Company: Panther Productions
Name: Jeet Kune Do Concepts, Knife Fighting
Tape Cost: listed at $49.95 in catalog
Length of Tape/Time: 38 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 10
Return Policy: defective merchandise only
Experiences in dealing with this company: very polite and friendly
Instructor: Paul Vunak
Company's Address: Panther Productions, 1010 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA. 92673
Company's Phone Number: 800-332-4442
Web Page: Century purchased Panther's entire library
http://www.centurymartialarts.com/accessories/media
E-Mail: panther@speed.net
Primary Grading Criteria:
1.
Production/Tape Quality: 9
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 9
3.
Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 9
4. Degree to which this will
make someone a better Martial Artist: 8
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 ): 9
8. Playback Score/Watching if
over-and-over again: 8
9. Would I purchase more of this company’s products:8
10.
Overall grade based on cost vs. Value: 8
Grand Total: 84
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1.
Beginners benefit: Fair
2. Intermediate benefit: Poor
3. Advanced benefit:
Poor
4. Time to benefit: Immediate. Material is simplistic
5. The need to
buy additional tapes to understand this one: None
Written Summary:
This video
from Panther featuring Paul Vunak has been around for at least 9 years. As a result,
the material on this video is very dated by today’s standards. In the 1980’s, the
Filipino martial arts were not as well known as they are today and subjects such
as knife fighting were more taboo than they are today. With the spread of kali,
arnis, and escrima, the use of edged weapons in martial arts training is much more
common AND much more sophisticated than much of the material on this video.
Mr.
Vunak deals with some very basic concepts of knife fighting derived from the Filipino
martial arts. The futility of blocking a knife attack, the concept of cutting the
attacking limb (defanging the snake) and some very basic disarms are shown on this
video. Mr. Vunak debunks a common myth that many martial artists adhere to which
is the willingness to “ take a cut “ in order to set up a counter attack. Mr. Vunak
debunks this myth by showing a side of beef and what happens to it when cut with
a small knife. This sobering segment points out to the viewer the futility of deliberately
“ taking a cut “. There is some introduction to some sensitivity drills and then
a fairly long segment that deals with knife sparring using training knives and safety
gear for the participants.
Mr. Vunak obviously has skill with a knife. But
there are other programs and videos on the market that address knife fighting in
more detail and with greater clarity than the material presented here (See Congress
Of American Knife Fighters by Hock Hochheim, or Natural Spirit by Kelly Worden).
I would recommend this video only to beginners and even so, it should be made clear
that the material is only a very superficial look at knife fighting.
