Search - KANAZAWA MASTERING KARATE: KUMITE on DVD

If you study Shotokan Karate, get this video

Joseph C. McDaniel | Phoenix, Arizona | 10/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First, the production values aren't much.

Second, the living legend, Kanazawa, doesn't do much on this except talk a little in heavily accented Japanese, and direct his students.

Third, IF YOU ARE A SHOTOKAN STUDENT, you want this dvd.

The quality of the technique is inspiring.

The exercises presented here are a part of the graded stepping up process that Shotokan Karate students go through as they move up the food chain to higher belts.

In specific, here you'll see five-step, three-step, and semi-free sparring exercises, and some stuff applicable to free style sparring.

But you know, watching Kanazawa's students go through their drills is inspiring, because you get to see what it's SUPPOSED to look like when karate students go through drills.

This sort of exercise is a little like doing scales on a piano to a piano student. It's a necessary part of getting to the big-boy exercises that have made Shotokan Karate the most practiced style of karate on the planet.

On the other hand, if you are a student of judo, or BJJ, or aikido, this dvd may not be useful to you. The exercises are somewhat formal, and somewhat Shotokan-specific.

If, however, you are a Shotokan student, you will watch these and say, "Boy, I wish my technique were as perfect as that!" And then you'll run out and practice some more.

And that's a good thing!"