Shotokan Karate Videos

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At Legend, we pride ourselves on our productions, and here are some short descriptions of the products that we have produced.

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Brennan - a Profile

Frank Brennan has a history that is unequalled by any other British karate-ka. This programme pays tribute to his outstanding ability as a fighter and supreme kata exponent.

Take a look at some of his most dynamic fights, and listen to the comments of those who knew him as a young boy, and also from fellow KUGB squad members.
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Martial Arts Television

This programme was produced in 1992 as a pilot for a television series. A large programme budget was proposed, but as the intended audience was ultimately considered a niche market, the series was never completed.

The 45 minute programme contains interviews and action from Dave Oliver (TaeKwonDo) - Julian Meade (Okinawan weapons) - (Harry Cook) Children's First Dojo Visit - (Terry O'Neil) Profile of Honour - (Bob Rhodes) Visit to his famous Leeds Dojo - (Harry Cook) Historical Journey - (Tony Cassells) Aikido - and
finally The Warrior Story.
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1st WTKO UK Championship

The WTKO (World Traditional Karate Organization) held its first UK Championship on April 24th 2005 in Hemel Hempstead. The event was over two days: 7th Dan John Mullin and 6th Dan Richard Amos conducted seminars on the Saturday, and on the Sunday the main event was held. Teams and individuals, senior and junior, from the major British Shotokan Associations, as well as the USA entries, competed throughout the day, for a place in the finals.

The standard was so good, Legend Productions took the unusual step of including all the elimination rounds in kata and kumite. Our usual practice is to create fast action clips of the event, but Shotokan of this quality called for a different approach. The kumite was at a level that would (happily) exclude it from the tepid brand of karate that would be acceptable for Olympic 'sport' karate.

As 7th Dan Charles Gidely of the Shotokan Kyogi International stated, "This is the type of competition karate that made Shotokan the dominant style throughout the world. It's an exciting reflection of the art, rather than a boring game of fast tick."

The DVD is two and a half hours long, you can select either the kata or the kumite from the disc's menu.

Considering the fact that several Ippons were scored and the fighting was very tough, there were surprisingly few injuries, and what was particularly pleasing was the high level of sportsmanship shared between the combatants.
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Shotokan - Raw Power

We are all familiar with the maxims of the martial arts, and Shotokan has its fair share. Yes, we must always try to act in a manner that befits a karate-ka; inside and outside of the dojo; good manners and respect for our fellow man. We must always endeavour to perfect our character; follow the code; strive for perfection etc.

But, when it comes down to the bottom line, the martial arts are about physical power, indeed the very word martial means ‘war like’ and this programme certainly proves the point. With an average of 14 techniques a minute, or in excess of 400 clips this programme will leave you breathless. Featuring Terry O’Neil – Steve Cattle – Frank Brennan – Ronnie Christopher – Elwyn Hall – George Godfry in action against the Japan Karate Association, it is obviously all action.

Available on DVD or VHS tape, in any international television format, this programme is a MUST for all Shotokan students. This is the raw edge of Shotokan – not for the faint hearted.
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The Ultimate Aim

The concise history of the KUGB and Enoeda Sensei - inseparable
in the chronology of British Shotokan.

This programme contains rare film clips and tributes. Senior karate masters from Europe and the USA give their views on the past, present and the future of karate - especially with the spectre of Olympic 'sport' karate hanging over the art.

The programme is not simply a dry documentary. It contains
action clips from the early days of the KUGB - Sherry, O'Neil, Poynton, Cattle and many others. Hear how Enoeda was viewed as both a tiger and a gentleman in the USA in the early 1960s.

Legend Productions is the world leader in Shotokan action video and this programme has all the excitement and production values that our client base has come to expect. Harry Cook was the programme researcher, ensuring that names, dates and places are accurate. The inclusion of previously unseen footage, digitally enhanced, is certain to make this programme another 'must have' from Legend.
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The Art of War

A four-volume set of programmes that examines the fighting styles of some of the world's finest traditional fighters. Packed with over 2,000 breathtaking clips, recorded at major national and international events worldwide. The footage is unique and covers a time frame between the early 1970s up to the late 1980s. The vast majority of this material is Shotokan based and includes most of the world champions across those particular years, especially Brennan - Hall - Christopher - Best and many other top continental European fighters.

You will never again see this kind of combat: most of these events were judged using the FAJKO system of adjudication, which basically meant 'last man standing wins' and quite often this level of savage contact resulted in serious injuries.

The introduction of the WUKO system of kumite judging changed competition fighting from combat to point scoring between athletes and although this was inevitable, it sadly reduced the highly-charged excitement of championship fighting and, of course, crowd size as well. It is not uncommon these days to hear people decry traditional karate as being “ok in the Dojo but little use in a real situation...” – well, once you have seen some of this footage, you will seriously question that kind of statement.
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UNITY
The 1st E.K.G.B Championships 1991

This was indeed a memorable event, for as well as providing some excellent karate, it brought together all the major styles under one roof - Ponds Forge Sports Centre, Sheffield. The programme's title "UNITY" is apt in that such fighters as Molly Samuels, Wayne Otto and many more of England’s best were able to meet each other in the spirit of honourable combat.

The action was fast and at times furious, but fortunately there were no serious injuries. The notable absence of the KUGB (Karate Union of Great Britain) left the field wide open to other teams and individuals.

Total running time in excess of 50 minutes
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Face to Face

Terry O'Neill and Frank Brennan talk about their early days in Shotokan, their backgrounds and their views on the benefits of karate training. This documentary-style programme is supported by archive footage, including the famous Brennan versus Mori fight in Bremen, Germany 1980. Terry O'Neil, twice world champion and now a well established television actor, has always been famous for his kicking ability and dynamic fighting skills. Here, away from the spotlight, Terry talks about how Shotokan altered his life, and Frank, who is equally famous for his fighting ability, gives his views on the sometimes difficult area of referees and judges and the often poor attitude of competition fighters.
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1st Legend Championship 2002

This first Legend Championships was a brilliant success. Its success was not simply because the karate was good (and strong), but also because the behaviour of all competitors was of the highest order. It was also an acclaimed success because it brought many different style of karate together; not just Shotokan.

The Welsh team were on top form and their ladies’ individual kumite and kata performance was simply breathtaking – even managing to beat the Japanese at kata (ladies).

This video is 90 minutes of top class karate, a must for all karate-ka and the first record of what promises to be a long running event.
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The 10th Gichin Funakoshi Invitational World Shotokan Cup

Held in the beautiful Spanish town of Javea, this year the event brought together many nations, but all speaking the same tongue - Shotokan.

The kumite was hard and fast, the British team getting eliminated in the early rounds and the Romanian fighters every bit as tough as they were last year and every bit as successful. The kata was superb, but the Italian National kata and kumite team only made it as far as the early elimination rounds, which was something of a surprise and a pity. The Italians are usually excellent in all areas, but clearly on this occasion they were not at their best.

The demonstration by two of the British ladies had the crowd on their feet, and the male attackers on their knees!

This event is destined to become the main international Shotokan event - surpassing previous European and other world events. Under the newly formed SKDUN (Shotokan Karate-Do United Nations) the big hitters of Shotokan will all meet under the one world Shotokan body, each year in the defending country. Locations are already set for South Africa and New York.

This programme will leave you in no doubt about why the annual event is destined to grow. The solid kumite and fiery kata is bound to attract good Shotokan organizations - how could they stay away from such a top class event?!
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JKA Masters

See Enoeda, Kanazawa, Nito, Tomita as they demonstrate their particular brand of Shotokan.

These clips were all recorded over 25 years ago, and are unique archive clips. Enoeda is seen in his early days at the JKA (circa 1960) as well as in the 1970s. Kanazawa, Asano, Nito are shown performing both kata and kumite.
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The Heat of Battle

Elwyn Hall takes traditional Dojo techniques into the street and demonstrates once and for all the efficacy of Shotokan in the so-called 'real situation.' During the production of this programme, two of the men portraying attackers (both experienced Nightclub Doormen) were injured during the fight scenes. The actual fights were accurately reconstructed from police case notes on crimes of violence, and the reconstructions were recorded at the scenes of the original attacks.

Elwyn shows how original Shotokan techniques can prove devastating when applied without any concern for control, and how modern karate has been watered down to accommodate competition fighting - something that Funakoshi never intended.

Elwyn Hall was one of the KUGB's front line fighters for many years, and was noted for his strong attacking style of Shotokan - and during the 1985 ESKU championships, the German team gave him the name 'Herr Blitzkrieg!'
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1998 Gichin Funakoshi World Cup

This highly prestigious event, held over three days in England, created some stunning displays of kumite and kata. The use of kicks is rare these days (too risky) which usually results in bouts consisting of just fast punching and little else. This event was an exception with three Ippons being scored with kicks. The action was fast and aggressive, and for once, the kata was not a simple expedient to the main event and certainly not the usual clockwork performance that passes as interpretation these days.

There were brilliant examples of advanced kata by some world class performers, and particular mention must be made of Romania who produced a level of kata that is best described as 'inspiring.' Two tapes are available showing the edited highlights: Volume 1 covers kumite and Volume 2 the kata. Each tape contains the best action from over 13 hours of recorded action. A must for any Shotokan student.
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Tanaka - The Master

Tanaka is truly a legend in his own lifetime. This remarkable programme takes us inside the JKA to show this master tactician with his teaching class as well as some of his JKA fights. There are also comments from some Shotokan world famous names, telling of their views on Tanaka.

Recorded Circa 1985 this is a documentary-style programme and, once again, is a must for any keen Shotokan student.
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British Shotokan Open 1996-97-98

This event brings together the finest Shotokan exponents in the UK and has now established itself as THE PREMIER National Shotokan event in England. Dave Hazard (ex JKA), Elwyn Hall (ex KUGB), Ronnie Christopher and George Best - just some of the world class champions that appear in this set of programmes.

Each volume contains edited highlights of the finals in kumite and kata, as well as demonstrations from the above Shotokan legends. A genuine attempt to put the fire back into British traditional karate and compulsive viewing.
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The Big Hitters

Clips from traditional karate as well as semi full contact fights, each clip showing the tremendous power that is generated by some of the hardest hitters on the circuits. The very best (most painful) sequences are repeated in super slow motion, so that the viewer is allowed to watch second by second, the delivery of the attack and the ensuing 'pain' of the recipient. Yet another recommended viewing for those who carp about the inefficiency of traditional martial arts.
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Women in Combat

Who said they were the gentler sex? These women certainly could never be described as gentle. Well, not when it comes to fighting anyhow! Clips from various parts of the world show that women are just as capable as men when it comes to inflicting damage on their opponents.

Karen Finley of Great Britain takes centre stage and displays ability and spirit that many men would be proud of.
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The Karate Athlete

We have all watched with envy the ability of the world's best karate fighters and it is reasonable to suppose that they are blessed with some kind of gift! Well, that is not the case. How many times have you entered an event and found that what you did in the Dojo was of little use when it came to scoring a point against a fast moving and determined opponent?

Ian McCranor (ex British Team member) takes us, step by step, through the applications of the most popular scoring techniques and, with constant reference to actual competition footage, Ian manages to create an extremely useful training programme for the aspiring champion.
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The 2000 Gichin Funakoshi Championship

Once again this event lived up to previous years in terms of fighting spirit and truly excellent Shotokan kata. The Welsh showed their true ability in this event, dominating the kumite at all levels and almost taking the kata events. The European contestants did not prove easy though, and the spirited fighting, particularly from the ladies, proves this point.
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Masters of the Art

The Karate Union of Great Britain. Truly Masters of the art and their past record stands witness to this. Success however always attracts the cynic and the KUGB is no exception, but even their most ardent critic could not deny their consistency.

Since the mid-1960s they have been at the forefront of British karate and also champions of Europe. Their brand of kumite has been described as aggressive; their kata as inspiring. Whatever your view, it can never be denied that they always demonstrated courage, aligned with dignity, in the true spirit of Shotokan karate.

This programme pays tribute to the organisation, and in particular to Sensei Andy Sherry, the main force behind the KUGB.
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Cardio-Kumite

A 30 minute programme based upon the Tai Bo (karate moves as a workout) system. This programme was recorded in the USA and was originally intended as a documentary for the BBC by award-winning director Allan Bardsley.

The main workout is an extremely demanding 20 minutes in length and only the very fittest athletes could manage to complete it. Ian McCranor, a 6th dan ex-British Team member fronts the action, and the first nine minutes of the programme explains in an easy to understand way what you should be trying to achieve without running the risk of overdoing it. Emphasis is on cardio improvement and also enjoying each session. No karate experience is required.

It’s fun and it works!
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Elwyn Hall Looks Back

A breathtaking montage of clips covering the distinguished career of this international fighter. The programme also contains the clip in which Elwyn beats Frank Brennan – a rare event.

Elwyn Hall was always regarded as one of the Karate Union of Great Britain’s ‘hard men’ - sent out as the first team fighter. His solid aggressive fighting style was usually enough to cause the opposing team to feel a little ‘shaken’ or unnerved. The paradox is that, outside of the competition arena, Elwyn is one of Shotokan’s gentlemen and has always been a credit to the KUGB, as well as an international ambassador for the art.
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Grandmaster Ip Chun

An ancient story tells how, three hundred years ago, a nun fled from the destruction of the Shaolin Temple and brought the world a method of unarmed combat par excellence. This previously secret art is now the most widely practised Kung Fu system throughout the world.

Ip Chun is the son of Ip Man - Bruce Lee’s instructor. In this programme the Grandmaster performs the two forms against the Wooden Dummy and then the forms sole, and finally the applications. The footage contained in the programme is unique and is only available from Legend Productions.
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Classic Demonstrations

Some of the clips featured in this programme date back as far as 1971 and, although some of the footage is not of the best quality, the dynamic action more than makes up for this. By current-day standards, even the action may seem a little ‘stilted’ but nonetheless, in its day, this kind of action brought crowds of thousands to their feet.

There are recorded incidents of broken bones and split eyelids as well ‘orthodontic alterations’ as a result of these demonstrations. A certain very well-known Japanese Sensei was, on more than one occasion, heard to utter, “Sorry” just as he was about to execute a certain part of the demonstration (or even the attacker!)

Sit back and enjoy a little of the nostalgia that this programme will create, or perhaps even thrill at the magic that these early karate masters used to focus our attention on The Art of Karate.
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1st World Traditional Karate Organisation Championship

This landmark event brought together some of the finest karate exponents in the world. The event, held in New York on the 24th and 25th of March 2001, was under the guidance of 8th Dan Abe Sensei, (Japan Shotokan Karate Association).

The kumite was superb and dramatic - the kata was Shotokan at its very best. The USA managed to clinch victory, narrowly defeating the British FBSKU(i) team. The junior section, held on the Saturday, was also full of promising talent of the future. The event also featured an outstanding demonstration by 6th Dan Richard Amos.
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For further information on any of the above, or on discount purchasing, please:-

Email us on info@legendtv.co.uk

Call us (24 hour answering line) (+44) 01204 791 038

FAX us on (+44) 01706 712 102

We accept all major credit cards and tapes can usually be dispatched the same day.

Written information, cheques or orders to:

Legend Productions
28 Wood Edge Close
Moses Gate
Bolton
BL3 2PD
United Kingdom