Company: Paladin Press
Tape Name: Beyond Brazilian Jujitsu
Tape Cost: $69.95
Length of Tape/Time: 2 hours
Number of Moves/Techniques: Numerous
Return Policy: Money Back Guarantee (just started in 2005)
Instructor: Mark Hatmaker
Company Address: P.O. Box 1307 Boulder CO 80306
Company Phone Number: 303-443-7250
Web Page:
http://www.paladin-press.com
E-Mail:
sales@paladin-press.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1. Production Quality: 100
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 100
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 100
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 100
5. Score on Delivery Vs Hype: 100
6. Degree to which you would recommend this product: 100
7. Wasted time (The Higher the number, the less “Fluff “/repetition): 100
8. Playback score/watching it over and over again: 100
9. Would I purchase more of this company’s products: 100
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 100
Grand Total: 100% (Excellent = 5.0 Stars)
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1. Beginners benefit: Excellent, based on the fact the beginner has some ground fighting knowledge
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3. Advanced benefit: Excellent
4. Time to benefit: Immediate
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None
Written Summary:
Based on the title of this DVD, some Jujitsu practitioners may find themselves a little offended.. Let me assure you, in no way does Mark Hatmaker make any derogatory remarks toward Jujitsu or its students. To the contrary, he states more than once how much respect he has for the different Jujitsu styles. Where his passion lies, though, is in Scientific Western Wrestling.
This is by far the best ground fighting DVD I’ve ever had the privilege to view! Mr. Hatmaker takes techniques that I have seen in many other videos and tweaks them with subtle changes to make them simpler and apparently more effective…something that all ground fighters / martial artists should be accepting of.
Mr. Hatmaker, who is extremely well spoken, starts this DVD with an brief introduction stating how Brazilian Jujitsu is basically a small spectrum of ground fighting, and in his opinion, just the tip of the iceberg. He uses the rest of the DVD to cover the differences in what you may have found in other ground fighting videos and how Scientific Wrestling can make these techniques more efficient. For example, when applying a BJJ cross body “pin”…instead of pinning your opponent and resting on your knees, he extends his legs and posts on his toes with his hips low to the ground. This allows him to become much more fluid with his movements while applying more pressure onto his opponent’s chest. He never settles for just resting upon his opponent, but rather wishes to be in constant motion, truly riding his opponent.
Mr. Hatmaker shows some of the following BJJ techniques, then follows with Scientific Western Wrestling alternative variations and counters.
The Top Wrist Lock (Basic Key lock) - Very effective, no having to drag / muscle the arm with SWW.
Rear Naked Choke - Demonstrates how to defend properly, application of a couple of leg attacks, two really cool “head-crush” counters and how to synch up your choke to make it more successful.
Knee Ride (Knee on stomach) - Easy methods to counter the Knee Ride and covers the devastating “Hamburger Ride.”
Negating the Guard - Mr. Hatmaker maintains with SWW that the “top” is always dominate whether you are in the guard or mounted. He shows the basic BJJ counters to the guard and how with subtle changes in hand positions that his counters can be more effective.
Triangle Choke - A few new counters to the dreaded triangle choke and a simple variation that I’ve never seen before.
Defeating the Half Guard - A couple of innovative ways of utilizing the half guard to your advantage and causing a tremendous amount of discomfort.
Counters to the Cross Body Arm Lock - Effective sequence of maneuvers to escape and counter this technique. Also shows his “Harm” Bar.
Achilles Lock - How to synch up the Achilles lock so your opponent can’t roll out of it and displays counters that are so simple!
The Standing Guillotine Choke w/ alternatives, Defeating the Open Guard, and counters to being Mounted also make for extremely exciting viewing for the avid ground fighter!
Mark Hatmaker has a remarkable way of demonstrating his style of Scientific Western Wrestling in a very simple, successful way. He is easy to follow, shows no arrogance and doesn’t add any fluff to this material. Less complicated, yet more effective…what more could you ask for? By utilizing his straightforward system of techniques, you’ll become more aggressive with your ground game and won’t need as many steps to achieve your desired submission. By incorporating his strategies into your arsenal, you cannot help but to become a better ground technician. Excellent DVD!
DC – Reviewer
