Comments & Reviews
Reviews and Customer Comments
BLACK BELT MAGAZINE, April 2010. Editorial Column.
Every now and then you round a corner in life and get smacked in the face by a couple of ideas or products that share a common theme. In my case, it was a pair of DVD’s one of which is titled, The Empty Mind: The Spirit and Philosophy of Martial Arts. Some might say it was serendipity that brought them to my desk on the same day, but I prefer to think it was more mundane: The Martial Arts have come of age!
I’ll talk about The Empty Mind first. Several weeks ago, a Kenpo black belt named James Bennett dropped off the DVD for me to watch. I asked him if it was another one of those amateur efforts. He insisted it wasn’t. So I gave it a look. I must say I was impressed. It certainly wasn’t a collection of home movies. It is a coherent production that was professionally filmed in Japan and China. Crafted by Jon Braeley, of Empty Mind Films, it profiles practitioners of Aikido, Karate, Kendo, Kyudo, Shaolin Kingfu, Tai Chi and Wushu as they plied their trade in the dojo and at tournaments. The styles were presented as artistic endeavors that steel the character and build the body no matter what age the student. The production was proof positive that filmmakers now view the martial arts as legitimate pursuits that are worthy of the finest documentary treatment. This could be shown on the National Geographic Channel tonight and no one would suspect that it was not a multi-million dollar project helmed by Hollywood heavyweights. On a more personal note, this documentary rekindled my fire for the Asian ways of combat. In this age of mixed martial arts, when all that matters is the destination, this film reinforces the notion that in life it’s the journey that really counts.
Robert W. Young, executive Editor, Black Belt Magazine. April 2010.
Just yesterday I asked you about my shipment and magically in the evening after returning from work they appeared in my mailbox! Congratulations! Efficient and effective, ready to help a customer! Thanks again for the professionalism shown and ready to help. By the way, the films are very nice and informative, exciting and shot with care. Do not stop. I wish you good work and Happy Holidays to today! Gianluca. Italy. 17/12/2012
The Empty Mind includes a great deal of unique footage that is worthy of watching. If you have any interest in the mindset of the martial artist, this is definitely the DVD for you. If you’re looking for a DVD that teaches, this is not for you. Quality is top notch. Scenery, footage, all filmed on the spot with no interference from the producers. No stage was set up (apparently) during the filming. Everything that you see in this DVD is exactly what you would see if you walked into a martial arts practice environment. Overall – Highly Recommended for anyone interested in the philosophical aspect of martial arts.Phillip, USA. 03/31/2007.
Writer-director Jon Braeley looks at the essence of traditional Japanese Zen in the beautifully produced coffee-table-book equivalent DVD, The Zen Mind. Braeley captures the intimate discipline of meditation, inc. Kekkafuza, Chosoku and the use of the Kyosaku (stick) – It offers a tantalizing glimpse of Zen. Highly recommended. The Video Librarian Magazine. June. 2006
If you practice tai chi or simply want to know more about it, get this DVD- Masters of Heaven and Earth. It’s not a how-to-do DVD but rather a documentary on this ancient martial art form. It’s shot in HD with an inspiring sound track. I’ve been training in the martial arts since 1965, which includes tai chi study. I highly recommend this high quality, well produced DVD. Loren Christensen, Oregon, USA. 10/05/2009
A thoughful, in-depth documentary – beautiful shakuhachi music, visits to major Zen locations, interviews with masters…an excellent tour through Japanese Zen. I am very pleased with this DVD. Adrian Bain, United Kingdom. 05/27/2007
Jon Brailey has yet again done a terrific job with The Empty Mind in bringing the philosophical and psycological side of the far east to us in this terrific film showcasing some of the top masters of the martial arts. Names like Ueshiba, Kanazawa, Okazaki and many more show the art the way it is meant to be practised. Hats off to yet another fabulous film I enjoyed from the beginning to the end. Don Warrener, Hollywood, California. 09/27/2007
This is a great film with insight and no insight. It’s The Empty Mind. Masters thoughts and views are priceless. Jonathan Black “Dragon Chef”, Sonoma Co. USA. 05/12/2008
Just to let you know my four films ordered recently from you have arrived. I have watched the film The Zen Mind. Great film please keep up the good work. It has always been difficult to obtain documentaries from these parts of the world. So thank you for making the effort. Kind regards John Neal, Swindon, United Kingdom. 12/3/2008
I’ve always been intrigued by Asian culture and it wasn’t until I discovered your films on YouTube that I really wanted to study more. Now I have all your dvds and I am trying to plan a trip to China to study. I know you must get these types of emails a lot but i wanted to let you know that you inspired me to learn and study Asian culture so thank you. Thank you again for the inspiration. Sincerely, Robert Bell, Chicago, USA. 11/29/2008
Yesterday, I received The Empty Mind and The Zen Mind. Extraordinary films. I like empty mind, because the philosophy of martial arts is not really known to me. Congratulations and looking forward for other work (although I will not be tired with these films for a while). Timothy Begijn, Belgium. 08/06/2007
I saw The Empty Mind and I was very impressed. It was excellent. Gene Ching, Ass. Publisher, Kung Fu Tai Chi Magazine. 12/04/2008
I want to thank Empty Mind Films for your efforts in spreading the culture of martial arts through your DVDs. I bought Masters of Heaven & Earth – a great DVD about Tai Chi. I saw this many times with some friends of mine and my Chinese teacher of Tai Chi Chuan. Good Job! Constantino, Italy. 07/30/2009
Thank you for your prompy action. Your efforts to rectify a problem and to satisfy a customer is much appreciated. I will not hesitate to order from you again or refer you to friends in the future. Stephen Lee, Ottowa, Canada 01/08/2010
What a find! I am thinking of visiting Chen Village next year and when I found this video, I had to get it. It gives a nice introduction to the history of the village and the interviews were good. Msn Yin Yang, 11/11/2009
I thank you for your quick response. I am looking forward to watching the DVD. As an aside, I think the movies you produce are excellent, both in the quality of the product and the presentation of the complex subject matter. Erik Pihl, Sacremento, CA 02/11/2010
Really good job done in this movie, Masters of Heaven and Earth. Interesting images and development, and a discover of inside China by and around the Tai chi Chuan. This film is not a learning method, but a kind of spiritual and cultural travel between different frames and minds of internals martials arts. Now, I would like to discover others movies from Empty Minds Films.Icebergg, Bagnolet, France 09/11/2009
Received the shipment. Thanks for the excellent customer service. (DVDs shipped to a hotel in the USA were not accepted, so we shipped again to the customers home in India which arrived in eight days). Deepak MN, Bangelore, India. 03/07/2010.
