Company: Combat Survival, Inc.
Tape Name: Combat Survival, Volumes 3, 4, 5
Tape Cost: $99.95
Length of Tape/Time: 4.5 hours
Number of Moves/Techniques: well over 100
Return Policy:
Experiences in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Moni Aizik
Company's Address: P.O Box 54074, 500 Lawrence Avenue. West, Toronto, Ontario, M6A 3B7, CANADA
Company's Phone Number: 1-800-408-9218
Website:
http://www.combatsurvival.com
Email:
info@combatsurvival.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1. Production/Tape Quality: 90
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 100
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 90
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 90
5. Score on delivery vs hype: 80
6. Degree to which we would recommend this product: 90
7. Wasted Time ( The higher the number,the less " fluff" /repetition ): 90
8. Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over again: 90
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 100
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 90
Grand Total: 91% (Very Good = 4.5 Stars)
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1. Beginners benefit: Very Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Very Good
3. Advanced benefit: Very Good
4. Time to benefit: A few weeks / months with consistent application of techniques
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None
Written Summary:
Let’s start this review by saying that for the price, you get more material in Moni Aizik’s Combat Survival, Volumes 3, 4 and 5 than in almost any other martial arts video / DVD series on the market today! There are well over 100 different techniques demonstrated on this series. Talk about bang for your buck! If I were to give a comprehensive description of every move in this series, my fingers would fall off from typing due to the amount of information covered. I am not kidding! So, in the sense of time and space, I will attempt to keep this rather concise.
In Volume 3, Moni Aizik continues his instruction, building on his Krav Maga concepts from Volumes 1 & 2. Fourteen varied attacks are shown with numerous counters and variations to the attacks. Volume 3 begins with Gun Disarming and moves on to Escapes from Wrist Grabs, which include many different grabs with scores of escapes and counters. Also covered are front and rear Bear Hugs, Break Falls, Rear Chokes, Rear Elbow Restraints, Lapel Grab, Defense Against the Sucker Punch - Striking Scenarios, Blade Attacks and Ground Survival.
Like the previous volumes, Volume 4 has some similar attacks, adding more advanced escapes and counters. Mr. Aizik also inserts new assaults in which he shows us how his Krav Maga style responds to the threat. Ground Survival (utilizing the guard), two Side Headlock and three Front Head Lock variations, The Side Choke, several escapes from the Rear Bear Hug, a few from the Front Bear Hug, Rolling (Dynamic Falls), Gun and Blade attacks and counters to attacks using an Axe Handle (I guess that’s what Canadian thugs use) are demonstrated.
Technique counter attacks demonstrated in Volume 5 are: The Side Head Lock from a very powerful attacker, four Rear Head Lock Escapes (Full Nelson), Clinch Defenses, a lot of controlling techniques (wrist, finger & ground manipulations), attacks with a good old fashioned baseball bat, Stomach and Face Punches, Gun and Knife Disarms and Street Falls. Mr. Aizik maintains that the Volume 5 material is equivalent to Brown Belt in most martial arts styles. The end of Volume 5, Mr. Aizik illustrates how his students utilize his training principles by facing attackers one on one, non stop multiple attackers, with loud street noises and even in the dark. He also has his students performing calisthenics prior to being attacked so they are practicing while somewhat exhausted. Really effective concepts to street survival!! I was pleased to see this because it showed how to actually train using the techniques shown in his DVDs.
The only thing I wasn’t on board with was his defenses against kicks. His defenses were just to “move out of the way” and attack or grab the kicking leg. I’ll admit that since I have trained in a kicking style for many years, I find it very difficult to accept the simplicity of this. I don’t believe this is possible with someone who is versed in stand up with good kicking skills. (Again, I am prejudiced when it comes to this based on my background.)
One thing I just absolutely thought was innovative and terrific, was at the end of Volumes 4 & 5, there were some out-takes from the filming of the DVDs. These were hilarious and I only wish they had shown more! I congratulate Mr. Aizik on showing the behind the scenes material. I think most video instructors might feel a little timid to show these.
To conclude, you cannot go wrong with this DVD set. For only $100.00, you’ll get more information than you could possibly imagine. Mr. Aizik is a first-class instructor and his new series is top notch!
Review by: DC
