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| Essential Shotokan Vol. 2 |
This is the second of three videos in the Essential Shotokan series. Although each tape can be viewed in isolation of the other two, and directions how to use the tape are included in each, I think you should do yourself a big favor and not miss a single one. Frankly speaking, this is truly excellent work and production. All of the tapes are great.
But for now, let's try to focus on this one, Volume 2: Punching and Blocking.
The focuses of this tape are punching and blocking. Otis-Sensei explains in painstaking detail the lunge punch, reverse punch, short punch (jab), rising punch, rising block, downward block, outside block, inside block, knife-hand block, upper sweeping block, and the lower sweeping block. There is a ton of material on this tape (78 minutes!), so you will not feel like you are not getting enough material on this video.
I enjoyed the information that Otis-Sensei provides at the beginning of his demonstrations and instruction. Specifically, what I thought was excellent teaching is that Otis-Sensei takes the necessary time to explain the fundamental mechanics of the techniques he is about to teach. Before flying off to show all the punches and blocks, Otis-Sensei describes how to shape the fist, how to move the elbow during technique, and how to focus on keeping the muscles soft up until the moment of impact. We can see how he is craftily building on the first tapes discussion of focus. Just as he discusses how best to do technique, Otis-Sensei also takes the time to show where students have most of their errors in learning it for themselves.
Each technique is presented again slowly, and again has the basic, intermediate, and advanced applications for each. Throughout each technique we also can see the excellent footwork of both Warner-Sensei and Otis-Sensei.
As in the first and third tapes of the series instruction is given on three levels: basic, intermediate, and advanced. I found myself during the demonstrations on the tape standing in front of my television and following in detail the instructions Otis-Sensei was giving in each mini-lesson. Like the other two tapes, there is a lot of instruction going on here so it important to watch and practice alongside the tape repeatedly.
Insofar as criticism I have of this tape in particular, it is with the continual boogey- man of basics, and that is the raising of the heel during technique. There are different schools of thought on this "issue". On one hand, and rightly so, it doesn't really matter where the feet are, whether or not the heels are raised, just as long as at the final moment of impact the heel is planted. I agree with that and do not see a big problem with it. But, if these instructional tapes are geared for beginners than it is important to keep the heels down throughout.
Developing solid fundamentals in all elements of karate can later give license for deviation. In one sequence Warner-Sensei is foot swept extremely easily, and although that was part of the pre-arranged drill, it was doubly easy to do because his back heel was off the ground at the time.
Just as it is not good for your back to have a wallet in the back pocket of your trousers, it is not good for your fundamentals to be unbalanced on the balls of your feet. It is very important to have maximum surface area to stand on in your stances. But then again, other Shotokan students and instructors may disagree on this issue. As far as this tape is concerned, this "error" happens seldom.
As in Volume 1, Volume 2 is jam-packed full of very useful advice and demonstrations. Compare this work to what you see at the front of your dojo, you may be in for either a delightful surprise that you have a good teacher, or a tragic disappointment that who you are learning karate from may not have "the right stuff".
Watch this tape again and again. There is a lot of advice and suggestions that will be missed the first time through. I watched this tape four times and still found things I didn't see before. But then again, I might be particularly dense.
Excellent material. Highly suggested for all levels of karate-ka. Contact Gomez- Sensei or Otis-Sensei at :
www.essential-shotokan.com
info@essential-shotokan.com
http://come.to/gka
Mark Groenewold
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