Is it possible to learn the kata from the tape? Do you give the cadence ect.. Also any bunkai apllications?
Thank you in advance
Sensei Bill Question on your superimpei tape
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brothermanontario
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Bill Glasheen
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Good questions.
It is POSSIBLE to learn a whole form from a tape. To wit... I first learned how to do it from a grainy film of Simon Lailey doing the form several times. George and Simon just headed to a gym and George started the camera rolling. And Simon didn't even do the form the same way twice.
George then sent the tape to me, and said "Learn it, Bill."
George has done that to me before. But then I learned Sil Lim Tao (the first Wing Chun form) from still pictures in a very old book.
I will say, however, that trying to learn the form from a tape is very difficult. I subsequently met Simon, and he corrected a lot of stuff in my form. There were details that I just didn't get down from the film, and that is to be expected.
The more martial arts experience you bring to something like this, the easier it is to do.
The perfect combination is to have me work with you at camp, where I can help you "walk through" the form. Then get the tape/DVD from George, and memorize the sequence.
There was a seventeen-year-old in Germany who got a PAL standard version of a VHS tape before I paid a visit there. His mom let him clear the living room of furniture, and he started watching and doing. I then spent 2 classes with the Germans going over the form. After the second class, someone told me that this young boy wanted to show me the form. He did, and I was most impressed.
On the tape, I do the form at various speeds. Cadence is suggested at the fast(er) speeds. I don't really go all-out on any of them. That's quite an athletic feat; it's a 3-minute form done all-out.
We work on bunkai applications at camp. I haven't yet done a tape of that, but I may in the future. I just need a little more time so I can let some of my thoughts gel more. I don't want to leave a legacy of teaching people how to defend themselves from Samurai Swordsmen trying to cut their legs off...
- Bill
It is POSSIBLE to learn a whole form from a tape. To wit... I first learned how to do it from a grainy film of Simon Lailey doing the form several times. George and Simon just headed to a gym and George started the camera rolling. And Simon didn't even do the form the same way twice.
George then sent the tape to me, and said "Learn it, Bill." George has done that to me before. But then I learned Sil Lim Tao (the first Wing Chun form) from still pictures in a very old book.
I will say, however, that trying to learn the form from a tape is very difficult. I subsequently met Simon, and he corrected a lot of stuff in my form. There were details that I just didn't get down from the film, and that is to be expected.
The more martial arts experience you bring to something like this, the easier it is to do.
The perfect combination is to have me work with you at camp, where I can help you "walk through" the form. Then get the tape/DVD from George, and memorize the sequence.
There was a seventeen-year-old in Germany who got a PAL standard version of a VHS tape before I paid a visit there. His mom let him clear the living room of furniture, and he started watching and doing. I then spent 2 classes with the Germans going over the form. After the second class, someone told me that this young boy wanted to show me the form. He did, and I was most impressed.
On the tape, I do the form at various speeds. Cadence is suggested at the fast(er) speeds. I don't really go all-out on any of them. That's quite an athletic feat; it's a 3-minute form done all-out.
We work on bunkai applications at camp. I haven't yet done a tape of that, but I may in the future. I just need a little more time so I can let some of my thoughts gel more. I don't want to leave a legacy of teaching people how to defend themselves from Samurai Swordsmen trying to cut their legs off...
- Bill
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Spitkicker
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Bill Glasheen
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As someone who does a lot of exploring new kata from video, I will say that you can learn the basic form of a kata from video, and you can even get to the point of making a descent presentation of it. But there will be a lot of fine-tuning you'll miss that a knowledgable instructor can help you with. I would recommend that you already have some background in exploring on your own kata that you've learned from an instructor, and in understanding what kata try to teach you, before you try to learn one from video.
I never claim to truly "know" kata that I have learned from video, they are more something that I explore and play around with on my own.
Learning kata from video is certainly easier than learning them from still pictures in a book...a lot tends to be left out of those pictures!
I never claim to truly "know" kata that I have learned from video, they are more something that I explore and play around with on my own.
Learning kata from video is certainly easier than learning them from still pictures in a book...a lot tends to be left out of those pictures!
Glenn
Would also keep in mind that while you can learn cadence from a video, you will learn BILL'S cadence. Don't get me wrong, Bill's cadence is excellent and my cadence is basically Bill's cadence because that's what I learned and haven't seen a better method. But it is ultimately an individual choice once you're familiar with the form. Perhaps especially true with this form which, as the story goes, was changing not only cadence-wise but in the actual sequence and techniques as a "living kata" at least in its natural habitat.
--Ian
