The ultimate instructional form video?

[RenDaHai]

Hey Team,

So, what would make an instructional video for a Kung fu form perfect? What does it need, what features would you add? Now things are online there is no 2 hour restriction for DVD length and so many other new possibilities. What would make an instructional form good for you?

It goes without saying people want to know the applications of techniques (bafflingly missing from many instructionals) but what else? How should applications be done, demonstrated after every technique or before? Or after every section? Or separate from the form perhaps at the end?

Do people want techniques broken into individual drills as well as the form? Do you want the Chinese names?

What features would you add if you were making it?

Ok, I know I know, its no substitute for a real teacher, but honestly there are worse things you could do on the internet for an evening than to try to learn some kung fu. So if people can resist making this point, then I would really like to know what features an instructional video should have to make it significantly better than the current generation of instructionals.

Thanks!

[Orion Paximus]

Hey Team,

So, what would make an instructional video for a Kung fu form perfect?

Well everyone learns differently, but for me, the best videos follow this pattern:

1. Show the form at normal speed from the front angle
2. Show the form at normal speed from rear angle
3. Break the form down into sections of say 5 or 6 movements, highlighting proper foot an hand positions
4. Show piece of the form (1-3 movements) then show applications and alternate applications

The problem with this method is the vid ends up being 2 hours long and that's a lot of storage space.

[rett2]

Applications separate at end (my preference, anyway)

Tips on getting the right body mechanics, basically describing/showing whatever isn't easy to see on a video.

Slow runthrough (both for slow training and perhaps to highlight aspects of the movements) as well as full speed runthrough "with emotional content".

Just a few ideas... kind of obvious I guess.

[Cataphract]

Explain applications from different angles. Combine them for light sparring. Eventually show the entire form. Build it from the ground up.

[RenDaHai]

Great,

thanks for the ideas.

Storage space is less an issue since stuff can be streamed now it could be 12 hours long even. Though I realise there is a limit to what people will watch.

I was thinking after you learned the form you may want a slow walkthrough to follow along with.

Applications inside sparring would be ideal but sometimes techniques are context sensitive and you don't want to force that situation to occur if you know what I mean? This is a difficulty. Strikes and guards are no problem, but qinna is difficult to show inside sparring. And of course techniques which target sensitive areas.

Any ideas on how to show Qinna more realistically without it being really contrived?

[Orion Paximus]

Great,

Any ideas on how to show Qinna more realistically without it being really contrived?

The same qinna should be achievable from multiple scenarios. So if a form has say "clearing a grab, trap, leg lock" that should also be able to be demonstrated if the opponent punches instead of grabs. It makes qinna more "live".