Company: SDS/ JEET KUNE DO
Tape Name: Bushido Kempo: Focus On Combat
Tape Cost: $49.95
Length of Tape/Time: Approximately 60 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 45
Return Policy: Don't Know
Experiences in dealing with this company: Don't Know
The Instructor: Gary Dill
Company's Address: P.O. Box 3396, Bartlesville, OK 74006
Company's Phone Number:
Web Page: http://www.jkd-garydill.com/
E-Mail: sales@jkd-garydill.com

---

Main Grading Criteria

Production/Tape Quality: 8
Instructors demonstrated skill level: 9
Comprehension Score: 9
Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 9
Degree to which we would recommend this product: 8
Score on delivery vs hype: 9
Wasted Time (The higher the number, the less " fluff "):9
Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over again): 9
Would I purchase more of this company's products: 9
Overall grade based on cost vs value: 8

Grand Total: 87% ( Fair = 1.75 Stars )

---

Secondary Grading Criteria

Beginners: Fair
Intermediate: Fair
Advanced: Fair
Time to benefit: Immediate
The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None

---

Written Summary:

This video is an overview of a little known karate style called Bushido Kempo. I had not heard of Bushido Kempo before watching this video. Mr. Gary Dill is the apparent founder and grandmaster of this system which incorporates lots of hard strikes, powerful low line kicks, and some standup jiu-jitsu techniques. Mr. Dill makes some comments during the introduction about being a jeet kune do practitioner as well but this system looks nothing like Bruce Lee's material that we have reviewed in other videos. This system looks like a traditional Okinawan/Japanese karate style ( goju-ryu, shorin-ryu, isshin-ryu ) complete with gi's, colored belts, and a lots of kiai's. Most of the techniques shown are found in the traditional karate styles although Mr. Dill brings a distinctly western flavor to these self defense techniques. ( Growling, making faces at the camera, implying that black belts in other styles don't measure up to Bushido Kempo, etc. )

Mr. Dill begins the video by showing various hand techniques that he uses in this system. Vertical punches, shutos, elbow strikes, palm strikes, web hand and heel hand shots are covered with some explanation given for the proper use of each. There are a few low line kicks shown followed by some blocking ( more on that later ). From here, Mr. Dill moves into a series of self defense techniques against a variety of attacks and grabs. Mr. Dill proceeds to use what I like to call standup jiu-jitsu as he demonstrates some very basic locking and throwing techniques. In the final segment, Mr. Dill gives a very basic demonstration on how to use a Japanese jo ( a stick that looks very much like a kali stick ).

This is not a bad video. It is not a great video either. It really depends on the level of training that the viewer brings to the table. Probably the worst part of this video is the way Mr. Dill addresses blocking. The use of hard style forearm blocks look great on video and in the dojo. In theory, hard style blocking should work very well. Unfortunately, anyone who attempts to hard block against a good puncher will eat punch after punch until going down ( or until the boxer grows tired of punching the face ). Futile attempts to execute hard blocks " in the street " are thoroughly addressed in other videos such as David James's Vee Arnis Jitsu series by ESPY. I suggest that anyone who believes in the utility of hard style karate blocks watch those videos by Mr. James before buying into any dojo theory of hard forearm blocking.

Another problem I have with this video is Mr. Dill implies that to defend against a blow to the lower half of the body, one should use what we used to call a gedan low block. This might work fine against a punch ( assuming you can deploy the block in time ) but against a kick, it is a terrific way to get a broken forearm. Big bone ( shin ) against small bone ( forearm ) equal broken small bone ( forearm ). Just simple Newtonian physics.

The last segment deals with some stick fighting techniques. These rudimentary techniques are shown individually and then in kata form. While I don't think Dan Inosanto would be impressed by these techniques, they are suitable for introductory weapons training.

While Mr. Dill did not specifically address footwork in this video, I have to say that the movements looked slow, even somewhat ponderous, at times. Gosh, what a wonderful world it would be if everyone would just stand still and let us hit them The techniques used are potentially devastating and look good when coupled with kiai's. I am sure there must be more to Mr. Dill's system than what is on this video and it is unfair to judge an entire system from one video. This video would make an interesting companion video to any video on traditional karate but we would not recommend it as a complete fighting system in itself. If we are able to review any subsequent video on Bushido Kempo, then maybe we could recommend it as good system at that time. But based on the material in this video, it leaves a lot to be desired.

CJ