Product Details

• Directors: George Alexander
• Format: Color, Full Screen, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Rated: NR (Not Rated)
• Studio: Yamazato Productions
• DVD Release Date: October 22, 2000
• Run Time: 60 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B00015400U
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #309,998 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Editorial Reviews

This is Kendo Today with Sensei George Alexander

Finally! An instructional video on the art of Kendo, Japanese swordsmanship. This exciting video fully explains the techniques of modern kendo. Kendo is both an art and an exciting sport. Its roots lie deep in the culture of Japan and the spirit of the samurai warrior. This is Kendo Today features Sensei George Alexander as your instructor. He is a world renowned martial arts teacher and author. He fully explains how to where the dogu protective armor, the use of the shinai, bamboo practice sword, as well as dojo etiquette. This video gives a concise explanation of the techniques of kendo including fighting postures, stances, footwork, basic strikes, warm up drills (kiri kaeishi), explanation of Zen concepts in swordsmanship and much much more! This is the video you’ve been waiting prearranged sparring drills (Yakusoku Renshu), combination strikes (Nidan/Sandan Waza) and sword point control. It also includes many "never before seen on video" advanced sparring (Keiko) techniques such as shikake waza (Attacking Techniques), Oji Waza (receiving Techniques) and an for on Kendo! "A Great Video to Learn Real Kendo" says Dr. Gordon Warner author of the book This is Kendo. 90 min.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Good intro, especially for sport enthusiasts, not traditionalists., October 8, 2005

By 

Mark J. Barolet (Savannah, GA. USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This is Kendo Today (DVD)

It does a good job of going into what the sport of Kendo is today! I have no experience and I'm only just about to visit my first kendo class, but from what I have read (several books now) and have seen pictures of (both the intro to this video and in the books) this video is more focussed on the sport aspect of kendo than the art (justu-form) or martial way of this particular doctine of combat.

Pros:
-Decent summary of background and history.
-Shows several sets of the same techniques or strikes.
-Illustrates and explains armor and how to wear it.
-Great overview of the sport of kendo.
-Shows good examples of warm-ups and drills.

Cons:
-While for beginners, it doesn't show bowing techniques.
-Doesn't show any kata at all.
-Shows several "advanced techniques" which should be omitted.
-Foot positioning is a bit different than what most books show.
-Doesn't focuss on the "-jutsu" or traditional art-form.
-Doesn't discuss how the "-do" (the way) relates to life.
-focus is on the sport or "point-scoring" aspect of kendo.

9 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent instructional DVD, October 25, 2004

By 

M. A. FORTE "crabbi" (Dorset, UK) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: This is Kendo Today (DVD)

Very well presented, thorough and accessible.

A great intro to Kendo with some very insightful advice.

This item is also sold in a different cover on Amazon as 'This is Kendo - d' so don't make the mistake that I made of buying both!

1.0 out of 5 stars Don't waste your money!!!, May 2, 2008

By 

John N. Maisonneuve (USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: This is Kendo Today (DVD)

Don't waste your money. Alexander is so inept and this dvd is so bad it can't help anyone. This is one of the worst kendo dvd / video out there!