The Best of The Martial Arts is a compilation-documentary hosted and narrated by actor John Saxon ("Enter the Dragon") that skips to the cool scenes from martial arts movies, with reasonable historical effort. It points out how skilled Jackie Chan really is at his craft, rather than just being a stuntman. It also spotlights other Asian performers such as Sho Kosugi and of course, Bruce Lee, as well as non-Asian performers from Cynthia Rothrock to Chuck Norris. Several unknowns are highlighted but the main reason is just to give props to the choreographers of these films.

Unfortunately, Jean Claude Van Scam and Lee Van Cleef are also given attention; a minor blemish in an otherwise excellent movie. It's highly entertaining, with prolific and educational content and gives you a real sense of the world of martial arts on film.

A pretty cool documentary, featuring a lot of Jackie Chan stuff, not to mention a bunch of other good stuff. Very entertaining for a taste of HK action cinema...It even features some "American" stars fighting in some Hong Kong flicks, which only goes to show how much better the HK choreographers are...

Filmed entirely in Japan, BUDO:THE ART OF KILLING is a highly acclaimed docu-drama and a favorite of martial arts practitioners and fans alike. Highlighting the various techniques of "Budo" (Karate, Judo, Aikido, etc.), this action-packed film is a visual feast exploring the spiritual and historical traditions, training and techniques of this specialized form of martial arts. Synapse is proud to present this critically acclaimed film in a newly re-mastered version transferred from original vault materials. A must-see even for fans of Japanese history, BUDO:THE ART OF KILLING is "powerful and frequently amazing… stuns the beholder." (VARIETY)

- New Windowboxed Digital Transfer from Archival Vault Materials in the Original Filmed Aspect Ratio of 1.33:1

This DVD featuring O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba is an amazing historical document consisting of two parts.

The first section is the uncut version of a Japanese tv documentary titled "Aikido" produced in 1961. This film focuses on the life and techniques of Morihei Ueshiba and was shot on location in Iwama and Tokyo. It contains beautiful footage of the Founder in his daily life and while training. There are some marvelous action scenes including an incredible display of empty-handed techniques, defenses against multiple attacks and a live sword!

Both the late Doshu Kisshomaru Ueshiba and Morihiro Saito figure prominently as O-Sensei's training partners. Watch for O-Sensei's incredible ability to perceive his partner's intent before the attack even starts! You'll also hear the Founder's actual voice in several scenes of him in prayer that highlight his great spirituality. This film will bring the figure of O-Sensei alive and you are sure to be captivated by his energy and charisma! Complete Japanese subtitles are included.

Part two of this DVD presents a fascinating 15-minute radio interview with the Founder. Great care was taken in inserting over 200 subtitles to allow you to follow along with each and every word spoken by the Founder. You will appreciate the Founder's humor, warmth and spiritual insight as he invites you into his world. In parts of the interview O-Sensei mentions the names of Japanese deities or "kami" and alludes to such ancient texts as the Kojiki. You will come to understand first-hand how O-Sensei expressed himself as you listen to this crystal clear recording of his voice.

All throughout the interview a series of rare photos of O-Sensei from the famous von Krenner collection taken around 1967 are displayed. This perfect combination of image and sound will give you a long, intimate glimpse of the geniality of the Founder.

"Way of Harmony" includes marvelous displays of the founder of Aikido's seated and standing techniques, kokyunage, sword and staff arts and freee style techniques. It also includes highlights of O-Senei's trip to Hawaii in 1961 where he displays his misogi jo kata and original sword work.

Complete contents include:

Aikikai Hombu, 1958 - Highlights of a class and demonstration given at the World Aikido Headquarters in Tokyo. The Founder demonstrates a variety of seated and standing techniques in this clip. (3:07)

TV Documentary, 1958 - This film was shot contemporaneously with the American tv documentary "Rendez-vous with Adventure" by an amateur cameraman. A number of scenes from the Founder's remarkable demonstration edited out of the televised program are preserved in this exciting footage. (2:08)

Aikikai Hombu, 1959 - The footage contained in this film preserves some of the finest action scenes ever of the Founder. His superb skills are displayed in numerous seated, standing, ken and jo techniques. Features beautiful slow-motions sequences. (9:18)

Aikikai Hombu, 1960 - A rare film with outstanding action featuring Kazuo Chiba as the Founder's partner. Many dynamic sequences of free-style and weapons techniques are captured in this film. (4:14)

Honolulu, Hawaii, 1961 - This film was shot on the occasion of the Grand Opening of the Honolulu Aikikai in February 1961. This was the Founder's only trip to the United States. This footage contains crystal-clear shots of the founder's misogi jo kata and swordwork as well as scenes from the dojo festivities. Koichi Tohei and Nobuyoshi Tamura also appear. (8:07)

Aikikai Hombu, 1962 - This footage shot in 1962 by an American couple for a tv documentary that was never completed and lay in storage for 23 years. It was shot in beautiful 16mm film and is some of the highest-quality footage of the Founder known to exist. The Founder is shown teaching a class at the Aikikai Hombu Dojo with American Terry Dobson serving as his training partner. (3:03)

*SPECIAL BONUS: O-Sensei radio interview. This DVD contains a fascinating interview of the Founder conducted about 1962 during which he is questioned about aikido. As was his custom, many of the Founder’s comments reflect his spiritual views and mention Japanese kami. This recording affords a rare chance to gain an intimate glimpse of the Founder's warmth and personality. English subtitles provided. A series of beautiful close-up photos of the Founder serve as the backdrop for the interview. (12:30)

This DVD presents the full, uncut version of a fascinating U.S. television documentary on aikido produced in 1958. It follows the adventures of an American tv crew who first cover the opening of the majestic Tokyo Tower with all its pomp and ceremony. Next, they pay a visit to the Aikikai Hombu Dojo in Tokyo to find out what aikido is all about.

There they meet famous Aikido Founder Morihei Ueshiba, his son Kisshomaru, and Koichi Tohei. Two members of the crew don training uniforms and try the art out for themselves often with humorous results. An unforgettable scene is the “challenge” by one of the sceptical journalists handled by Koichi Tohei. Another highlight of this film is the interview of O-Sensei with Koichi Tohei acting as interpreter. You will hear the Founder’s actual voice and watch him intone a haunting Shinto chant. The exciting finale features a special demonstration by O-Sensei of taijutsu, aiki ken, aiki jo and multiple attacks. Nobuyoshi Tamura and Yasuo Kobayashi are among those taking falls for the Founder. Incredible action!

This program also features a first-of-its-kind documentary tracing the evolution and dissemination of aikido both in Japan and abroad following World War II. The presentation includes some 250 historical photos of many of the legends of aikido whose efforts led to the international spread of the art beyond its birthplace of Japan. Written and narrated by Stanley Pranin.

This 6 DVD set is the authoritative biography on DVD of Morihei Ueshiba - the founder of Aikido.

Contents include:

This exciting DVD showcases the prewar Aiki Budo of Morihei Ueshiba, Founder of Aikido. The program begins with a documentary written and produced by Aikido Journal Editor-in-chief Stanley Pranin that traces the life of the Founder from his boyhood in Tanabe through his retirement to Iwama in 1942. Morihei's early martial arts training, his study of Daito-ryu aikijujutsu under the famous Sokaku Takeda, his involvement with the Omoto religious sect led by Onisaburo Deguchi, and a history of Ueshiba?s Kobukan Dojo are presented.

Since O-Sensei was stil vigorous in his early 70s, the quality of the action scenes in these historical films is at times astounding. Many people overlook the fact that Morihei Ueshiba's aikido is the starting point of all modern forms of the art. Also, most consider his skills to be unsurpassed by anyone to date.

This is the fifth DVD of Aikido Journal’s definitive DVD series on the Founder of Aikido, Morihei Ueshiba. “Divine Techniques” is comprised of a collection of 12 films of O-Sensei—several of them in color—from the period of 1962 to shortly before his death in 1969. It also includes a heretofore unpublished audio recording of the Founder’s voice.

DVD 6: Founder of Aikido
This DVD featuring O-Sensei Morihei Ueshiba is an amazing historical document consisting of two parts. The first section is the uncut version of a Japanese tv documentary titled "Aikido" produced in 1961. This film focuses on the life and techniques of Morihei Ueshiba and was shot on location in Iwama and Tokyo. Part two of this DVD presents a fascinating 15-minute radio interview with the Founder. Great care was taken in inserting over 200 subtitles to allow you to follow along with each and every word spoken by the Founder.

In this DVD, the tradition of the lineage was recognized by Sensei Ogawa himself, wanted to show the many disciplines that Kobujutsu and Taijutsu cover and which involves: demonstrations of Aikijujutsu (Art of fighting based on harmony and the use of inner energy), Koppojutsu (Art centered on attacking the bones), Jujutsu (immobilizations and chokes), Hayanawa (fast rope), Kenjutsu (Art of the sword), Bo against Ken, Manhiri Kusari (chain with counter-weights), and Shinken Shiraha Dori (technical applications without weapons against an adversary armed with sword).

In this film, Steven Seagal is telling about his adventure in Aikido from the very beginning till today. It also explains the spiritual and universal harmony of this Art. It is an educational film that is prepared with the participation of Seagal and his Students.