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Company: D3 Productions
Tape Name: Goshin Jitsu No Kata
Tape Cost: $59.95
Length of Tape/Time: 75 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 21+
Return Policy: ?
Experiences in dealing with this company: Fantastic
The Instructor: Greg Fernandez & Richard Bradley
Company's Address: 8626 Plymouth Rock N.E., Albuquerque, N.M., 87109
Company's Phone Number: 505-858-1555
Web Page: http://www.highfiber.com/~d3produc/index.html
E-Mail: d3produc@highfiber.com


Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 9
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 8
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: 10
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 9
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 9


Grand Total: 93% (Good = 3.25 stars)


Secondary Grading Criteria:

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


Written Summary:

Some people, when they think of or discuss classic judo, view it as a primitive art, more often a sport, with little to no practical street value. In my opinion this video debunks that myth.

The Goshin Jitsu No Kata, is in the judo world a well known 2 man series of 21 pre-arranged self defense techniques, done in a specific way/order. For those not of the judo world, but familiar with other arts, it's basically a form. 12 of the techniques are done unarmed and 9 are armed. Of the 9 armed techniques each is done specifically with either a cane, knife or pistol. Whereas some martial arts practice forms, or perform self defense techniques, with or against outdated ancient weapons not commonly found on the street today, what we refreshingly find demonstrated here are defenses against more common modern weapons.

Two things I feel should be pointed out about the weapons section that were interesting but concerned me. First, the knife used appeared to be real. It was shiny, metallic, and appeared to have a sharp point. It was not your normal dull looking flexible rubber practice knife and nothing was mentioned by the instructors about only using a rubber knife. I still slightly doubted it's authenticity until I noticed that the shiny metal blade was holstered in a matching wooden scabbard. Although I'm a fan of realistic training, I was somewhat concerned for the uki's safety. The uki was thrown all over the place, rather forcefully, while holding onto this knife. If an inexperienced person were to be thrown around, and landed wrong with a real knife of this sort, the results could be fatal. My first thought was what if some teenage boys got ahold of this video and attempted to practice the techniques shown with a a real knife? My personal feeling is that one should NEVER practice knife defense with a real knife, ONLY use a rubber knife. Second, to further add to my concern, it was stated in the video by one of the instructors that all the uki's attacks should be done realistically at full speed and power. My next thought was, "Yeah, but with a real knife at full speed?" Based on what I saw, and out of concern for some of our younger readers, I'd strongly suggest that if you're under 18 you do not purchase this video, borrow it, or practice any of the techniques as shown. My personal feeling is that the safety of our youth is more important than selling videos !

I guess the best way to describe what I felt while watching the video is this. The martial artist in me, that strives for realism, was impressed with the courage of the instructors to demonstrate their techniques with a real knife. However the humane side of me was horrified by the possibilities of an inexperienced martial artist, or child, trying to achieve the same results. I felt the video potentially contains a certain amount or irresponsible negligence on the part of Fernandez and Bradley. I hope to God no one gets hurt attempting to practice what they show, especially the way they show it. At the very least a disclaimer about using a real knife, for those under 18, and for inexperienced adults, should've been provided.

OK, now on to this videos contents. The video starts out and takes one straight through the kata, beginning to end, non-stop. I timed it, and it took about 8 minutes to complete the kata. Afterwards the instructors go through each technique, breaking them into 21 segments, providing the viewer some explanation about executing each, and a vailant effort is made to explan the "whys" of each technique/move. Although explanation on how to perform each technique was provided, it wasn't done as well as I would've personally preferred. The best way to explain that is to say if you're a beginner, new to grappling or judo, you would probably get confused and frustrated, if after watching this tape you were to attempt to reproduce all 21 techniques shown. Some subtleties necessary to understand and perform each technique, in my opinion, are not completely explained. However, in defense of the form, the video, and the instructors, this isn't really intended for beginners. That being said, any adult that's an intermediate or advanced student of classic judo, which the tape seems geared towards, should have no problem finding value in this tape. The techniques shown in this video are very solid, however my own personal opinion about training with real knives forces me to give a little less of a recommendation about this video than I would've otherwise. Based on what was shown, specifically the implied tools to use (real knife), and method of practicing this form (full speed and force), I can't give this video as strong a recommendation as I would've liked. Training with the safety of others in mind, especially one's uki, is paramount, yet seems to be somewhat overlooked/understated here. And if there was ever a place to clearly state the importance of safety, it's in a video that uses a real knife!

If there's one thing I got out of this video, beside the fact that judo appears to have some street value, it's that no matter who you are, or how good you think you are, and no matter what an instructor says, you should only practice knife defense with a rubber knife! Personally I would've assumed this to be a common sense "no brainer". But the depths to which some people have gone to practice and encourage realism, as demonstrated in this video, not only concerns me, but leaves me with a feeling that I must, for the good of all, interject my own personal thoughts which are DON'T USE REAL KNIVES! Don't get me wrong, I'm a huge fan of realistic training, but what's next, real pistols with real bullets?


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