self-critique using video?

[flounder-san]

Just a question, spurred by the glasgow-suburi-form-etc. thread on this board...


Have any of you ever used video recordings of yourself in group or solo practice to critique and correct your own form?

Have any of you been in a dojo where a sensei uses that for instruction?

Just curious!

[mashu19]

when we go to a practice comp we always take videos. i dont think its so much as to correct our techniques, but more of a `so this is what i look like` and `what the hell was i doing that for` sort of thing. it sort of helps to see oppertunities that you couldnt see while playing.

[yoda-waza]

In our dojo the sensei use their eyes. Much more direct.

[ben]

Video is great visual feedback. Everyone should use it once in a while. A lot of people who think they are putting into practice the changes recommended by their sensei suddenly get it when they see themselves. Often how we feel about our kendo is just that: feelings. Our opinion of ourselves therefore has little objectivity. Perhaps we feel that we aren't progressing as fast as we used to. I was chatting to Kuri about this after training the other morning. Problem with that is all our peers are probably improving, so the baseline keeps moving. Video can be a great way to get around this problem. Especially if, like me, you only see yourself on video once in a blue moon.

b

[nodachi]

I knew a guy who would set up a camera in an elevated spot in the corner of the gym to video tape each practice. He could then take it home and watch it to see what he was doing or watch the others as well. I think it was a brilliant idea. I don't think it is so effective to have sensei use the method because they are watching/correcting you as you practice anyway, but it is a great way to reinforce visually for yourself what you should being doing and see what you are actually doing.

[D'Artagnan]

I use video to helpo my kendo all the time, in fact I consider it vital.

However, be very careful when whatching videos of yourself. I think its very important to use video to highlight your bad points and give you something to think 'I need to stop doing that...'. But it is equally important to look for the positive points that you did also so you can think 'I need to do that more!'.

Just focussing on one OR the other is not good for your morale, which is an important factor in your kendo.

This, in my limited experience, applies moreso to us western folks, than to native Japanese players, as the teaching ethos in Japan (especially in schools and universities) is very different to our western ways.

[flounder-san]

I use video to helpo my kendo all the time, in fact I consider it vital.

However, be very careful when whatching videos of yourself. I think its very important to use video to highlight your bad points and give you something to think 'I need to stop doing that...'. But it is equally important to look for the positive points that you did also so you can think 'I need to do that more!'.

Just focussing on one OR the other is not good for your morale, which is an important factor in your kendo.

This, in my limited experience, applies moreso to us western folks, than to native Japanese players, as the teaching ethos in Japan (especially in schools and universities) is very different to our western ways.

Boy you aren't kidding.

Before moving to Washington, I lived in Michigan and was taking Wushu with an instructor in Ann Arbor. I'd worked through a couple of sessions of the basic class and was learning a weapon form for a public performance. I had no way to see how well I was doing, only Si-Heng's comments and suggestions.

At the public performance, he and his wife took video of our performances. I got my copy in the mail...

:confused2:confused2:confused2

Boy...I...looked...HORRIBLE

It devastated my morale (primarily because I'd not found a conveniently located Wushu instructor to train with in my new location and had stopped practicing - that is, it had been my one chance to do it).

Thinking about it long and hard... if I'd been able to go over it with my instructor, there were some things I could have taken away and used to make some HUGE gains:

1- my butterfly kick/slash was really good, the best I'd ever done...
2- the wheel cuts were ALL wrong, but just seeing it made me realize that I was approaching the move from 180 degrees the wrong direction, mentally...
3- my fitness was bad...BAD... I was about 25-30 lbs over my current weight, and I'm not slender...that was the most embarassing part, was seeing my gut flopping around
4- all in all, it wasn't bad considering I'd only practiced for a month or so...

You are very very right that it can be easy to be overly critical or supportive of yourself, but it's hard to beat the ability to watch yourself and actually SEE what you were doing...

[Charles Lockhar]

Have any of you ever used video recordings of yourself in group or solo practice to critique and correct your own form?

Have any of you been in a dojo where a sensei uses that for instruction?


Twice, once we recorded practice, once we recorded a tournament.

For the practice we recorded, it was pretty useful. Our sensei went over it with us, and pointed out things he'd been telling us we were doing wrong, but just weren't going in the right direction for fixing. It was kind of like one big series of "oh, that's what you mean" moments. Some things I did better because I knew there was a camera watching me ;o)

For the tournament, it was also interesting. I saw some things just fell apart under pressure, wouldn't have ever known it if I hadn't seen them.

I was actually thinking about setting the camera up for next week's practice.

-Charles

[JoDuncan]

Seen a video of me in it once, jeez i was rubbish... but at least i didn't fall over.

...The video was of kendo, just to be clear

[absenteekendoka]

I think video is a great tool for showing a students progress. If your Sensei or Sempai tape you during your first few practices or weeks of practice, then lets say again 3 to 6 months in and again after a year or more..........then you really see your own progress. The learning curve for Kendo can be a loooong one so this shows the students "Look at how far you've come!"

Might not be the best choice for all, but can be useful.

[Usagi_Yojimbo]

I took some video of my sensai to use so that when I practice I can try to see where he does it right and I go wrong and make the necessary adjustments.

I haven't been brave enough to be filmed myself yet! Some people at our dojo film themselves, and then film themselves 6 months later so they can see the improvements they've made, which I think is good thing. Sometimes you're making slow progress which you don't notice until maybe you do see film of you 'then and now'.

[joekc6nlx]

I ask someone (politely, of course!) to videotape my promotion exams for me, as I then videotape their exams, if they're taking them that day. If not, I'll do it for them when they are taking the exams. I will then take the tape back home, run it onto the computer, critique there, then make DVDs of each individual's exam and send it to them. I don't put anybody else's exam on each DVD, so there's no embarrassment for the other testees. I do make a DVD for Ariga-sensei that has everyone on it, so he can critique as he wants.

As the others have said, it is great as a diagnostic tool, and if your sensei has an opportunity to look at it and critique it for you, then it's even better. Plus, it serves as a way to see how far you've come and where you were before compared to where you are now.

[ghostdancer]

i attended a BKA summer school alot of years ago, the sensei (Sumi Sensei) used video critique as a teaching aid, god i looked a plonker !
but it made it very easy to see the points he was making about form and posture etc

[ne0r]

I also think self-critique through video analysis is a good way of seeing one's mistakes and also seeing one's good points.

We did a wholly taped practise once, unfortunately I didn't come there.

Oh, and usually non-internal tournaments we attend get filmed.

[MikeW]

I know a lot of people that use video to go over practice sessions including sensei. It is great visual feedback and a helpful training tool if used properly (that is it is a supplement to sensei feedback and on the spot instruction, not a replacement for them). I know Maeda sensei (7 dan) uses video and encourages others to do so as well. Not so much as part of class, but more for 'after class' study so to speak.

[ChaShu]

Had it done once at K-Camp, and it was an eye opener. I had it done early on in my bogu days, so there were some points to work on. I would really welcome it again now that I have less time for keiko as it will really be a help. I would think though, that for many, if not all sports would benefit from this, and I'm sure this is employed in the east as well as the west. Golf is a big thing in Asia and video feedback is such a major component of the "sport", and how about game tapes of football and baseball games? They're surely invaluable coach's tools.