Karate For Kids; Music And Magic

From the creator of the "Positive Music for Today's Kids" audio series, these two productions are supposed to teach positive values to today's youth. Karate For Kids opens with a few "positive values" remarks, including the notion that by watching the tape the kids "will learn skills that will help [them] in school." Karate instructor Ted Nordblum then takes a group of kids through a series of fighting stances, punches, kicks, and blocks, while the title song fades in and out incessantly in the background. Towards the close of the program, Roger Lacombe, holder of a sixth-degree Black Belt, spends about a minute discussing "focus" and "discipline" (presumably these are the school skills), and the program closes with an inventive music video called "Potential." By trying to combine "positive values," karate instruction, and a music video in thirty minutes, the producers aren't able to do justice in any of the areas (except for the music video). Karate Connection--Sport Karate: Self-Defense for Kids, reviewed in our July-August 1992 issue, is a much better choice in teaching both karate and sports ethics.Music and Magic is a strange hybrid of bubble blowing and music videos, in which the host introduces each of the seven songs with a very impressive magic bubble trick. The opener, "One of a Kind," which has been shown on Nickelodeon, is a nice tribute to each individual's uniqueness sung with verve by Kevin-Anthony. "I Care About You" and "Shining Star" are standard love songs which appear to have been originally written for the adult contemporary market. In "I Care About You," Kevin-Anthony and songwriter Lisa Marie Nelson sing at a piano, make goo-goo eyes at one another in lawn chairs, make goo-goo eyes at one another across a candlelit table, and make goo-goo eyes at one another in a gazebo. What any of this has to do with "positive values" for kids is beyond me. The last three songs finish strong with an ode to growing ("Garden of Love"), a nifty, upbeat exhortation to do ("What You Love to Do"), and the semi-obligatory outtakes ending.Even though it's priced low, Karate for Kids is not recommended. However, due to the low price libraries may want to consider purchasing the flawed but often entertaining Music and Magic. (Available from: Instructional Video, Inc., 727 "O" St., Lincoln, NE 68508; (800) 228-0164.)