The film is kind of like Yamaoka Tesshu´s way to enlightenment, is´nt it?^^ By the way, great film! Where did you lern to make movies? (Please, tell me your secret, I love the style of the film^^) It´s simply great.
really nice movie. Like the the name of the dojo "phoenix" and the imagery of the movie with him rising from the ashes after being destroyed by his ego...
The quality of the images is very good and the kote-men in the second part was pretty amazing, but I think the protagonist was too depressed and desperate about his failure.
I have to admit, I felt like I was watching an actual 5.5 million dollar movie right now. the video quality, the camera angles, the lighting, the story behind it....THIS has alot more potential to be more. Please make another one....possibly that the student faces the actual kendoka who he had feared in the video and defeats him, earning 4th Dan. Then when he comes home to his fathers house, he finds out that his father was a kendoka who bailed out of the test because of the same kendoka shadow.
i think at the end when he was fighting a kendoka in bogu, he was actally fighting himself, and he won just by holding chudan, as in stayng still and calm. Very good movie, enjoyed every bit of it! ^^
@mekugi Thanks, we appreciate it! The camera we used was a Canon H1. As for the mop, I'm sure it would make things much easier... :) but it's part of dojo etiquette to do it this way.
@KendoFilm "but it's part of dojo etiquette to do it this way." LOL. :-) Ya think? (I'm being facetious-take a look at my channel, bro). Anyway, the H1 is a nice camera, pretty stunning you got this good of work out of it. Did you use a steady-cam for those "gliding" shots or a roller tripod?
He estado esperando esta pelicula desde que vi el trailer por primera vez hace ya unos meses... Soy dominicano, en el dojo que practico, todos los kenshis tenian muchas espectativas sobre el film, y veo que valio la pena la espera... EXCELENTE!!
This is an amazing movie, I can't get enough of it. Kendoka all over can surely relate to main character's feelings and anxieties, the need to prove oneself to sensei and to significant people like your father. This movie should become a major feature film it will most certainly draw a great crowd. Thank you for this hidden jewel.
Nothing never happens. Experience always happens. Wisdom is knowing what to do with the experience. I just spent this evening training people in medieval combat. My lesson was "follow the sword". The sword will give you the flow and the "in the momentness".
This movie is honest and it somehow moves that particular string in our brain that refers to progression of thinking. As deep as simple- hope none cought a cold in snowy scenes. Thanks and best wishes.
Since I've seen trailer of this movie I;ve been waiting to see it. And I must say thats It's just amazing. I didn't even realized that with a lack of words, images can say so much. Is it possible to download this movie from somewhere ? (I mean with good quality, without downloading it from YT)?
@Innokis Hi there! Thanks for writing! At the moment the film is only available on Youtube, but since a lot of people have been asking about whether they can get it on DVD, we are planning to release it on disc as well in the near future.
Hello from Southern California, thank you for posting this and I find this short story very moving and pefect in time format. I'm charing this with my fellow Kendoka at my dojo. Splendid job. CHEERS for the future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
@Sirgrayfox Thanks a lot! :) I don't know if we'll be making a kendo feature, we haven't really thought about it yet. It would have to be a totally different story, one that would be easily understandable by the general public as well. Actually the great classic kendo film is Kenji Misumi's movie made in 1964, titled 'Ken'. I believe the first half of the film is actually on Youtube.
The longer you do kendo the more you will understand that kendo is most likely a fight against yourself and your 4 illness every human takes in his inner. Whether yout ake it seriously or not. I think every kendoka experiences this. The japanese call this "shikai".
Really a great short movie about what kendo is really about and it clearly shows that it is more than "sword play" sport like the father mentioned in the beginning. As a kendoka i know this situation of defeat and rise very well. Remembers me a bit of Eigas docu about his tsuki. When he lost he also starts over again from the absolute basics and cleaned the floor. By the way i the Tsukis were quiet nice.
How did you made the black guy's face impersonating the weakness and fear. (shikai)
Really a great short movie about what kendo is really about and it clearly shows that it is more than "sword play" sport like the father mentioned in the beginning. As a kendoka i know this situation of defeat and rise very well. Remembers me a bit of Eigas docu about his tsuki. When he lost he also starts over again from the absolute basics and cleaned the floor. By the way i the Tsukis were quiet nice.
How did you made the black guy's face impersonating the weakness and fear. (shikai)
As a film student and a kendoka, I have to say you did a magnificent job. There's so little to poke holes in critically from a narrative point of view, and it works its emotional honesty really well. The cinematography was beautiful, though! Mind if I ask what it was shot on? Did you wind up doing some color correction in post or did you get lucky with natural light (especially for the dojo scenes, I'm assuming you didn't have the budget to post lights behind the windows)? Again, amazing job!
@kaygeedubbs Hi guys, thanks for the comments! The film was shot on a Canon H1 in HDV format. We did a lot of colour correction, but all the scenes were lit with rented lighting equipment, that was what we spent our money on. :) In the final dojo scene there were 3 spotlights outside the windows, with some smoke indoors to get the light ray effect.
@KendoFilm No kidding? The H1 was shooting on par with tests I've done with the Panasonic HPX300, even better -- I'd say -- indoors. I'll have to keep that in mind since the rental prices around here for the H1 are much better. :D Smart budgetary choice with the spotlights. The dojo shots were really impressive (as were the ext shots in the snow at the test). Heard from a friend this is getting a good reception on the festival circuit, def well deserved.
AMAZING movie!
kjr2296 2 months ago
buenísimo!
deltapy 3 months ago
The film is kind of like Yamaoka Tesshu´s way to enlightenment, is´nt it?^^ By the way, great film! Where did you lern to make movies? (Please, tell me your secret, I love the style of the film^^) It´s simply great.
25Yagami 4 months ago
Kendo :)
FunkyBasss 4 months ago
4:23 - THAT IS THE REASON I DO AIKIDO TOO :D :D
AnarUto50 5 months ago
Классное кино сделали! Давайте ещё)). Very wonderful, please make more)))))
felvnjhbz 5 months ago
So I'm guessing the faceless kendoka represents himself, and that he first must master himself in order to master kendo?
geekybiker 5 months ago
Thank you so much for filming such an inspirational movie.
musicalistvn 6 months ago
really nice movie. Like the the name of the dojo "phoenix" and the imagery of the movie with him rising from the ashes after being destroyed by his ego...
Vazah1978 9 months ago
Fantastico video! KOKORO
SkatingMonzaFunClub 10 months ago
he uses too much right hand :)
jellybeanguitarist 10 months ago
absolutely fantastic
Vazah1978 11 months ago
Awesome, awesome awesome film!
omnius28 11 months ago
The quality of the images is very good and the kote-men in the second part was pretty amazing, but I think the protagonist was too depressed and desperate about his failure.
tiagotoyoda 1 year ago
Great cinematography.
Warialasky 1 year ago
I have to admit, I felt like I was watching an actual 5.5 million dollar movie right now. the video quality, the camera angles, the lighting, the story behind it....THIS has alot more potential to be more. Please make another one....possibly that the student faces the actual kendoka who he had feared in the video and defeats him, earning 4th Dan. Then when he comes home to his fathers house, he finds out that his father was a kendoka who bailed out of the test because of the same kendoka shadow.
KagaKiyomitsu 1 year ago
Yeah I too enjoyed this short film the camera work was excellent ^_^ is there any more kendo movies or short films ??
superbadcat09 1 year ago
i think at the end when he was fighting a kendoka in bogu, he was actally fighting himself, and he won just by holding chudan, as in stayng still and calm. Very good movie, enjoyed every bit of it! ^^
DamnItVideos 1 year ago
Great camera work, amazing cinemetography, nice editing, lovely lighting. Top notch. What kind of cameras??
At 2:01 seriously...he should consider bringing that mop in next time :) that kills the legs!!!
mekugi 1 year ago 3
@mekugi Thanks, we appreciate it! The camera we used was a Canon H1. As for the mop, I'm sure it would make things much easier... :) but it's part of dojo etiquette to do it this way.
KendoFilm 1 year ago 2
@KendoFilm "but it's part of dojo etiquette to do it this way." LOL. :-) Ya think? (I'm being facetious-take a look at my channel, bro). Anyway, the H1 is a nice camera, pretty stunning you got this good of work out of it. Did you use a steady-cam for those "gliding" shots or a roller tripod?
mekugi 1 year ago
This movie made me re-think my Kendo... thank you :)
KendoFass 1 year ago
Absolutely Beautiful.
Ouzo1991 1 year ago
Beautifully shot movie. I loved the set up of the scenes, good kendo short film.
marinerecon 1 year ago
He estado esperando esta pelicula desde que vi el trailer por primera vez hace ya unos meses... Soy dominicano, en el dojo que practico, todos los kenshis tenian muchas espectativas sobre el film, y veo que valio la pena la espera... EXCELENTE!!
alucard00741 1 year ago
You have given me the opinion that Kendo is a truly beautiful art, as well as a form of meditation. Very well shot.
Theivv 1 year ago
This is an amazing movie, I can't get enough of it. Kendoka all over can surely relate to main character's feelings and anxieties, the need to prove oneself to sensei and to significant people like your father. This movie should become a major feature film it will most certainly draw a great crowd. Thank you for this hidden jewel.
2010goldendragon 1 year ago
I really like the use of light, color and soundtrack in this film, looking forward to see it's made into a full feature film someday.
stantheman66166 1 year ago
Very nice film I hope we get a chance to practice together some day.
alexansell 1 year ago
Good work people!
jaysonRchaplin 1 year ago
fantastic moive there guys. short and sweet, and very moving :) I hope to see you direct many more movie in the future
morbidSoulfly 1 year ago
that was fantastic!
I loved the most the scene with the father, because I have those kine of difernces with my parents too...
you did a wonderful job!
(sorry for my bad english (^.^) )
Birkenzwillies 1 year ago
Wow! Really awesome C:
skippysangirll 1 year ago
Thank you for sharing the film. Wonderful.
RONINBVL 1 year ago
What happened?
Nothing...
Nothing never happens. Experience always happens. Wisdom is knowing what to do with the experience. I just spent this evening training people in medieval combat. My lesson was "follow the sword". The sword will give you the flow and the "in the momentness".
GwynforLwyd 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Really nice movie !
leperenoel666 1 year ago
nice dojo, is that the real place where you train? then u got to welcome me there someday.
ninjalowang 1 year ago
@ninjalowang No, this is actually a church hall. The real dojo of the kendo club is in a high school gym.
KendoFilm 1 year ago
You read our minds or share your thoughts hire.
This movie is honest and it somehow moves that particular string in our brain that refers to progression of thinking. As deep as simple- hope none cought a cold in snowy scenes. Thanks and best wishes.
Mesqualito 1 year ago
Since I've seen trailer of this movie I;ve been waiting to see it. And I must say thats It's just amazing. I didn't even realized that with a lack of words, images can say so much. Is it possible to download this movie from somewhere ? (I mean with good quality, without downloading it from YT)?
Greetings from Poland!
Innokis 1 year ago 2
@Innokis Hi there! Thanks for writing! At the moment the film is only available on Youtube, but since a lot of people have been asking about whether they can get it on DVD, we are planning to release it on disc as well in the near future.
KendoFilm 1 year ago
Hello from Southern California, thank you for posting this and I find this short story very moving and pefect in time format. I'm charing this with my fellow Kendoka at my dojo. Splendid job. CHEERS for the future!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
yomatostanyahso 1 year ago
thank you for the movie, very very nice I am enjoying and I will share with my friends
Rodrigomalinois 1 year ago
That's a really great short movie! I really aprecciated very much, the images are beautiful and the way the story is told is really great =D
Have you ever considered make it longer? It would be great
Until today i have never seen a serious movies about kendo, only documentarys
Congratulations from Brazil ^^
Sirgrayfox 1 year ago
@Sirgrayfox Thanks a lot! :) I don't know if we'll be making a kendo feature, we haven't really thought about it yet. It would have to be a totally different story, one that would be easily understandable by the general public as well. Actually the great classic kendo film is Kenji Misumi's movie made in 1964, titled 'Ken'. I believe the first half of the film is actually on Youtube.
KendoFilm 1 year ago
I'm glad I don't take kendo seriously, the last thing I need is a shadow beating me up lol
groovybassline 1 year ago
@groovybassline
The longer you do kendo the more you will understand that kendo is most likely a fight against yourself and your 4 illness every human takes in his inner. Whether yout ake it seriously or not. I think every kendoka experiences this. The japanese call this "shikai".
kyo -> suprise
ku-> fear
gi-> doubt
waku-> confusion
That's what this movie is really about.
macbluescreen 1 year ago
This has been flagged as spam show
Really a great short movie about what kendo is really about and it clearly shows that it is more than "sword play" sport like the father mentioned in the beginning. As a kendoka i know this situation of defeat and rise very well. Remembers me a bit of Eigas docu about his tsuki. When he lost he also starts over again from the absolute basics and cleaned the floor. By the way i the Tsukis were quiet nice.
How did you made the black guy's face impersonating the weakness and fear. (shikai)
macbluescreen 1 year ago
Really a great short movie about what kendo is really about and it clearly shows that it is more than "sword play" sport like the father mentioned in the beginning. As a kendoka i know this situation of defeat and rise very well. Remembers me a bit of Eigas docu about his tsuki. When he lost he also starts over again from the absolute basics and cleaned the floor. By the way i the Tsukis were quiet nice.
How did you made the black guy's face impersonating the weakness and fear. (shikai)
macbluescreen 1 year ago
Great, great work!
Every fight is a fight with ourselves.
Lone38 1 year ago
Throwing the shinai.. That's a no no :D
Great job on the movie.
GrandChamp1989 1 year ago 5
@GrandChamp1989
That`s why that action shows the inner, spiritual fight so good. Of course to those, who understand the unacceptability of that action.
Lone38 1 year ago
Good job!!
taijiclub 1 year ago
As a film student and a kendoka, I have to say you did a magnificent job. There's so little to poke holes in critically from a narrative point of view, and it works its emotional honesty really well. The cinematography was beautiful, though! Mind if I ask what it was shot on? Did you wind up doing some color correction in post or did you get lucky with natural light (especially for the dojo scenes, I'm assuming you didn't have the budget to post lights behind the windows)? Again, amazing job!
kaygeedubbs 1 year ago
@kaygeedubbs Hi guys, thanks for the comments! The film was shot on a Canon H1 in HDV format. We did a lot of colour correction, but all the scenes were lit with rented lighting equipment, that was what we spent our money on. :) In the final dojo scene there were 3 spotlights outside the windows, with some smoke indoors to get the light ray effect.
KendoFilm 1 year ago
@KendoFilm No kidding? The H1 was shooting on par with tests I've done with the Panasonic HPX300, even better -- I'd say -- indoors. I'll have to keep that in mind since the rental prices around here for the H1 are much better. :D Smart budgetary choice with the spotlights. The dojo shots were really impressive (as were the ext shots in the snow at the test). Heard from a friend this is getting a good reception on the festival circuit, def well deserved.
kaygeedubbs 1 year ago
Really nice job, loved watching it. Thx
KayaCZ 1 year ago
I really like this movie.
Thx for being so persistent to make it :P
slurfje 1 year ago
AWESOME!!! great film I love watching kendo stuff
sobasan7 1 year ago