Company: D3 Productions
Tape Name: Goshin Jitsu No Kata
Tape
Cost: $59.95
Length of Tape/Time: 75 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 21+
Return
Policy: ?
Experiences in dealing with
this company: Fantastic
The Instructor: Greg Fernandez & Richard Bradley
Company's Address: 8626 Plymouth Rock N.E.,
Albuquerque, N.M., 87109
Company's Phone Number: 505-858-1555
Web
Page:
http://www.highfiber.com/~d3produc/index.html
E-Mail:
d3produc@highfiber.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1. Production/Tape Quality: 9
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3.
Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 8
4. Degree to which this will make
someone a better Martial Artist: 9
5. Score on delivery vs. hype: 10
6. Degree
to which we'd recommend this product: 9
7. Wasted Time (The higher the number,
the less "fluff"/repetition): 10
8. Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over
again: 10
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 9
10. Overall
grade based on cost vs. value: 9
Grand Total: 93% (Good = 3.25 stars)
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1. Beginners benefit: Fair
2. Intermediate benefit: Good
3. Advanced benefit:
Very Good
4. Time to benefit: Immediate on some, awhile on others.
5. The need
to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None
Written Summary:
Some people, when
they think of or discuss classic judo, view it as a primitive art, more often a sport,
with little to no practical street value. In my opinion this video debunks that myth.
The
Goshin Jitsu No Kata, is in the judo world a well known 2 man series of 21 pre-arranged
self defense techniques, done in a specific way/order. For those not of the judo
world, but familiar with other arts, it's basically a form. 12 of the techniques
are done unarmed and 9 are armed. Of the 9 armed techniques each is done specifically
with either a cane, knife or pistol. Whereas some martial arts practice forms, or
perform self defense techniques, with or against outdated ancient weapons not commonly
found on the street today, what we refreshingly find demonstrated here are defenses
against more common modern weapons.
Two things I feel should be pointed out
about the weapons section that were interesting but concerned me. First, the
knife used appeared to be real. It was shiny, metallic, and appeared to have a sharp
point. It was not your normal dull looking flexible rubber practice knife and nothing
was mentioned by the instructors about only using a rubber knife. I still slightly
doubted it's authenticity until I noticed that the shiny metal blade was holstered
in a matching wooden scabbard. Although I'm a fan of realistic training, I was somewhat
concerned for the uki's safety. The uki was thrown all over the place, rather forcefully,
while holding onto this knife. If an inexperienced person were to be thrown around,
and landed wrong with a real knife of this sort, the results could be fatal. My first
thought was what if some teenage boys got ahold of this video and attempted to practice
the techniques shown with a a real knife? My personal feeling is that one should
NEVER practice knife defense with a real knife, ONLY use a rubber knife. Second,
to further add to my concern, it was stated in the video by one of the instructors
that all the uki's attacks should be done realistically at full speed and power.
My next thought was, "Yeah, but with a real knife at full speed?" Based
on what I saw, and out of concern for some of our younger readers, I'd strongly suggest
that if you're under 18 you do not purchase this video, borrow it, or practice any
of the techniques as shown. My personal feeling is that the safety of our youth is
more important than selling videos !
I guess the best way to describe what
I felt while watching the video is this. The martial artist in me, that strives for
realism, was impressed with the courage of the instructors to demonstrate their techniques
with a real knife. However the humane side of me was horrified by the possibilities
of an inexperienced martial artist, or child, trying to achieve the same results.
I felt the video potentially contains a certain amount or irresponsible negligence
on the part of Fernandez and Bradley. I hope to God no one gets hurt attempting to
practice what they show, especially the way they show it. At the very least a disclaimer
about using a real knife, for those under 18, and for inexperienced adults, should've
been provided.
OK, now on to this videos contents. The video starts out and
takes one straight through the kata, beginning to end, non-stop. I timed it, and
it took about 8 minutes to complete the kata. Afterwards the instructors go through
each technique, breaking them into 21 segments, providing the viewer some explanation
about executing each, and a vailant effort is made to explan the "whys"
of each technique/move. Although explanation on how to perform each technique was
provided, it wasn't done as well as I would've personally preferred. The best way
to explain that is to say if you're a beginner, new to grappling or judo, you would
probably get confused and frustrated, if after watching this tape you were to attempt
to reproduce all 21 techniques shown. Some subtleties necessary to understand and
perform each technique, in my opinion, are not completely explained. However, in
defense of the form, the video, and the instructors, this isn't really intended for
beginners. That being said, any adult that's an intermediate or advanced student
of classic judo, which the tape seems geared towards, should have no problem finding
value in this tape. The techniques shown in this video are very solid, however my
own personal opinion about training with real knives forces me to give a little less
of a recommendation about this video than I would've otherwise. Based on what was
shown, specifically the implied tools to use (real knife), and method of practicing
this form (full speed and force), I can't give this video as strong a recommendation
as I would've liked. Training with the safety of others in mind, especially one's
uki, is paramount, yet seems to be somewhat overlooked/understated here. And if there
was ever a place to clearly state the importance of safety, it's in a video that
uses a real knife!
If there's one thing I got out of this video, beside the
fact that judo appears to have some street value, it's that no matter who you are,
or how good you think you are, and no matter what an instructor says, you should
only practice knife defense with a rubber knife! Personally I would've assumed this
to be a common sense "no brainer". But the depths to which some people
have gone to practice and encourage realism, as demonstrated in this video, not only
concerns me, but leaves me with a feeling that I must, for the good of all, interject
my own personal thoughts which are DON'T USE REAL KNIVES! Don't get me wrong, I'm
a huge fan of realistic training, but what's next, real pistols with real bullets?
