Using videos to supplement training

[tango]

Sorry, I'm not sure what forum to put this in, so I'm just plopping it down here...


How many folks here supplement their training by watching videos?

I remember having an old copy of the All-Japan Police tournament (circa 1980 I think) and watching that thing constantly. At that time, we had some folks in our class that had been to Japan, but we had no Japanese in our class.. and I think watching that video helped me to understand a lot of things better -- movement, attacking in shiai (vs. regular geiko), etc. etc. .. I really think it helped me to progress a little faster when I was first starting out in kendo.

I only have one video now of the WKC that were held in California a couple years ago. I've since loaned it to some folks in class and I haven't seen it in over a year(!?!?!?!)..

So I'm just curious if anyone uses videos specifically to help in training, i.e. "stealing" techniques, trying to "see" better seme, etc., versus using videos for pure entertainment value..

What kind of videos do you like? Tournament only? Instructional-type?
And does anyone have any recommendations?

Thanks!
tango

PS: Guess that first option should read "2 or less" rather than "less than 2"...

[kendokamax]

I think watching video is great for own kendo improving...

looking at certain details and also it is inspiring to see strong kendo player.

also looking at your own kendo on video from tournament to tournament is great!

BTW

Today I went to see the 4th University Shinjin (new university student (1st and 2nd years) girls kanto tournament) !

It was so freaking impressive!....Tsukuba (spell?) won for the 4th time in a row..
I just couldnt believe how strong these girls were. They looked stronger than most of the guys in Budo University.

And their kendo was super clean .. Crazy stuff.. Im pretty sure they would be able to beat Team Canada (the guys team).

suge---

[hwarangdo]

i watch tourney videos as well and i agree they can be helpful.

as one point early in my training (3, 4 month?), i almost felt like i was cheating in sparring because i was using moves i had only previously seen in the videos, not from my master's instruction. i was actually getting praised on my moves, but later i realized that i was neglecting the basics of kendo, which often you won't see (or be able to see) in the tourney vids - these guys are pros after all - and this might've hurt my kendo as well as help.

the trick for me was to disect the advanced tourney moves into the basic moves (using slo-mo), and then practice the basic moves over and over and watch them evolved naturally back into advanced moves.

of course you need to spar a lot, and you need a good idea of body mechanics to understand how the advance moves came about.

now when i spar beginners and see them use advanced moves, i can counter easily because, well, i've seen the same videos probably.

[J. Schitt]

All the Star Wars movies.

J.