A Samurai Workout

The release date is unknown as the DVD was and still is mail-order only, but the month is correct.

Join Kohshyu Yoshida, the descendant of an original Last Samurai, and Laurence Berkley, a high-ranking Black Belt, as they perform this new and exciting breakthrough Martial Arts form. A Samurai Workout unites Mind, Body and Spirit. Practice these Martial Art skills and enjoy improved balance, flexibility, focus, strength, and personal safety. Kohshyu Yoshida appeared in the film “The Last Samurai”. DVD includes: A Traditional Samurai Sword Duel Demonstrations and Instruction from Kohshyu Yoshida and Laurence Berkley A Finale Kata (Form) with Yoshida and Berkley

A Samurai Workout combines exciting full-speed action with basic visual guidelines for easily incorporating Samurai movements into an everyday fitness routine.

The jo, a four-foot wooden staff used in many Japanese martial arts practices, is the focus of the workouts. The jo provides resistance for flexibility and muscle-toning while creating an instinctive focus on balance in its user.

“The jo-based Samurai workouts fully embrace a mind-body-spirit connection,” said co-producer Laurence Berkley, a high-ranking black belt who teaches courses in multiple Samurai disciplines in Las Vegas. “We created this DVD to show fitness-minded individuals a way to add a valuable mental approach to their daily routine, in addition to new physical challenges.”

Each workout is shown full-speed in a tranquil beach setting, then demonstrated more slowly in a studio setting. Kohshyu Yoshida also engages in an acrobatic traditional Samurai sword duel. Kohshyu (formerly known as Moritaka Yoshida), whose film credits include The Last Samurai and Blade, closes the DVD with a Finale Kata alongside Berkley that shows how two workout partners can train opposite one another for an added challenge.

The DVD also features a soothing instrumental soundtrack with contributions by guitarist John Frusciante, Berkley’s step-son.

“I’ve been teaching martial arts and studying ancient disciplines for more than 40 years,” Berkley said. “I’m a teacher and a coach, not a martial arts champion. This DVD is designed to help any person improve focus, develop confidence, and alleviate stress.”

The DVD has two channels (stereo), but on both channels you hear the narrative voice. I thought maybe there’d be a way to go further to the ‘source’ and divide the music from the voice, but since the source audio is “LPCM”, it doesn’t seem possible… I’ve searched the whole day on the internet, but I haven’t found a way… I’m sorry!
but then again: there doesn’t seem to be much of John anyways… except for Murderers (the drum beat intro is some measures longer), though it’s not the whole song (fades out), and the title theme which includes a little bit of background guitar playing and a guitar solo. (the keyboards don’t seem to be him)
What else.. to further distinct the music, there are two tracks of the artist Boten included on the DVD, and I’ve also heard them, but I didn’t figure out where. You can hear the two snippets here, they’re called ‘Hiten’ and ‘Dedication to the Wind & Earth’

The credits for the music say:
Music and Sound by David Eaton
Additional Music by John Frusciante

Oh, i’ve included the titletheme as it is on the dvd as an extra mp3 (track 22&23 together) but only in 128kbit, sorry, I might convert it better in some time, but my mother’s really freakin out here cause it took so long, so, I didn’t have the time
have fun, it somehow feels like some underground trash thing to me

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