Sensei Richard Amos

[simon]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XLV3D8coZWw

World karate authority great preview

[fujicolt]

Ok - as usual - I'll be the one.
An accomplished karateka - maybe - but mastery of it - not so - go look at the section on gohon kumite - the distancing is appalling - the attacker WOULD not have hit him even if he had not blocked - AND if you look at the timing THE ATTACKER is leading - two of my main complaints with the way tis oft taught.

to film it, check it and then publish it does not seem (to me) to be Mastery!

sorry folks but someone had to say it this is why observers of Basic Shotokan drills often refer to them as dancing drills - however - if taught correctly they can be damn hard work.

I suspect i'll get a lot of flack cos Mr Amos is well known but i personally know club instructors who could match or surpass what i have seen here - go check out Dave Hoopers legacy in the Bangor - North Wales region and you'll see much smoother stuff IMHO.

[shotokan101]

I have to agree with Steve here - if that Demo video shows "mastery" of Shotokan then I'm pretty well content with my standard now and shall stop training immediately.

IMO there's a few problems/faults evident in that performance.

I know of Simon from this board and other forums etc. and I respect his kata performances enough to suggest that he must be "having a laugh" here

Jim

[fujicolt]

I actually spotted the smiley but didn't want to risk too much so toned down my 'critical analysis' - could have gone further as could most whilst looking at vids - that is why i beleive they can be a great training aid - the camera does not lie - well without interference it'll give you a good chance at the truth!

but to put it out as mastery with a zen/yoga practitioner as your 'yeah this is good stuff' guy!

[shotokan101]

Ah - you too spotted the "Breathing Guy" - interestingly he's been interviewed on TSW - would probably have been better PR (for the uninformed at least IMO) to have mentioned his JKA experience :-

http://www.theshotokanway.com/aaronhoopesinterview.html

Jim

[Robert S]

With regard to Richard Amos sensei's karate, I do not think people can actually fault his karate ; articulation, ability, technical knowledge, enthusiasm, pedigree etc.

You can attack the DVD as much as you wish, but I think you cannot attack his karate, he has proven time and time again that he has much to offer karate-ka.

Whoever is willing to train with him and listen to some of the objectivity he displays will realise he is actually a very decent person and karate-ka. He has also shown huge commitment in his recent karate endeavours that should be applauded.

Sorry to disagree with people here, but criticism should purely be on DVD Content. And there has to be a name that catches attention, so why not use the word 'mastery'?

[shotokan101]

Robert - I respect your opinion about Sensei Amos both as a person and with respect to his Karate ability- especially as I've never met or trained under Sensei Amos.

However I don't quite see your distinction between criticising the Demo from the DVD (as in the Karate shown being performed on it) and Sensei Amos' performance of Karate.

Or do you read the criticisms posted as being of Sense Amos himself asd opposed to the Karate demo posted ?

Is the implication that the Demo is not representative of Sensei Amos' Karate ability ?

Jim

[Robert S]

I feel the important point is that these DVD's currently are set/aimed for/at novice/intermediate level at best (i.e say 4 kyu and below). He is performing the distance etc. in the kumite that is normal within Japanese shotokan.

This the criticism can only be aimed at what he is teaching, and those criticisms are really coming from advanced karate-ka. For the target audience these are by far better than most. Not so much 'use your hips more' or that sort of comment, but articulate advice.

I have only seen the 1st two DVD's and think for the beginner level they are very good.

I am not sure senior grades should be looking too deep and commenting based on their own expectation of karate, when these DVD's are set below their level. Advanced should wait for their target tapes perhaps to be released then judge.

Richard is a very good karate-ka, and a very good instructor.

[Makoto]

I liked the karate in the video. As for the Gohon kumite, it is only training video, meant to teach the viewer of the video. I am pretty sure Amos can pick it up a notch and has done so in the past.

As for his skill, from what I have seen in the video, I thought it was pretty good. Yeah, he is a young master of karate. Why not. And yes, many of us can call ourselves masters as well.

Steve, you are so outspoken, I think so much so, you should at least post a youtube video of yourself. Why not a number of videos showcasing the many number of issues you have with karate. Actually, I would truly love to see it. It is not a money where your mouth is type of challenge. It is more so I want to see what you are talking about so much. I agree with most of it BTW. Not that you need my agreement or not. lol.

Please make a vidoe. There are not many good ones on the net, and I am sure you could add to the net.

[Bern]

Steve, you are so outspoken, I think so much so, you should at least post a youtube video of yourself. Why not a number of videos showcasing the many number of issues you have with karate. Actually, I would truly love to see it. It is not a money where your mouth is type of challenge. It is more so I want to see what you are talking about so much. I agree with most of it BTW. Not that you need my agreement or not. lol..

Just a quick note John, you must understand that any films of Steve where taken during the era of the Silent Movies and there are very few if any modern videos of him in action, but rest assued he knows what he talking about and can do it. A hour class of Steve breaking down gohon kumite is quite a thought provoking experience(and after the Silent Movie comment would not be a safe class for me to be in now)

Also you commented on Steve being outspoken, I must say had not noticed that about him before, has anyone else?

[fujicolt]

Ok guys - if i am reading you correctly it appears you are stating that as the Vids are aimed at kyu grades then the expectations are less -

why?

Whilst it is fully accepted that kyu grades themselves will not perform at the level of Dan grades - this isn't a film of kyu grades performing.

I commented on what was presented and my distancing and timing points stand - in 'japanese karate'.

I also accept that teaching via a filmed sequence is difficult but merely suggested that i do not think it is difficult to check points such as timing and distancing in something that you are to but forward as examples of 'what to do' to achieve Mastery of Karate.

And Makato I found your 'let's see a vid of you then' to be a distraction from the points i legitimately made on a discussion forum. Trying to personalise it to me (or anyone else who makes a point you do not agree with) is hardly gonna encourage free debate.

But heyho - give me the budget and equipment the guy had to make the vids and i am at least confident that I would check fundamental details before releasing it under the claims made.

I am sure Mr Amos is a dedicated Karateka and teacher - but i don't think he did his self any favours with the advertising clip i saw. and i note i aint the only one

and come on lads be fair - i didn't just leave it hanging - i opened another thread to explain the points i was making and to direct people to the fact that these are not knew points in relation to fundamental kumite drills. I was making the same critique 20 years ago - but here we are with the same mistakes/errors being put out there decades later.

I can assure you that (apart from Japanese Instructors) my experience of JKA trained Europeans has included quite some involvement with both Dave hooper and Dave Hazard and i can unreservedly assure you that they perform basic drills with a very different timing, distancing and intent than the clip referred to! this appears to be verified by others and adds the like of Aidan Trimble. Have we all now got to produce videos to justify our comments

If you disagree with the points i have made - plse explain why - tis that not what discussion forums are for = debate. I would be very interested to hear your points that justify (what i view as) incorrect distancing and timing - that IMHO teaches bad/poor habits. If you can prove me wrong - fine.

[fujicolt]

Oh and Bern

don't be ridiculous - why would I want to be involved in a 'silent' movie

Yer'll miss me when i'm gone you lot - yer'll have no-one to wind yer up (and hopefully make you think).

[simon]

I do agree Steve about bad habits created and I also agree if you are doing a educational video of karate the standard should still be top level regardless of what grade the video is aimed at

[Makoto]

And Makato I found your 'let's see a vid of you then' to be a distraction from the points i legitimately made on a discussion forum. Trying to personalise it to me (or anyone else who makes a point you do not agree with) is hardly gonna encourage free debate.

You have been very critical of videos made and posted. To the point that one must ask, lets see your appoved video suggestion, but better yet, lets see you do something. Good and correct karate does not need anything more than a capable person to demonstrate and some one to hold a camera. Seeing how, it is only a youtube video I am asking for.

If you want to make a higher budget video, then go ahead. But that would have no bearing on what you are trying to teach either way.

As my comments to be a distraction, only in terms of the way you want to control a thread. You can not expect for every thread to go the way you want it. It is called topic drift, which is a result of comments made within a thread. Sometimes it is enough for the need of a new thread, but in most cases it is the natural flow of things. I feel I am not hijacking the thread at all. Others can post and respond to what they want. I will not try to control what they post or talk about.

But I truly and honestly would like to see you on video. I also actually think what you have got to say and teach would be good. I am not trying to set you up. Break out the camera and do some amature videos. I plan on doing it some day soon. I think anyone who is going to be a frequent poster to forums and outspoken like you and I are, should only do what is right and post videos of what we are about.

What is even better about amature videos is that it is very hard to dress it up to make ourselves look good. It is more real, with pimples and all.

But, in the end it is easy to post comments on videos saying this guy is doing this wrong and that guy is doing that wrong. And everyone should follow this guy and everyone should do what that guy is doing. Very hard to move outside your comfort zone and post videos though for everyone besides your students and friends to see. To do that takes confindence in know what you are doing with your own karate is right and stands on its own.

[shotokan101]

John - I see what you're getting at here and FWIW I too would love to see Steve on video but TBH it's more a curiosity thing for me although of course a set of instructional videos or even "discussions on techniques/concepts" ALA Steve Morris would be even better.

However I don't like the inference that you need to be able to show technique on film at all (let alone show it "better") before you can comment on another's posted videos.

Yes it would be great if all the regular posters on forums such as this could/would film themselves occasionally and put them "out there" for us to see - hell I'd settle for a "Intro. Picture Thread" to put faces to names - but I'm certain that even the suggestion that it might be considered a "put up or shut up" environment would lead to a rapid decrease in forum involvement from al ot of interesting and valuable members here (and on most forums).

I too hope to be able to record my cr@p attempts at kata and make them visible - not particularly for "technical critique", although any feedback/would/will be useful if and when, - but mainly just because I want to at some point.

Jim

EDIT:...forgot to add - also you don't necessarily need to be able to perform a textbook technique to criticise a poor performance of a technique....