Wednesday, July 3, 2013

DVD Review

A few months ago, I ordered Gracie Combatives on DVD from the Gracie Academy. I have seen many of Ryron and Rener Gracie's videos on Youtube, and I like their teaching style. Further, as a martial arts instructor who specializes in the self defense aspects of the art, it seemed a good fit.I did not purchase this DVD set with an idea of learning new techniques necessarily, but possibly new teaching methods.

As part of the DVD series, the Gracie Academy offers online belt testing for blue belt for those who have mastered the Gracie Combatives techniques. There is some online drama associated with the concept of having an online belt exam for Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), however, the fact of the matter is that the Gracie Academy teaches Gracie Jiu-Jitsu. Although the two arts are extremely similar, the main difference is that BJJ is sport-oriented, and GJJ is self defense oriented.

My assertions:
It is my assertion that a person wanting to prepare for entering into Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) contests, this DVD set would be a fantastic starter.

It is my assertion that if there is a person who has no grappling training, this DVD set would be the best place to start.

It is my assertion that a person who trains BJJ, but would still like to get back to the self defense roots of the art, would be well served to purchase this DVD set. 

It is my assertion that if there is a person with a high rank in a striking art, who wants to learn the self defense aspects of grappling, this DVD set would be the best place to start.

These assertions are made with the following facts in mind:
- None of the techniques shown rely on a gi (uniform).
- The six most commonly used submission holds are shown (Kimura arm lock, Americana arm lock, straight arm lock, rear naked choke, triangle choke, guillotine choke) from their most common points of origin.
- Fundamental positions (mount, guard, side, and back) are covered.
- Fundamental escapes from the basic positions are covered.
- Every technique is given with respect to the possibility of an opponent punching you.

Content
The 36 lessons are presented with the idea that a person would be practicing at home in their garage, or in a similar environment. Hypothetically, a person could pick up at any given technique, but it would behoove a new grappler to learn the techniques in order. Each technique also has a silent demo, just in case you get tired of hearing Rener or Ryron talking. There is also a segment after each technique showing a drill directly related to what you have just learned.

Many of the techniques are broken down into multiple "slices." For example, the straight arm lock from the mount is shown with final control first, and then a couple of slices dedicated to showing how to secure the arm lock from common opponent mistakes.

There is also a Blue Belt Examination DVD. Rener and Ryron demonstrate what you would have to show them to earn your blue belt from them. Really interesting. Also, this DVD is the first time you see the Gracie brothers in a gi.

Critique
I will not provide a review of each technique. Suffice it to say that I agree with the inclusion of each of these techniques, with the following possible exceptions / additions:

- Lesson #34 (standing arm lock) is the only one I could do without. That said, I love this arm lock (waki gatame from standing position) and have taught it for over 20 years. To be brutally honest, this is the only one I think is fluff out of all the material. I like the arm lock, but it really is not needed when one views it in light of the remainder of the techniques.

- Kimura arm lock from side (and possibly wedge position or north-south). I think this should have been included. It wasn't. To be fair, it is not likely needed in light of the other techniques presented.

- Escape from back mount. this was slightly included in the sense that you saw how one might escape the back on the segment showing how to remount. Nevertheless, I'd have liked to have seen a good escape or two from the back. It would have been far better than the standing arm lock.

Other observations
Rener talks a lot more than Ryron.
The material in this DVD series is a lot more dependable than some material on previous Gracie Academy DVDs (ie - the "Gracie Gift" guard pass that gives the opponent a triangle choke).
I write "DVDs" instead of "DVD's" because it is not a possessive. Apostrophes do not pluralize, unless we are speaking of numerals.

$120 + S&H is not a bad price for Jiu-Jitsu instructional DVDs. 
And these are high quality DVDs - with superb subject matter. 


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