Product Details

• Actors: Hazard, Masami Tanaya
• Format: Black & White, Restored, NTSC
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Number of tapes: 1
• Studio: Dragon Associates Inc.
• VHS Release Date: April 16, 1999
• Run Time: 25 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• ASIN: 6305434786
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #495,576 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

A really useful source of information for both the beginner and more advanced student of Kendo. It's particularly interesting to compare the high level kendo of the late 50s and early 60s shown in this archive production with today's training. Featuring various senior Kendo instructors, the demonstration of Omori Ryu Iaido sword drawing by Tanaya sensei is especially captivating.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Swordsmanship Instructor, February 8, 2001

By 

Guy H. Power (Moffett Field, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kendo - Japanese Fencing (Tsunami) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Presentation = 2.5 stars; Content = 4 stars; Intent = 5 stars

_Kendo: Japanese Fencing_ is a good historical video for the historian, martial artist, and anyone else interested in kendo. Its content is such that a professor-emeritus I know used this film in his "Japanese History" classes at San Jose State University. The strength of _Kendo_ lies not in its glitzy "bells and whistles" approach -- it has none. Rather, its strength is in its "time capsule" snapshot of kendo as it was in the early 1960s.

For those not old enough to remember, there existed a paucity of authentic information available to the martial art community in those "ancient" days. That which was available was largely judo-centric with some "jiu-jitsu," and a little karate thrown in for "esoterica." Absolutely *nothing* was available to people interested in kendo. Well, I guess this film was available, but only a select few had copies of it.

I'd choose this video over some others I could name; and, after 40 years of obscurity, I am glad that the film was re-discovered and brought to light.

_Kendo_ sits on my shelf right next to the video I have of the famous kendo and iaido master, Nakayama Hakudo. The Nakayama video is grainy and scratchy without sound (heck, it was made in the 1930s), and the images of him in the late 1950s do not show his at his best. But! C-o-n-t-e-n-t!! I get to see a master perform. I have this self-same feeling for Tsunami's _Kendo: Japanese Fencing_ video.

If you want to learn how to score "more-better" points at a kendo tournament, don't buy this video. IF, however, you want authentic historical documentary footage (by a US Army documentary film crew), this is definitely worth your hard-earned money.

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Kendo Japanese Fencing, May 1, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Kendo - Japanese Fencing (Tsunami) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

Depends on what you're looking for. This is a video of a 1961 B&W film, complete with scratches and splices. If you want to learn Kendo, find another video. Gives cursory attention to basic forms; includes some history and philosophy. No slow motion, no bells and whistles. The narration was dubbed in one take, complete with stumbles and mistakes. If you are a collector of martial arts material, it might be worth the money, since this film gives you a chance to see several masters in 4th-8th dans, most of whom have undoubtedly passed away, given that they were elderly when the film was made 40 years ago. Archaic in production and content. I'd send this one back if they'd take it.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valuable source for the professional martial artist., May 4, 2000

By 

John Edwards (Agoura Hills, CA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Kendo - Japanese Fencing (Tsunami) [VHS] (VHS Tape)

The beginner is unlikely to appreciate the importance of this program, while the experienced kendoka will delight in the performances of the instructors showcased in this 1960's production. This is kendo as it was-an art of fighting not a sport. It's almost impossible to find the power, grace, and fluidity these expert fencers exhibit in modern competition kendo which has abandoned technique and effectiveness in favor of the scoring point, the match, and the trophy. As a former national team member I can recommend this presentation without reservation.While it lacks modern (superficial) video effects it does offer solid, high quality instructional material that is of great practical and historical value to the serious enthusiast.