I'm clearing out many of my martial arts DVDs as I need the space. Up for auction is 'Japanese Shotokan Karate Essential Basics - Kicking Techniques' by Sensei Joel Ertl and Sensei Anita Bendickson. This is the original DVD & case slipcover.

These are much sought after DVDs, sadly no longer produced, as EP Productions have changed completely to an online streaming service which breaks up sections of their original DVDs for an online delivery platform.

I collected as many of this series as possible. This particular DVD, “Essential Basics Volume 3” is surplus to my collection because I managed to obtain all 3 volumes of the Basic Essentials series as a 3 DVDs set, so I’ve decided to put this volume up for auction.

Of all karate actions, kicks and sweeps are some of the most difficult techniques to master. This DVD teaches you the dynamics necessary to deliver fast, powerful kicks and sweeps that are effective and practical. The techniques are broken down into easy to learn fundamental principles.

The use of menus and chapters allow you to jump directly to the section you wish to practice. This DVD shows you how to use natural movement to develop good balance and control over your body weight to create momentum and then convert this momentum into force through the use of snapping and thrusting actions.

In this DVD the front snap, side snap, roundhouse, side thrust, front thrust and back thrust kicks are broken down in detail using principles which are easily applied to all kicking techniques. This also includes instruction in how to applies these concepts to the use of sweeping techniques. Practice drills for self-training are presented to help you develop a better understanding of these actions.

Kicking techniques can be very powerful. The momentum necessary to create force is especially easy with kicking techniques because of the size and strength of the legs and the direct connection between the legs and the hips.To convert momentum to force an abrupt change in speed at the end of a technique is necessary. It is also important to deliver the force of the blow to the smallest possible striking area. This concentrates the impact on a single point, and delivers the impact in the shortest possible period of time.

Broadly speaking kicking techniques can be divided into two main categories - thrust kicks and snap kicks.

A thrust kick utilizes the same principles of focusing as an arm technique such as a punch. A thrust kick brings the leg to an immediate stop on impact with the target, locking the kicking knee into position, so there is no give on impact.

A snap kick uses a striking action that recoils as soon as contact is made. This minimizes contact time so the shock of the blow cannot be reabsorbed into the body.

With either focusing or snapping actions the proper use of the muscles and control over the supporting leg and hips to maintain balance is necessary to create techniques with maximum force.

In most self-defense situations it is better to try and keep kicking techniques simple and direct.

In Shotokan, the karateka learns to make each type of kick, for example the front kick, adaptable to many different situations. By using proper judgement of distance and timing a basic kick can be adapted to be very effective in a wide variety of situations. By developing a high degree of proficiency with the basic kicks the karateka can avoid unnecessarily complicated manoeuvres.This allows the karata-ka to be more versatile in the unpredictable situations and environments encountered in self-defense.

World wide, Shotokan is the most practiced style of traditional karate. The reason for this popularity is obvious to anyone who takes a close look at the art. The tremendous power generated by the techniques of Shotokan make for very effective self-defense. The degree of effort and control necessary to generate that force also makes Shotokan one of the best forms of exercise available.

Shotokan karate is not easy to learn without proper instruction. It is filled with subtleties and small details that are extremely important to the art of Shotokan. Even those who are lucky enough to receive quality instruction can get frustrated because it seems like too much to learn all at once.

This series of Shotokan Karate DVDs make available a level of instruction that is only available at the top Shotokan karate schools in the world. Discover, through this DVD, the quality instruction and the information you need to allow you to reach the next level of performance in your martial arts.

Sensei Joel Ertl and Sensei Anita Bendickson bring top level instruction in the art of traditional Japanese Shotokan Karate right into your living room through this DVD.

Sensei Ertl began training in Shotokan karate in 1973. He received his 6th degree black belt received from Master Hidetaka Nishiyama in 2004. His instructor is Master Robert Fusaro.  Sensei Ertl has been teaching karate for the Midwest Karate Association on a full time basis since 1976. Since 1979 he has been the chief instructor for the Midwest Karate Association of St. Paul.

He is currently the Regional Director of the Traditional Karate North Central Region (NCR) for the American Amateur Karate Federation (AAKF). He is a member of the NCR Technical Committee, and a qualified judge with the World Traditional Karate Federation (formally ITKF).

When competing in tournaments, he was a prominent competitor. His many accomplishment include first place in Individual Kata at the 1989 AAKF National Tournament. He was also a member of the Minnesota kumite team in 1983 which took first place in the AAKF National Tournament.

Sensei Anita Bendickson began her karate training in 1975 under Master Robert Fusaro. She received her 5th degree black belt in 2007 from Master Hidetaka Nishiyama.

Along with her teaching duties at the Midwest Karate Association of St Paul, Sensei Bendickson also teaches many self defense courses around the Twin Cities area. Among these courses are accredited classes at the University of Minnesota, Macalester College and the University of Wisconsin in River Falls. Along with these classes she is in constant demand for self defense workshops by area corporations and community groups.

Anita is also a member of the NCR Technical Committee, and a qualified judge with the World Traditional Karate Federation (WTKF).

Now retired from competition, Sensei Bendickson has many tournament accomplishments to her credit. Among them are the AAKF national women’s individual kata championship in 2001. She was also the women’s kumite champion in 1982 and 1989. She has been a member of the national champion synchronized kata team many times. As a member of the USA team she competed in the 1983 ITKF World Tournament in Cairo, Egypt and again in 2000 in Bologna, Italy.

Although this DVD is the third in a series of DVDs from EP Productions in the Essential Basics of Japan Karate Association Shotokan Karate series, this DVD stands alone as a master class in kicking techniques. It should be of interest to any practitioner of Shotokan karate and anyone interested in improving their kicking techniques, regardless of which style of martial arts they practice.

Please see my other listings for further DVDs in Shotokan karate as I clear out a lot of my collection.

Note: That all DVDs are sold on a non-return basis. I won't accept returned DVDs however in the unlikely event that a faulty DVD is received I will offer a refund but only on the receipt of the returned faulty DVD. All the DVDs I have up for auction are from my own personal collection which has been collected over many years in the martial arts. They have been well cared for and properly looked after including cleaned and polished regularly. 

If you've ever purchased a DVD from an online auction site or from an online retailer you will be well aware of the disappointment and frustration caused by DVDs that freeze, stick or don't play properly? All the DVDs I have up for auction are guaranteed to play flawlessly. All have been checked personally before listing to ensure there are no issues with the disc. 

Each DVD sold at auction has been checked to ensure that they play flawlessly before putting them up for auction. A percentage of all proceeds go to support NOWZAD Dogs, a charity that rescues dogs and other animals from war torn conflict zones and re-homes them in non-conflict zones so please bid as generously as you can as every penny helps.

Check back regularly as I'll be listing more of my collection on eBay over the next few weeks.