Company: Panther Productions
Tape Name: Close Quarter Fighting Tactics, Volume 2
Tape Cost: Tape Cost: 6 for $99.95
Length of Tape/Time: 45 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 14
Return Policy: Return on damaged or defective tapes only!
Experiences in dealing with this company: Fair
The Instructor: Leonard Holifield
Company's Address: 1010 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, California 92673
Company's Phone Number: 1-800-332-4442
Web Page: Century purchased Panther's entire library http://www.centurymartialarts.com/accessories/media
E-Mail: panther@rsabbs.com

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Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 9
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 10
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 9
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 ): 9
8. Playback Score/Watching if 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: 94 % (Very Good = 3.5 Stars)

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Secondary Grading Criteria:

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

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Written Summary:

This video is a continuation of the previous video in this series. As in the previous volume, the format is standard Panther but with fewer unnecessary repetitions that what one sometimes finds on other Panther videos. Mr. Holifield is founder of this system called C.E.T.A. ( Close Engagement Target Acquisition ) which is currently being taught to armed forces personnel. I checked with Mr. Holifield himself to discover the martial arts from which he derived this system. C.E.T.A. is combination of Judo, Ju-Jitsu, Aikido, Hapkido, Hwrangdo, Combat Karate, and Western Boxing. More importantly, it is based on real-world training and proven methods of reseach while working with and training U.S. Soldiers in hand-to-hand combat during Mr. Holifield's military career as Chief Combatives Instructor. In other words, this system has been " road tested ". My thoughts would be that for the military to teach a system, it must meet several very important criteria. First, it must be effective. Second, it must be able to be learned quickly. Third, the techniques must work under many different circumstances.. In my opinion, the material shown on this volume ( and on the previous volumes as well ) meets all of these criteria.

This video consists of 13 different martial techniques and follows the same essential format that was covered in the review of the previous volume. The major difference between this volume and the previous volume is that the attacks in this video are completely different. We have 4 techniques against a rushing attacker, 5 knife defense techniques, 2 techniques against front kicks and 2 ground fighting techniques. All of these attacks are common types of assaults, especially the knife attacks. As on previous volumes, Mr. Holifield does a very good job of explaining the technique before he does it. This is so important if one is trying to learn from a video. All of the techniques shown ( with the possible exception of one ) have good economy of motion. All of the techniques flow nicely from one move to the next. As on the previous volume, I was able to see several entirely new moves ( unusual for the review staff at MAVR ) which is always a pleasant experience. I also want to emphasize the destructiveness of the techniques. Lethality is the norm on most of them. Remember that these techniques are designed for use in military combat and are not intended to be used on someone who cuts you off in traffic.

All of the stand up techniques on this video involve some type of throw or takedown followed by some kind of devastating finishing move. I have observed that this is characteristic of all of Mr. Holifield's material in this video series. The ground fighting tactics all involve a reversal of an opponent who is in the mounted position followed by a finishing move. It is probably fair to say that experienced martial artists will be familiar with some of the material. It is also fair to say that experienced martial artists will find some new and interesting material here as well. As I said before, I have found new material on each of the three volumes that I have watched thus far. To give the viewer an idea of the material, there are combat modified versions of sweeps, clotheslines, hip throws, the Irish whip, head throws, chokes, and reaping takedowns. Mr. Holifield's interpretation of these moves for true combat scenarios are very interesting and enlightening to watch. It is amazing to me how the better combat systems ( such as this one ) do not have to rely on extensive hype, ridiculous full page magazine ads, and questionable teaching histories. The better systems speak loudly on their own merit. And word does get around on both the good systems and not so good systems. From what I have seen on the first three volumes of this series, this is definitely one of the good ones and would definitely be worth the money and training time. Highly recommended.

CJ