Company: Bernie Lau Productions
Tape Name: Aiki Jujitsu Hiden
Tape Cost: 39.95
Length of Tape/Time: 1 hour
Number of Moves/Techniques: Approximately 135
Return Policy: Don't Know
Experiences in dealing with this company: Don't Know
The Instructor: Bernie Lau
Company's Address: PO Box 299, Mountlake Terrace, Washington 98043
Company's Phone Number: Don't Know
Web Page: http://www.seattleschoolofaikido.org/about_icho_ryu
Another Link: https://www.facebook.com/bernie.lau.3
E-Mail: Don't Know


Main Grading Criteria

Production/Tape Quality: 10
Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
Comprehension Score: 7
Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 8
Degree to which we would recommend this product: 8
Score on delivery vs hype: 9
Wasted Time (The higher the number, the less " fluff "): 9
Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over again): 9
Would I purchase more of this company's products: 8
Overall grade based on cost vs value: 10

Grand Total: Revised to 88% ( Fair = 2 Stars ) Original score was 90%


Secondary Grading Criteria

Beginners: Fair
Intermediate: Fair
Advanced: Good
Time to benefit: Advanced martial artists will receive the most benefit The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: Yes. The tapes on Complete Techniques of Aiki Jujitsu, Volumes 1 and 2.


Written Summary:

I suppose that no tape series that deals with the aiki arts such as aiki jujitsu and it's cousin aikido would be complete without a tape dealing with the mystical side of the martial arts. These tape goes into the hiden ( the secret or hidden ) techniques of aiki jujitsu. This tape deals with the subtle things that make certain techniques effective. While not a lot of techniques are actually shown, the examples of correct breathing and body alignment are discussed at length.

The thrust of this tape is that the techniques of aiki jujitsu and aikido come from Japanese sword fighting skills that were in place in feudal japan over 1000 years ago. The empty hand version of a technique is shown followed by the identical technique using a sword. I found this extremely interesting. But to a beginner or intermediate student in the martial arts, I think this degree of complexity is a bit much to comprehend. This is indeed a difficult video to review. I know what Mr Lau and the other instructors are saying, but I wonder how many years these people have invested in training to develop the level of skill that they have acquired. The answer, probably quite a few. I deeply admire the level of skill that is shown on this video. There are some truly amazing feats performed. This is a video for someone who has been in the martial arts for sometime and can fully appreciate the level of skill and ability shown by the practitioners. Still, this video is a fitting conclusion to Mr. Lau's video series on aiki jujitsu because it shows the viewer what is possible if one devotes one's life to the study of the aiki arts. Well done, Mr. Lau.

CJ


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