Company: Panther Productionss
Name: Gracie Brazilian JiuJitsu - Blue Belt Techniques Volume 2
Tape Cost: $29.95
Length of Tape/Time: 40 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 11
Return Policy: for damages and defects
Experiences in dealing with this company: Fair
Instructor: Carlson Gracie Jr
Company's Address: 1000 Century Blvd, Midwest, OK, 73110
Company's Phone Number: 1-800-626-2787
Web Page: http://www.centurymartialarts.com/accessories/media
E-Mail: customerservice@centurymartialarts.com

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.

Click here to go to reviews 401-500

© 1997-2016 Martial Arts Video Reviews. All Rights Reserved.