Company: Military Recordings
Tape Name: Hand to Hand Combat - Marine Corps L.I.N.E. Training
Tape Cost: $19.95
Length of Tape/Time: 58 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 12
Return Policy: "Our guarantee of satisfaction is backed with a 100% return policy"
Experiences in dealing with this company:
The Instructor: Marine Corps Drill Instructors
Company's Address: P.O. Box 99788, San Diego, CA 92169
Company's Phone Number: 800-962-2234
Web Page: Military Recordings
E-Mail: documentary@militaryrecordings.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1. Production/Tape Quality: 50
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 50
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 50
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 50
5. Score on delivery vs hype: 50
6. Degree to which we would recommend this product: 50
7. Wasted Time ( The higher the number,the less " fluff" /repetition ): 50
8. Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over again: 50
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 50
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 50
Grand Total: 50% (Fair = 2.5 Stars)
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1. Beginners benefit: Fair
2. Intermediate benefit: Fair
3. Advanced benefit: Fair
4. Time to benefit: Immediate
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: No
Written Summary:
OK, lets start with the official description right off the website:
"L.I.N.E. training is the Marine Corps' version of hand-to-hand combat which is taught to all Marine Corps and uses these unique methods of self-defense because they are easy to learn, extremely effective, and can be incorporated into other martial arts systems. L.I.N.E. training stands for "Linear Involuntary Neurological override Engagement" which means, that once learned, these movements become automatic reflexes in reaction to physical assaults. These are the complete, twelve lessons which will 'arm' you with a variety of counter moves and counter strikes against physical attacks. All lessons taught in this program are taught by Marine Corps Drill Instructors at the Marine Corps' Recruit Training Center in San Diego, California and occur during actual L.I.N.E. training classes. This program enables you to learn these hand-to-hand combat drills alongside Marine Corps' recruits."
I counted 10 self defense techniques that were shown. The video says 12, and I'm still trying to figure out how they arrived at that number. Here's what I saw using their description for each:
1. Wrist Lock
2. Reverse Wrist Lock
3. Counter to a Front Choke
4. Counter to a Choke Hold
5. Counter to Front Head Lock
6. Counter to Rear Head Lock
7. Counter to Lead Hand Punch
8. Counter to Rear Hand Punch (Haymaker)
9. Counter to Uppercut
10. Counter to Front Kick
My assessment? Each of the techniques shown had anywhere from 3-6 minor steps (transitioning moves) to make them work. Several of these minor "steps" in each of the 10 techniques I considered good, yet better than any whole technique that was shown! These minor "steps" gave me ideas of how to use them in other ways, but in general, I wouldn't use any of the complete series of steps (the whole technique) for any real situation. To me, there were too many multiple components/movements that require you to "do-this-then-that" for the technique to work overall. I'm not a big fan of using complicated or multiple steps that have you switching hands/holds back-and-forth like was shown. The fewer "steps" and switching with regard to handling a situation, the better in my opinion.
Often I kept shaking my head from side-to-side while watching this tape, saying to myself: "Why in the hell would they teach our boys so many complicated multiple steps for each type of attack?" Why not just do a quick eye jab/whip, or palm heel to the chin/nose, headbutt to the nose, or palm slap/knee to the groin, or kick into the shin/knee...and if they want to permanently terminate the individual like shown, there's several different ways to use a neck crank to more easily achieve that?" I think if they lead by using a combination of techniques like those taught in Paul Vunak's Street Safe #1, or even the ones out of David James material, they would much more quickly achieve the desired result without so many "steps". Personally, I'm sticking with Street Safe # 1 (Vunak's best video), all my David James stuff, and the neck cranks and other stuff I've seen elsewhere or been taught in person.
I'm going to put this one dead center in the grading scale, mainly due to some ideas I got from a few "steps" in certain techniques. If it weren't for these minor steps periodically giving me ideas, I'd likely give this video a much lower grade.
EM
