Shotokan Film And Video Archive

Legend Productions is a UK based media Production Company, their core business is the creation of video programmes, based mainly upon the Shotokan school of karate. With a significant archive in excess of 400 hours of film and video, dating as far back as the mid 1960s they are a rich source of historical martial art information.

During the late 1960s up until the late 1980's, Shotokan karate competition fights (kumite) took place under the FAJKO (Federation All Japan Karate Organizations)system. These rules allowed hard contact to the mid body, and under certain circumstances facial contact did not automatically bring AbOUT disqualification. However, as the art moved into the mid 1980's the system eventually gave way to other rules, all of which banned many of the techniques that had been allowed under FAJKO rules, especially face contact. Although this change was inevitable due to health and safety concerns, it did dilute the excitement of the fights, and it could be argued that the power was sacrificed for speed, where a fast, but relatively weak punch could score a winning point.

The archive footage held by Legend Productions is almost all fights that took place using the FAJKO rules, and much of this material would now be considered brutal and would bring about instant disqualification and a probable ban from future competition. It is gratifying to know that there exists a pictorial library of this early period of Shotokan; a time when the art was more than a sport, and could indeed be considered as a deadly art.