Legend Productions has made another excellent DVD. Each time I have a chance to review one of their products I am always impressed, and very excited to have in my hands some very rare, just about impossible to get otherwise, karate material. Many thanks to Ged Morgan who continues to work at making this stuff available.
Karate in England has long had the reputation as being one of the toughest places on the planet to practice this art. After watching this video of so many of the KUGB’s top dogs fight, I am convinced. This is a production which takes you on a sensory barrage of kumite as some people have said it is “meant to be”: tough, demanding, and relentless. It was most enjoyable to see so much action put into one disc. The title of this DVD is aptly named.
Kumite practices in many places may have changed since the filming of quite a bit of this material and it gives me pause to think about why that is. Have kumite athletes and now kumite teachers come to some kind of realization that what we have had in sparring has been far too brutal? Have kumite instructors seen a “better way” to teach how to fight? Or have societal conditions, and an increasing litigious society taught instructors to be careful how they teach, and how hard the fighting elements of karate should be, for fear of losing to a plaintive in a court proceeding? It is difficult to say.
For those of you, particularly those in the UK, who have heard of the great number of fantastic kumite athletes that have come from that part of the world, this is a must see. The action is fast and furious. The editing is also quite excellent too, so there is very little wasted space in this material. I have never seen so many matches put on a single disc ever. This DVD is simply jammed with kumite matches.
I should apologize to the good folks at Legend for being so slow in getting this review out. They do very professional work, and most certainly deserved a more timely reflection on this production. For those of you who are interested in developing a top-notch library of karate material, you must take a very close look at the offerings of this company.
Keep your mouth-guard in while viewing.
Ippon!
Mark Groenewold Kanazawa, Japan September, 2004
Contact Information for Legend Productions:
Email: info@legendtv.co.uk
Call: (24 hour answering line) (+44) 01204 791 038
FAX: (+44) 01706 712 102
Legend Productions
28 Wood Edge Close
Moses Gate
Bolton
BL3 2PD
United Kingdom
http://www.legendtv.co.uk/