Company: Iron Warrior Federation/Marco Lala
Tape Name: Jiu Jutsu Armlocks Volume 2
Tape Cost: $ 39.95 (special : 4 for 99.97 ) + $6.50 ship. 1ST Tape, 3.25 ea.add.
Length of Tape/Time: 33 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: Too Many Too Count, with lots of variations
Return Policy: 30 day money back guarantee
Experiences in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Marco Lala
Company's Address: PO Box 979 ,Yonkers ,NY , 10704
Company's Phone Number: 1-800-573-7655
Web Page: http://www.fightingsecrets.com
E-Mail: marcolala@fightingsecrets.com

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Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 9
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: 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: 9
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 10
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 10

Grand Total: 95 %

1. 80%-100% = 95 %
2. Poor, Fair, Good, Excellent = Good, almost Excellent
3. 0-5 stars = 4.25 stars

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Secondary Grading Criteria:

1. Beginners benefit: Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3. Advanced benefit: Excellent
4. Time to benefit: The more you practice, the better you get
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: Without volume 1, you may not understand some of the things Mr. Lala is trying to bring across

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Written Summary:

This tape is the continuation of volume one. As such, the person interested in this two volume set should start by reading the review of volume one. This tape continues from volume one by showing a "side-control series", showing the three basic possibilities as executed from this position, using the legs and the body to create effective pressure. Mr. Lala then continues to a top hold series, arm locks done from a kneeling position, arm locks done off the back, locks done with the opponent flat on the stomach and, finally, with the opponent on his hands and knees. So much for the technical content. As Mr. Lala says, if you practice all the variations on both tapes, you should certainly develop a feeling not only for the locks themselves, but also for when and how they are applicable. Thus, even if your opponent should not give you the exact position you have practiced, you should still be able to apply an effective arm lock. As a matter of fact, this would be an ideal way of testing one's understanding. Take your practice partner, find a positional variation Mr. Lala has not dealt with and see if you can work out the possibilities!

A few comments on the techniques shown: Mr. Lala does not seem to differentiate between positions in which one controls the opponent's body and those in which one does not. Part of what makes many of the B.J.J techniques superior is that first one controls the opponent's body, then one goes for a finishing technique. In showing the techniques done off the knees, this is not the case. Mr. Lala goes for the arm lock without first controlling the opponent's body. This is of course not in any way wrong, it simply means that the opponent has a larger chance of escaping from such a lock. The reviewer feels that locks put on in such positions should perhaps be preceded by a quick strike or two, except maybe in cases in which the opponent is armed. The issue of having control of the opponent's body is an important one. In grappling with inexperienced training partners one may, for instance, find them trying to put on a bent arm lock whilst being in one's guard. This is easily foiled by simply pushing them away or pulling them in, or alternating between the two.

Again, some of the techniques are a little more complex and some are specifically oriented towards competitions. Should one ever find oneself in a street encounter in which one's opponent is on his hands and knees there are many simpler and faster techniques available than some of the more complex Judo-type rolling turnover armbars.

All in all however, this tape or rather, these two tapes, achieve what they set out to do, ie anyone conscientiously practicing all of the material on these tapes will definitely have acquired a good understanding of armbars and how to apply them.

E.P.