Any suggested training dvd's for a beginner?

Hi all,

As the title implies, I'm a beginner having just started training in Tamworth in the UK.

I would be keen to find out if there are any suitable training DVD's which folks could recommend as a study aid for the technical as opposed to spiritual aspects.

Many thanks in advance,
Rich

I would suggest checking in with your dojo because many of the available technical dvds are specific to a style or instructor, and as a newbie you would find it very confusing to, say, be training in a Yoshinkan dojo and watching Aikikai dvds, or vice versa.

Ditto. Many dojo can let your borrow or you can buy dvd's from them.

Thanks folks,

The style of my Dojo is Iwama I believe, however I can see the validity of what you're saying. I trained in Tae Kwon Do previously with WTF and ITF styles being markedly different.

No harm in asking though

Rich

I found the DVD, "The art of falling", To be extremely helpful to me in learning ukemi.

If you are training in Iwama style, Aikido Journal On-Line has a full selection of DVDs of Saito Sensei - they are terrific. Ellis Amdur Sensei has a great DVD on ukemi that I highly recommend.

If you are Iwama style than your best bet would be the Takemusu Aikido videos by Saito Sensei . Chiba Sensei is also a big influence on Aikido in Britain so it might be helpful for you to check out some of his videos too at some point. But if your dojo is Iwama lineage, I would stick with Saito for now to avoid confusion.

If what you're looking for is video dealing with technique, I would strongly suggest that you consult your current instructor to find the resource that is the most exemplary in terms of the lineage in which you train.

That said, the development of martial technique depends on skill in the art of ukemi. In that respect, without regard to the lineage in which you train, there's no question in my mind whatsoever: Ellis Amdur's Ukemi from the Ground Up

You will be doing your body a huge favor without sacrificing any martial efficacy or adopting a system of ukemi that inevitably compromises your training partners' martial efficacy, and the longer you train, the clearer the benefit will become.

Best regards,

Fred Little

Thanks all,

I'll have a chat with my instructor and I'll mention the Saito Sensei dvd's to him.

Thanks again,
Rich

Hi Rich,

I agree that your instructor is the best referral source. However, I've found that the aikikai 5th kyu is pretty good, for the following reason:

1. It goes through basic rolls.
2. He talks about how important footwork and hand position are.
3. His terminology is easy to understand.
4. Here is where the concept of "positioning" and "opening" will be introduced to you.

I submit that while you can watch all DVD's you want, you will not learn technique from a DVD.

I respectfully suggest that you avoid the DVDs for now, until you get used to your instructor's language (how he explains the technique and the terms he uses (or she LOL). The best way to get confused is to try to learn from DVDs. They are informational and reference, when you have some context with which to understand
the information the DVD's provide.

You will learn from working with different training partners (of varied physical sizes), practice, practice and more practice. It's fun, when you discover the nuances of a technique and the way you perform it. I've also found that we all perform technique a wee-bit different, because we make adjustments for our body size, the training partner. Again, just my opinion based upon my experience and watching how my fellow dojo partners practice - not law by any means

BUT (LMAO)..Saito (IWAMA) is excellent, par none. Aikikai is easier to understand and integrates some saito movement (at least I think so).

I went on a bender one month and got Aikikai 1st - 3rd Volume, Morihiro Saito's lost seminars (two of them), Yoshikan volumes 1 - 3, Dr. Ah Li Loi, performing Shodokan Aikido. I love my collection, but it took me two years to really understand the differences between them.

I hope this helps a bit more....

Richard Toshney wrote: Hi all, As the title implies, I'm a beginner having just started training in Tamworth in the UK. I would be keen to find out if there are any suitable training DVD's which folks could recommend as a study aid for the technical as opposed to spiritual aspects. Many thanks in advance, Rich

As the others have pointed out, styles have their differences which may confuse you at the beginning -

Having said that, I enjoyed Aikido 3D whenever I first started out... I just wish they had more techniques on there, as its limited to that styles testing system and ours is a bit different.

Peace

dAlen

Antonia Williams wrote: I submit that while you can watch all DVD's you want, you will not learn technique from a DVD.

Indeed, a lot of the subtleties of what actually makes the technique work can easily be missing, and its easier to have live instruction at the beginning to help you better understand these points.

[again, the whole question of what making a technique work means is a whole different story with Aikido.]

After you gain certain concepts the DVDs become more useful... though live practice with Aikido really is what helps the most in understanding what does and doesnt work.

Peace

dAlen

p.s.
I will add I do enjoying learning the differences between the systems... or rather trying to figure out what they have in common, which turns out to be what makes the techniques from each style 'work'.

Richard, if I were you, before spending any money on DVDs, I'd look at some vids on youtube -- maybe some people here can recommend them. My reason for suggesting this is not because you may be able to get a freebie on youtube (which is controversial, and for good reason), but just to find out if video learning is really for you. Watch some vids first, see if the medium even works for you as a mode of instruction before you spend money on it.

Mary Malmros wrote: Richard, if I were you, before spending any money on DVDs, I'd look at some vids on youtube -- maybe some people here can recommend them. My reason for suggesting this is not because you may be able to get a freebie on youtube (which is controversial, and for good reason), but just to find out if video learning is really for you. Watch some vids first, see if the medium even works for you as a mode of instruction before you spend money on it.

True Mary,

I saw some Yoshinkan Aikido clips that were really cool.
The structure was something that drew my attention and which I liked.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qNbiiKpuv8k
well the above clip is in Japanese, but there is an English version... this is just an example, anyway.

Peace

dAlen

Onegaishimasu
I have been training in aikido for 25 years and I still like to watch the invaluable ukemi dvds by Donovan Waite Sensei.

In gassho,

Mark

It's my belief that the DVD's put out by the Shihan are great (Personally I rate Saito Sensei's as one of my top three). However, I don't believe that, as a beginner, that's the best course of action to turn to. They are very entertaining and educational, possibly one of the best resources to brush up quickly on any given technique.

But as a beginner, I found that without an instructor present to work with you, any student has the risk of developing bad habits and trying to emulate what they see on the screen. In contrast, if you work through something with another individual and a yudansha or sensei or just a senpai helping you, the DVD can only get you so far.

So, if you're dead set on getting a DVD, i agree with Ms. Rosen, Ashley Carter, try to find one within your affiliation/style.

But in the end, I find myself agreeing with Mr. Dalen Johnson the most...try to get the basic concepts before turning to a DVD.

Good luck in your training and keep at it!

-Greg T.

There are video's on my website for free. They are strongly Iwama influenced.

http://www.aikidostudent.com

I am a begginner and agree with what others have said in relation to differences in style and technique on various DVDs. However I was struggling a bit to remember the steps of jo suburi so I asked my sensei for his recommendation. He suggested the Saito DVDs for jo and ken. I have to say being able to slowly follow the steps in my own home over and over has made a big difference for me. I really feel like I have got a grasp on these techniques that I didn't have before.

However I am always aware that there may be some difference between what my sensei teaches and what is in the DVDs so I keep an open mind.

Chris Hein wrote: There are video's on my website for free. They are strongly Iwama influenced. http://www.aikidostudent.com

cool, thanks for the link - looking at them now.

peace

dAlen

Mark Uttech wrote: Onegaishimasu I have been training in aikido for 25 years and I still like to watch the invaluable ukemi dvds by Donovan Waite Sensei. In gassho, Mark

I second this recommendation.