Kim's Taekwondo Moose Jaw's bojutsu class has continued to offer instruction through YouTube videos produced by the group's instructor, Nathan Douglas. What makes it unique is just how well things look – Douglas' classes take place in what appears to be a professional studio set up with top quality lighting and audio.
That's all by design and a product of perfect circumstances, Douglas explains.
“With all the restrictions we can't do any training in person anymore, but I'm fortunate enough that I'm the weapons instructor for Global Martial Arts University, which is a world-leading online university for distance training,” Douglas said.
“I talked to the director and he was okay with me using the space to film my local classes as well. I'm already actually really well equipped, I have professional audio and video equipment and everything is shot in HD with high quality audio. And I'm familiar with how to teach in front of a camera, there's a specific way that we do it and it's a real benefit that we can use this for our local students.”
Bojustu is a martial art that blends a variety of striking styles using the bo-staff as a training implement and a combat device. Videos of local students showing off skills akin a Hong Kong action flick can be found on their Facebook page, and that's all just part and parcel of picking up and learning to use the staff.
The martial art has grown exponentially in recent months in Moose Jaw, and many students expressed a wish to somehow continue training despite social distancing and lockdown efforts to combat the virus.
That's where GMAU came in, and the results have been overwhelmingly positive.
“A lot of them hadn't seen the studio space since it's different from where we train, and they were impressed,” Douglas said. “They like it, the picture quality is good and the videos are easy to follow along with. They're geared towards people following along in the class and doing it with me.
It's kind of like having a training buddy with you when you're going through the videos.”
Since Douglas regularly works with GMAU students through distance learning, he's also set up to give easy feedback to his local crew.
“I regularly interact with students and send them video feedback on their progress and technique and that sort of thing,” he explained. “If any student wants feedback, I break down their technique in front of the camera, what opportunities we have to change things and what they're doing well. It's kind of a nice balance for students for them to get that direct feedback still.”
New students can sign up anytime, and will receive access to Douglas' bo-staff instructional curriculum in the process, a further series of home training videos that act as supplemental material to regular classes.
“So any new students who would be interested in training with us, they could start training right away,” Douglas said. “It's like you're learning a martial art at home and it does work.”
For more information, check their Kims Taekwondo page and give them a look on Facebook.
