Aikido DVDs available in Europe?

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[Steve Pilling]

I have just started to train in Aikido and have a couple of weeks out over Christmas. I would really like to get a good DVD series to let me learn and train a bit if possible at home alone on the basic techniques. Looking in European versions of Amazon it looks like there are really no good DVDs explaining Aikido techniques. The only ones they have get terrible reviews. I did a search on this site for previous threads about DVDs (including the reviews) but only find DVDs from the US and Canada (which area bit of a pain to order and may not even work here)

So does anyone know of any good DVDs focusing on techniques that can be obtained here in Europe. I have only been introduced to Ikkyo, Nikkyo and Kotaegeshi so far so there is definitely a lot to learn and I am not getting any younger!

Any suggestions are welcome. And Happy Christmas Everyone

[Dazzler]

Hi Steve

Youtube would be my recommendation.

A lot cheaper.

There is a lot of stuff out there of course if you are desperate for DVDs...I'd expect most people to recommend their own instructor so to be different I'd say the DVDs of Saito Sensei are a pretty good reference for any group that uses weapons.

Techniques may vary considerably between organisations - who is the technical leader for your group? Maybe ask them?

D

[grondahl]

Aikidojournal.com and Budovideos ship to Europe as well. Also Aikidostore.com has a good selection of dvds. I personally like Hoa Newens dvds.

[Nicholas Eschenbruch]

Don't get DVDs on techniques unless they are from somebody of your style/ tradition.

If you want to get DVDs on principles, I recommend the ones by George Ledyard.

[sakumeikan]

See British Birankai Web page for contact regarding dvds.

[Mark Freeman]

Personally Steve, I would recommend holding off on the DVD's for a while. At least until you have a solid grounding in the style of your teacher. Then I would ask him if he has any recommendations.

I am trying to imagine what it would be like if I was teaching a beginner and they were perhaps doing something that I knew was from a different style and then finding out that they had 'learnt' it from a DVD. My question might be, "then why come to me?"

Enloy what your club and your teacher has to offer, plenty of time later on, to explore all the relative differences in the world of aikido.

Rome wasn't built over the Xmas holidays;)

regards,

Mark

[Carsten Möllering]

There are a lot of DVDs which are not found on amazon but are published dircetly by teachers.
Ask Laurent about his teachers and your line of tradition.

[Steve Pilling]

Thanks for the replies. I did not know that there was so much difference between different styles. Of course a DVD can never replace a real instructor and I would never want to suggest this but my instructor has encouraged us to look at different techniques and I think that he would prefer that we learn as much as possible. I am only a beginner and the difference between the different styles at the moment are like learning German and worrying about whether I am learning from someone with a Schwabian or Bavarian accent. I need to concentrate on learning the basic techniques as well as I can. I think I can learn something from a DVD that will accelerate the learning process in the dojo. Don´t forget I am still at the "which hand am I supposed to be using stage?".

Of course Rome wasn´t built in a day but coming to Aikido as a 44 year old I can say that I don´t have the same relaxed attitude as I would coming in at age 24.

[Mark Freeman]

Of course Rome wasn´t built in a day but coming to Aikido as a 44 year old I can say that I don´t have the same relaxed attitude as I would coming in at age 24.

Hi Steve, why not? you potentially could have 30+ years of aikido ahead of you, a 24 year old might not have the the same level of commitment and could face all sorts of pulls from different directions eg. family career etc. which might get in the way of commited practice. One of the best old guys I practice with, didin't start until he was well into his 40's, he is now in his late 70's and is a joy to work with.

Relax, enjoy the journey and good luck figuring out which hand goes where:)

regards,

Mark

[Carsten Möllering]

I need to concentrate on learning the basic techniques as well as I can. I think I can learn something from a DVD that will accelerate the learning process in the dojo. Don´t forget I am still at the "which hand am I supposed to be using stage?".
That exactly is the reason to watch out for a DVD showing the basics of the style of aikido you practice, or better Laurent teaches to you.

"Which hand?" or even more "which foot?" differs from style to style.

[George S. Ledyard]

Don't get DVDs on techniques unless they are from somebody of your style/ tradition.

If you want to get DVDs on principles, I recommend the ones by George Ledyard.

Thanks Nicholas. I do think the approach I have taken to my own videos is quite different than that taken elsewhere. I teach body centered, principle based exercises and waza with lots of very detailed information. They are definitely "How To". Most of the videos I own seem to be more great Senseis showing what they do with little or no explanation. The best of them are thematically well organized and someone with experience can get a lot out of them but they really can't say they are "How To". Very few DVDs I have seen fill that bill.

Interested parties can find my dvds at:
AikidoDvds.Com (http://www.aikidodvds.com)

These are all region DVDs and I have sold them world wide with no problems.