readers will be helpful in shedding light on the
subject. GEM
In my more-or-less humble opinion, video tapes are a valuable learning tool for someone with a lot
of previous "hands on" experience. In other words, the more you already know, the more you can
learn from a tape. I have a lot of tapes showing a lot of techniques from a lot of styles. The stuff
that's the closest to the stuff I already know is the easiest to get. The less familiar it is, the less easy.
A teacher in front of you, giving hands on classes is obviously the best, but video tapes fill a
tremendous gap for those of us who don't have a teacher of pressure-points (for example) close at
hand.
yours,
maurice
mori@interlog.com
Toronto, Ontario
(c)1996 maurice richard libby --all rights reserved
George
I have been able to learn a few things off video and from books. Two things that come to mind are
Simon's superempi and the first form in the Wing Chun system.
The Simon VHS experience left me with a practicing form that was coherent, but not entirely
correct. I had the opportunity to have one-on-one with Simon later on to correct all my
misinterpretations. I suppose this could have been a better experience had the tape been designed
as an instructional one.
I was able to learn the first Wing Chun form from a combination of a book and video tape. This is
actually quite easy as that form has no substantial leg movement and so the camera does not need
to change orientation to see all the hand techniques. Through this form I was able to understand
other Chinese interpretations of Uechi Southern Chinese Gung Fu.
I think videos are a great adjunct to good teaching. However I would be hesitant to recommend
that anyone rely on them as a sole source of martial arts instruction. It's difficult enough as it is to
teach people to do things correctly when the instructor is there in the flesh. Nothing beats having
that one-on-one to provide feedback for one's efforts and to give further opportunities to grow with
the same material.
Bill Glasheen
George: Over the past few years I have purchased a few videos (including a Jim Maloney video)
and viewed a few that were borrowed regarding self defense and/or martial arts applications. My
opinion is that they are good to look at to see possible applications but without hands on
experience and instruction by an expert, followed by practice, one could get into trouble trying to
use anything but the simplest technique.
I have had the benefit of spending a few hours with Jim Maloney at summer camps, and have a
fairly good understanding of pressure points because of Jim's hands on methods and some
occasional practice in our dojo. A tape cannot impart that experience. Ditto a Ron Klein with his
multiple point approach (ouch!) or Raffi's knife defense techniques. In fact, as I sit here and think
about it I would not attempt to disarm a gun or knife wielding opponent if there were any other way
out (run? hand over wallet?). Only if absolutely cornered or defending loved ones would I try to
take on a gun or knife. Jim does make it look easy but he has years of experience. The tapes are
nice for review and I recommend them as they might give one some edge in a confrontation, but
they should be used as an adjunct to hands on training.
Please keep in mind that this is the opinion of a forty something 'average athlete'. There are
probably a few persons out there who could watch a tape and perform Maloney-fu, but I am not
one of them.
Regards,
Rich Castanet Richmond VA
Sensei,
The question concerning learning from video is a very interesting one indeed.
Although videos are qreat for information, I don't think they are beneficial to those who do not have
the necessary background to understand them.
Nothing takes the place of personal attention in learning new technique (boy, do I know that).
Those who learn via a tape never understand the techniques on a comprehensive level. Think, if you
saw Sanchin on a tape without any explanation from a qualified instructor, would you understand it
at all? I don't think so. What would make learning, say Jujitsu, or a weapon system, any different.
Technique, many times, may seem easy when viewed, but we all know it's the little things like body
movement, and focus that make technique work, and who's going to show that on a video
conclusively?
Yours in Budo,
Mike