Quick Summary:
This video provides instruction in the Bot Jom Doh – Wing Chun Butterfly Knives – in a two volume set. The first Volume presents a brief description of the weapon’s history and its related differences in knife blade construction and dimensions. Hand techniques, footwork, practice drills with a complete showing of the forms 108 movements is presented.
Comments on Production:
Production styles in martial art videos may vary considerably. Quality in video production depends on cost… the basics: story board or script development, involving artist/writers, video/sound equipment and production staff. The skill level of the demonstrators or performers involved, as well as the environment or “physical plant” where a production is filmed are essential elements. These essential production aspects relate to professionally produced videos, including the “backyard” variety. All instructional facets in using the butterfly knives are demonstrated, are well-choreographed and formatted into topical sections or chapters.
Review Comments:
If one is interested in learning the basics of a form and techniques used in applications, this video on the butterfly knives is a good start. Each instructional section is presented with an excellent breakdown of a technique’s function. However, I have some reservations concerning the demonstration of the Butterfly Sword’s form and with several aspects of this video’s production.
First of all there is too much verbal discussion related to a technique… it’s a didactic approach, where in the martial arts that can be less effective in a student’s development of skill or understanding of how a technique works. Students acquiring a new skill in the martial arts, depends on their understanding of how one moves, that is what you move first, and not a lengthy description about it.
This style of pedagogy, whether presented on film or given in person, tends to influence a student’s learning as an “auditory-digital” sequence or process which could substantially increase the learning curve in mastering technique. In fact, a student can perform a sequence for years and really never get it! In this video, the instructional weapon sequence is there, however, not much else. The detriment in this approach is the student will likely process instruction within two or three sensory modalities. They become overloaded with too much verbal information while attempting to match what is said and how it is supposed to look and feel.
An instructional video of this nature should also focus on what’s important, without extraneous distractions. This video is accompanied with music… as an instructional medium, this aspect is irrelevant. One purchases a martial art training video for its instructional value and not for entertainment. The music presented, is a distraction and contributes nothing to its intended learning objectives.
Review Specifications:
Reviewer: George Hernandez
Presentation Title: Bot Jam Doh – Vol. 1
Presenters:Randy Williams
Date: 5/15/2015
Technical Specifications:
Language: English
Format: DVD or Digital Download
DVD Format: NTSC Region 0
Resolution (download only): 720p
Running Time: 48 minutes
Ratings (1-5 scale):
Sound Quality: 4
Video Quality: 4
Total Production Score: 8
Subject/Instruction Rating
Subject matter: 5
Instruction Quality: 3
Total Subject/Instruction Rating: 8
Reviewers Rating: 3
Total Score: 19/25 = 74%
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