Company: ESPY-TV
Tape Name: Krav Maga # 1
Tape Cost: $29.95
Length of
Tape/Time: 1 hour 15 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: Drill and Training Tape
Return
Policy: Refund on damaged or defective tapes only
Experiences in dealing with
this company: Fantastic
The Instructor: Rhon Mizrachi
Company’s Address: 611
Broadway, N.Y., N.Y., 10012
Company’s Phone Number: 212-673-0899
Web Page:
http://www.espytv.com
E-Mail: order@espytv.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1.
Production/Tape Quality: 9
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 9
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: 10
6. Degree to which
we would recommend this product: 9
7. Wasted Time ( The higher the number, the
less “ fluff” /repetition ): 9
8. Playback Score/Watching if over-and-over again:
9
9. Would I purchase more of this company’s products: 9
10. Overall grade
based on cost vs. Value: 9
Grand Total: 92% ( Good = 3.0 Stars )
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1.
Beginners benefit: Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Good
3. Advanced benefit:
Fair
4. Time to benefit: Immediate
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand
this one: None
Written Summary:
Krav Maga
seems to be a really hot topic of interest right now. Who knows if it's the "flavor
of the month", or if it's here to stay, I guess only time will tell. But over
the past few months I've been getting 2-3 requests a week, asking when, and if, we're
going to be reviewing any Krav Maga tapes. The only other fighting system that we've
gotten as many questions about, prior to this one, was SCAR'S. Well the answer is
YES, we will be doing Krav Maga reviews, and here's our first review. (Editors note
- we have a total of 7 different Krav Maga tapes, 2 from ESPY, and 5 from the Krav
Maga Association, so other reviews will be coming).
So what's this tape about?
This first half of the tape shows the following:
1. Fighting Stance - natural,
both feet pointing forward, left slightly in front of the right
2. Fist - how
to make one
3. Jab - "how to"
4. Reverse punch - another "how
to"
5. Combo's - Jab/Reverse
6. Hook Punch - very good explanation, one
of the best I've seen on tape
7. Elbow - various angles/ways to perform elbow
strikes
8. Eye Gouge - a very different, but effective way to do this
9. Palm
Heel - shows the chin as the most common target
10. Hammer Fist - main target
the back of the neck ???
11. Front Kick - "how to", groin most common
target
12. Roundhouse Kick - very good explanation/visual of showing the mechanics,
this really impressed me because many people do this wrong and don't realize it.
13.
Side Kick - "how to"
Alright, so that's what is covered on the first
half of the tape. Most of it would be common to anyone whose had some formal martial
arts training. Although there were a couple of things done very well, or unique enough
to mention, such as Hook Punch, Elbow, Eye Gouge, Roundhouse Kick. Things missing,
or not thoroughly covered, that left me scratching my head were: Head Butt, Uppercut,
Knife Hand Strikes, Backfists, and Kneeing. I was left wondering if these were oversights,
things left for more advanced students, or techniques they don't believe in using.
The first half of the tape seemed to be more of an "intro" of what weapons
to use and where to use them. Most of what was shown I felt would be basic to intermediate
or advanced martial arts students. Verdict on the first half of the tape? Many common
things covered, some done well, a couple of missing things, and a couple of concepts,
such as "the hammer fist is mainly good for the back of the neck" left
me scratching my head. What about someones nose, eye, throat, temple, side of the
jaw, collarbone, ribs, solar plexus, kidneys, or groin? I always thought these were
viable targets for a hammer fist if you catch each at the right angle!
OK,
now on to the rest of the tape. The second half covered how to combine some of the
things taught in the first half, and use them in street/self defense situations.
What we're talking about here are the front choke, side choke, rear choke, etc. There
were about 6 of these self defense type scenarios shown. Several of the techniques
used were nothing new for most martial artists, but on the other hand I saw a couple
done in a way I'd never seen before, specifically the front choke.
The only
problem I had with the second half of the tape was a section thrown in about blocking.
I had a real conceptual problem with how it was shown a person should block a low
kick. Best described, it leaves a person bent over, off balance, and very vulnerable
( in my opinion). My verdict on the second half of the tape? Some stuff many martial
artists will have seen, a couple of things some probably haven't, and some conceptual
things that may be a problem for some.
All in all it might be a good tape
for someone that has never stepped into a dojo, nor had any kind of training. For
those that have, they'll probably get "some value" out of a couple of the
things shown. The tape left me with a "lukewarm" feeling.
