From AikiWeb.com:

Review Date: Mar 30, '05 Recommend? yes

Pros: 100% Instructive

Cons: Too short! it makes you want to track him down for more!

I recently ordered the dvd. The first time I tried to order it, I totally messed it up and my order did not go through. Mr. Amdur kindly emailed me himself to notify me of this and helped me get it right. i received the dvd promptly (a few days) and popped it in. This dvd is a sure thing. It is perhaps the most instructive dvd I have ever owned. It is more than just demonstrational (which is what a lot of "instructional" videos really are: demonstrations of prowess), it is genuinely instructive. It is also the most straight-forward, safe, and logical approach to ukemi and teaching ukemi I have ever seen period. I fancy myself a decent uke if nothing else, but if I had the this video when I was first starting out, I know I would be leaps and bounds (no pun intended) ahead of my current skill level. Mr. Amdur, I am more than satisfied with your dvd and I look forward to furture releases. I gave it a "9" only because I'm greedy and I would have loved for the DVD to be 7 hours long. Alas...

Excerpts from Tsuki-kage.com:

The edited seminar format used in this production is a nice format for instructional media of this type, since it contains not only demonstrations and instructions, but also troubleshooting problems encountered with others at the seminar.

This DVD is targeted primarily at supplementing the ukemi methods of those already studying aikido. The fundamental corrections and insights offered are - in theory - fundamental to taking proper falls in any art, but will probably be of most value to those studying the post-war lines of aikido. Pre-war lines of aikido, such as Yoshinkan, tend to include much if not most of the same practical aspects as those being offered on this DVD, in the experience of this reviewer. However, Amdur's lucid and logical explanations of these points would more than likely benefit anyone who has room for improvement in their ukemi or who is interested in improving their own method of teaching it. Also missing in the majority of aikido instruction are solo and partnered rolling/breakfall exercises common in arts like judo and traditional jujutsu, some of which are also demonstrated on this DVD. Such drills are extremely useful tools for obtaining physical feedback to incorrect technique and for improving muscle memory. As such, early instruction in drills of this type prior to moving on to applied methods can save newer students a lot of time and injury, as well as reduce instructor liability.

CONCLUSION:

I found this DVD to be interesting and well presented, and believe it would make a valuable learning aid for anyone studying combative arts (everyone studying martial arts ends up on the ground at some point in their training). In my opinion, such instruction should already exist within the various lines of aikido, so for those aikido purists who are concerned with "tainting" the Founder's vision, I would encourage them to instead look at these fundamentals as "re-discovering" something that the Founder himself surely knew (being an exponent of traditional jujutsu himself prior to creating aikido).

Amdur is a highly qualified, senior instructor in classical Japanese martial arts, and has ample experience and insights in the subject to produce such materials publicly. You'll be in good hands with this DVD.

From Budoseek.net

The video itself was filmed during a seminar that Amdur Sensei conducted in California. Because it is in a dojo setting, you get not only his instruction to the students present, but also an opportunity to see how he interacts with them and answers the very same questions that most of us might have under such circumstances. He stops during the instruction to point out common errors and to troubleshoot problems as they occur. As a result, you have an experience that is as close to actually “being there” as you can get from a video.

In conclusion, the verdict on Ukemi: From The Ground Up is a definite “must have” for instructors and students of arts that include throwing techniques.