Company: Advanced Street Fighting ASF
Tape Name: Combat Jiu Jitsu Series 1 (Volume 1-5) & Series 2 (Volume 6-7) Tape Cost: $99.95 plus 10.00 S&H (For Series 1 & 2)
Length of Tape: Series 1: 153 minutes, Series 2: 131 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 104 (for both series)
Return Policy: Unknown
Experiences in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Walt Bayless
Company's Address: ASF, 3909 S. 4800 W., West Valley City, UT. 84120
Company's Phone Number: (800)506-3182
Web Page: U/K
E-mail: U/K

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Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 9
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 9
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 10
5. Score on delivery vs. Hype: 9
6. Degree to which we would recommend this product: 10
7. Wasted time (The higher the number, the less "fluff"/repetition: 10
8. Playback Score/Watching it over and over again: 9
9. Would I purchase more of this company's product: 10
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. Value: 10

Grand Total: 96% (Excellent = 4 stars)

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Secondary Grading Criteria Series 1:

1. Beginners benefit: Very Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Very Good
3. Advanced benefit: Fair
4. Time to benefit: Some Immediate, greatest benefit with practice
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None

Secondary Grading Criteria Series 2:

1. Beginners benefit: Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3. Advanced benefit: Excellent
4. Time to benefit: Some Immediate, greatest benefit with practice
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None

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Written Summary:

This is a tape series that has been around for quite some time. I'm sure most of us have seen the ads in Black Belt magazine over the years. The 1st series was made in 1995 and although it is now several years old I believe that it has stood the test of time fairly well. The 2nd series was made in 1997 and would have a lot of new material for many people even today. I considered grading both Series 1 & 2 separately however as they are now sold together I decided to grade them as one. The potential consumer should however be aware that there are definitely some differences between the two sets. The 1st notable difference is that the 2nd series, in this review’s opinion, is the best of the two series as far as the actual material that is presented to the viewer. The 2nd series hands down is a better set of tapes. The 1st series is a look at what Walt feels are high percentage techniques, that is techniques that he believes are most likely to work in a street fight. The 2nd series deals more with how to set your opponent up and how to escape from various positions. Another obvious difference between the two tape sets is the Production quality. The 1st series was done much more professionally (except for the occasional background noise) whereas the second series doesn't quite have the same quality. The 2nd video of the 2nd series entitled Advanced Combat Jiu Jitsu and Quick Kills is actually shot in Black & White using the wide screen version. The wide screen version was okay but I'm not sure about the reasoning for having the video in Black & White. Overall the production quality of the 2nd series is still quite good, it is just that after seeing the 1st series I would of expected the same type of quality or better. Another difference between the two series is that they are really geared towards two different levels of students. The 1st series is geared more towards a person with some experience up to a lower Intermediate level. It is not a series that I would recommend for a complete beginner. (There are other series available by different Companies that cover this area). Also if a person has a decent sized tape collection then there probably won't be a lot of new material for the viewer on this 1st series. The material presented is very good with a lot of solid Jiu Jitsu techniques being taught just not a whole lot of new techniques for someone with a large collection of grappling tapes. The 2nd series however is more for the Advanced student and is defiantly not for the beginner. This series will contain many new techniques for most viewers even if you have a number of tapes or have been practicing for awhile. Walt Bayless makes it clear on his video's and some of his earlier ads that a person need not be from another Country or have to have some kind of mysticism surrounding them to be able to teach Jiu Jitsu. Walt Bayless states that there is nothing mystical about learning the martial arts and that what he shows the viewer is the real deal. Nothing watered down, no missing details. A lot of the earlier tapes put out by some Companies did just that. They would give you a piece of the pie but not the whole pie. Over the past several years this has really changed as the tape market has been flooded with Instructors who are now more willing to show the real thing than ever before. In this reviewers opinion overall Mr. Bayless does an excellent job showing real life workable techniques to the viewer. The techniques shown will actually work on a live resisting opponent. Walt has combined several different arts including Wrestling and Brazilian Jiu Jitsu to come up with his own version of Combat Jiu Jitsu. Bottom Line: Both series (especially the 2nd) is not geared toward someone who has no grappling background at all. This is a solid street oriented collection of techniques delivered in an impeccable teaching style. Walt comes across as one of the friendliest video Instructors on tape. His sense of humor (which I really enjoyed) really comes through on the video's. Another positive aspect that cannot be ignored is the price. Seven tapes for $99.95 is really giving the viewer their money's worth but keep in mind that a number of the tapes were well under 30 minutes in length. Overall the viewer gets 4 ½ hours of instruction with very little wasted time. On the negative side I felt that some of the takedown techniques weren't totally combat oriented. Also as mentioned earlier the Production quality was not top notch in the 2nd series. I would like to make a small comment on the Customer Service at ASF. At first I was less than happy, actually I was quite concerned. This was my experience with the Company. I had ordered the 1st series of tapes (at that time each was sold separately) but they had sent me the 2nd set instead. I called and they said they would send me out the 1st series right away. I did get my videos, they also let me keep the 2nd series of tapes plus they even threw in a free T shirt. I was more than happy at that point until I got my credit card bill and found that I had been charged $1000.00 extra for the tapes. Talk about an expensive T shirt! To make a long story short it was all a big mistake and they did credit my credit card for $1000.00. I spoke with the staff there and they advised that they had just recently changed some of the employees and that there had been a number of mistakes on other orders as well. At this point I would not hesitate to order again from this company. Overall there is a lot of very useful material on these video's that is taught in an organized, thorough and nicely paced manner. This video series gets my two thumbs up. Here is some of what is you will find on the video's:

Tape 1: Takedowns = 44 minutes 18 techniques

This video shows how to establish the clinch and shows various takedowns from there. Walt covers the stance, level change, clinch, various throws/wrestling type takedowns and several ways to finish your opponent while standing. This video is good and deals mostly with the clinch. On the negative side I would of liked to have seen how to set your opponent up using punches and kicks. The kick is only briefly mentioned. The takedown shown is reactive to your opponent trying to punch you. I also felt that some of the takedowns shown were not totally combat orientated. Some of the throws are modified judo/jiu jitsu type, others include the high crotch, duck under and the Bulgarian head lock (I really liked this one, it works!) The techniques are well explained with good detail. Overall a very good tape.

Tape 2: Armlocks = 45 minutes 20 techniques

This video shows various armlocks from the different positions. Some of the basics of maintaining the Mount are explained first. Techniques covered are a wrist lock, key lock, basic armlock, arm wrap and a arm wrap to a shoulder lock. Walt also covers armlocks from cross body, knee on the stomach, broken scarf hold, head lock position and the guard. Walt really does a good job of explaining how these techniques work when your opponent tries to counter you. This is an excellent video. Lots of material.

Tape 3: Leg locks = 23 minutes 9 techniques

This video contains 9 basic leg locks. If you have other leg lock tapes than you will not find anything new here. Not a large number of techniques however all are good sound techniques. Shown from within the guard are the basic ankle lock, heel hook and a knee lock. From cross body: outside ankle lock (nice move) and a outside knee lock. From the guard (on your back): knee pinch, defensive heel hook and a defensive knee lock.

Tape 4: Chokes = 26 minutes 8 techniques.

This video deals with the naked choke from three different positions. From the Mount Bayless shows you the scissor (forearm) choke, fist choke, shoulder choke and side scissor choke. Cross body chokes are the clamp choke and a choke from headlock position. Two chokes, the shoulder choke and the triangle are shown from the guard position.

Tape 5: Reversals = 20 minutes 7 techniques

Bayless covers some basic reversals showing three ways to escape the guard and 2 reversals from the Mount position. Also shown are a guillotine reversal, rear body lock escape and a side body lock to a rear headlock throw. One negative aspect of this tape is that there were no sweeps shown. I would of thought that Bayless would of included at least one or two basic sweeps. At the start of each tape during the introduction you see a sweep being demonstrated but for some reason I couldn’t find the technique on any of the videos.

Tape 6: Advanced Combat Jiu Jitsu = 100 minutes 34 Techniques

This is hands down the best video of the two series. It is not for a complete beginner but has many new techniques for the intermediate and even advanced student that have not been shown on video before. Walt really comes through in this video and gives the viewer a large number of effective no gi techniques from various positions. There are a lot of escapes and setups shown on this tape. This video includes take downs from the knees, techniques from the mount, guard, cross body top and cross body bottom. Here is the breakdown of this excellent video:

Take downs from the knees: Interesting material not seen on other video’s.

1) Outside Russian Variation

2) Scissor entry. Walt states that this technique gives the viewer an option to just falling on their back and pulling the person in between their legs like a honeymoon! If Walt ever gets out of the Martial Arts he may want to try to make a living as a standup comedian. This guy is entertaining.

3) Hip lever entry. This one is great against a bigger and stronger opponent. I have used this a number of times and it works very well.

4) Front headlock finish

5) Front headlock escape (when one arm is trapped with your opponents neck). It was nice to see Walt show the technique then the counter to it right after.

6) The Whizzer

7) 3/4 Nelson armlock

8) Whizzer fake to knee lock

9) As above into a heel hook if the person escapes the knee lock

10) The stand up: How to safely stand up when your on the bottom from the guard position.

11) The roll: reversal from the guard (bottom position)

12) The switch: another reversal from the guard (bottom position)

13) Arm drag from above position

14) Gut wrench variation (2 types)

15) Arm wrap to fake arm lock (nice set up)

16) Switch arm lock (another good set up)

17) Arm lock to knee lock

The Mount

18) Forced armlock: this is a counter to someone (only an inexperienced person would do this) who is trying to push you off.

19) Counter to umpa to above armbar

20) Counter to umpa to shoulder choke

21) Mount to knee on stomach to armbar

22) Straight armlock

Cross Body Top

23) Cross body to Top and Bottom position to straight armlock

24) T wrap to armbar

25) Sit out to armbar (another nice setup)

26) Getting mount from sit out (2 variations)

27) Getting armbar from top position

Cross body bottom

28) How to reverse the position

29) Sit out escape

30) Escape to armlock

31) Turning in with power

32) Countering to the half mount


Tape 7: Quick Kills Volume 1 = 30 minutes 8 techniques

This is an interesting video complete with eerie music and a few far out names. This video is for life and death serious self defense situations only. Walt states that we live in an extreme world and that we need to have extreme counter measures to protect our self or family if the need arises. Walt goes on to explain that it is not that easy to kill someone with your bare hands and you must train the techniques presented to become proficient at them. All of the techniques presented on this video have the potential to kill someone if they are performed properly. Of course one should use extra caution when practicing these techniques. Here is what you will find on this video:

1) Shadow Kill: This is a neck breaker from behind which severs the spinal cord.

2) Final Clinch: Neck breaker from the front

3) Front Head Lift

4) Sit out neck breaker: Also known as a crucifix or stockade

5) Variations from the guard

6) Variations from the Mount: Leg scissor

7) Reverse head lift from an arm drag

8) Cross body head lift with leg scissor

One final comment: If you read this review Mr. Bayless, I personally (no doubt many others are also) am really looking forward to another series. Keep up the good work and I hope to see you on video again soon.