Company: Century Inc.
Tape Name: Gracie Brazilian JiuJitsu - Blue Belt Techniques
Volume 2
Tape Cost: $29.99
Length of Tape/Time: Approximately 40 minutes
Number
of Moves/Techniques: 11 techniques
Return Policy: Refund on damaged or defective
tapes only
Experiences in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor:
Carlson Gracie Jr. and his instructors
Company's Address: 1000 Century
Blvd., Midwest City, OK, 73110
Company's Phone Number: 800-626-2787
Web Page:
http://centuryma.com
E-Mail:
Primary Grading Criteria:
1.
Production/Tape Quality: 10
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3.
Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 9
4. Degree to which this will make
someone a better Martial Artist: 9
5. Score on delivery vs hype: 8
6. Degree
to which we would recommend this product: 8
7. Wasted Time ( The higher the number,
the less " fluff" /repetition ): 10
8. Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over
again: 5
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 9
10. Overall
grade based on cost vs. value: 8
Grand Total: 86 % (Fair = 1.5 Stars )
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1.
Beginners benefit: Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Good
3. Advanced benefit:
Fair
4. Time to benefit: Most material is of immediate benefit.
5. The need
to buy additional tapes to understand this one: Probably
Written Summary:
Like the
previous tape in this series (Tape 1), this one showed exactly 11 techniques. Some
of the techniques were explained better than on the previous tape, but not all of
them. As I suspected, after having watched the first tape, this tape brought up numerous
additional questions/concerns, directly realted to the value of this tape series.
My problem is this, and it relates to the description of this series, and
a buyers own conclusion, of what they're expecting to learn from it. As you know
from all the different tapes I've reviewed, I'm big on an instructor delivering 100%
of what they promise/imply. Why? Because I believe one of the big reasons a person
buys a tape series, is directly related to what the advertising and description promises,
or what's implied they'll get. Based on that frame of mind, I believe this tape,
and the one prior to it, don't deliver.
The description of this tape series
led me to believe that it would cover the techniques required for each belt/rank,
in Carlson Jr's version of Brazilian JiuJitsu. I find it hard to believe that all
a person has to know, between tape 1 and 2 of this series, is a total of 22 techniques
for their Gracie blue belt. From strictly a technique standpoint, I suspect it takes
a lot more than 22 techniques to earn a Gracie blue belt. On what basis do I say
that? As some of you may know, if you checked out my other website, I have a 2nd
Dan in JuJitsu. Those who have read other websites about the Gracie style of Jujitsu,
know their style came from Japanese Jujitsu. Sure the Gracie's refined it, but a
couple of other websites state, and I concur "95 percent of the Gracie's techniques
are taught in either Japanese Jujitsu or Judo". Now the type of JuJitsu I took
wasn't Gracie or Brazilian, it was a thorough Japanese style of Jujitsu/Judo, taught
by a former USJA/USJI olympic center coach, who spent 15 yrs at the Kodokan in Japan
(the Judo school). My instructor covered every technique I saw on these tapes, and
probably hundreds more for my first belt. I'm not saying that to brag, but as a point-of-reference,
regarding the number of techniques required to earn belts, this tape series, and
what Carlson I feel implies as "all blue belt techniques" for these first
2 tapes.
Now if Carlson had started this series off by saying "There
are hundreds of techniques for a Gracie blue belt, and we're going to show just 22
of them" or "some of them", I wouldn't have such a big problem with
this series, but he didn't. I can too easily picture people seeing this series for
sale, and thinking to themself "Wow, if I buy this 8 tape series, I'll know
either most, or all the techniques, a Gracie Black Belt knows". If we stay on
par, for this average number of techniques per tape, that would mean 88 total techniques
in this series, to know either all, or most of the techniques, a Gracie Black Belt
knows. Sorry, but I just can't believe the number is that low. I picture it being
astronomically higer. Let's say I'm wrong, and Carlson says it does only take 88
techniques, or even 100 techniques. How long would it take to learn that many techniques?
Let's say a person did 3-4 hrs a day of mat time, and spent 3-4 days per technique,
they'd nail down all the techniques to theoretically have a Gracie black belt in
under a year! Sorry, but I just can't fathom it. Especially when other websites say
it can take up to 6-15 years to earn a Gracie Black Belt! The numbers don't add up.
Nowhere
on the first 2 tapes was their any discussion, or demonstration of takedowns, throws,
and safely getting to the mount or guard position.
Enough of all that, let's
get to the tape and the techniques shown:
1. Escape from the mount when choke
is applied
2. Pass the guard and reversal to the mount
3. Another variation
of # 2
4. Choke from the guard
5. Countering the blocking of a choke from the
guard
6. Leg hook to protect the guard position, and transitioning to a side control
7.
Americana - arm bar from the guard
8. Sweep technique, taking one from the guard
position to the mount
9. Another sweep technique, taking one from the guard position
to the mount
10. Arm bar from inside the guard
11. Getting the "famous
triangle" from inside the guard
This series description says a couple
of things I'd like to quote: "Tons of submission holds and fighting strategies.
A must have set for the advanced JiuJitsu student looking for the real Gracie method."
I've made it 25% of the way through this series (2 out of the 8 tapes), and
I haven't seen "tons" of anything. It just made me have "tons"
of questions, such as:
In numerous places, where you (Carlson) demonstrated
a technique or counter move, I saw a much quicker and easier submission or choke.
Why was a much more complicated move shown instead, that had numerous points-of-danger,
on an introductory tape (the first 2 tapes of this series introducing people to Gracie
Jujitsu techniques).
Why bring that up? I believe a person should teach easy
basic techniques prior to complicated ones. You gotta walk before you can run.
Like
the previous tape in this series, I can't picture watching this tape more than a
couple of times, if even that. Bottomline, the first 2 tapes in this series disappointed
me. I expected alot more.
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