Looking for a good BJJ instructional DVD

[donovan99]

Good afternoon all!

I am looking for a good BJJ instructional DVD. I am new to BJJ (less than 1 year experience) but I am not new to martial arts (10 years plus, striking arts).

Considering that, I believe I should be looking for a beginning to intermediate level DVD. Please let me know what you think is the best BJJ DVD out there.

Thanks!

[Cheesalicious]

I personally like Roy Harris's BJJ 101 and 201.

[SamuraiGuy]

For an all round set, Fabio Gurgel's greatest hits,

for my favourite, Braulio Estima's closed gaurd instructional (also covers passing). although this is more specific.

or Stephen Keastings dynamic kneebars, but this is only kneebars, so it might not be of that much help to you, great instructional though.

[DJColdfusion]

I can't argue against any of the above; however, I have my own favorites in addition to those mentioned.

You really can't miss with anything Kesting has put out. His instructional style is a little dry but the information and the presentation of that information is always solid. His Butterfly/X-Guard instructional isn't his best work but it has tons of info on Butterfly guard and is still worth the money. (Review: http://www.maximumg.com/stephanKesti...rflyXGuard.cfm) His Half-guard instructional and his Grappling Drills DVDs are the gems of his entire collection.

Erik Paulson is another favorite due to the way he tends to link things together. Then again, one of my favorites by Paulson is his Quick Kills DVD which shows a few series of techniques that move from standing to take down to guard pass to finish. It serves as a great example of the type of templates you can develop to make your transitions through the different ranges more efficient. Check out a review here: http://www.maximumg.com/erikPaulsonQuickKills.cfm

Fabio Gurgel is one of my all time Jiu-Jitsu coaches/competitors and his Greatest Jiu-Jitsu techniques DVDs are awesome. It uses an English voice over Fabio's Portugese but it is still a great set. Review: http://www.maximumg.com/fabioGurgelGJJT.cfm

I have gotten absolutely tons of help from Saulo Ribeiro's DVDs, everyone of them is worth your time and then some. And I am a huge fan of everything I have seen from Rigan Machado (His Triangle Choke DVD is absolutely Incredible . . . an awesome companion to his Triangle Choke book).

If I had to sit down and write out a list of the DVDs that I thought delivered the best return on your investment I would look at one of Rigan's "The Master Series" DVDs, his Triangle Choke DVD . . . really just about anything by Rigan and then a couple of titles from PracticalGrappler.com, Specifically Luis Palahares "Closed Guard" instructional (review: http://www.maximumg.com/luizPalhares...uardReview.cfm) and High Percentage Sidecontrol Attacks by Helio Soneca and Amal Easton (review: http://www.maximumg.com/HighPercenta...rolAttacks.cfm).

There are tons of other great instructionals out there.

I actually have around 100-150 DVDs and I honestly believe that the vast majority of them have been worth the money. I typically watch a new one 7-10 times before moving on to the next new one or reviewing an older one.

There is really a process to watching instructionals that willhelp you get the maximum benefit from them.

1. take lots of notes
2. Watch a technique through the first time at normal speed. Pause the DVD at the end of each technique and and take notes.
3. Watch the technique again in slow motion, frame by frame if you have to, and notice the little things that the presenter doesn't mention in his narrative (a foot position, a type of grip, the way he/she moves his/her hips, etc.).
4. Watch the technique a third time at regular speed and after it is finished review your notes and decide if you are satisfied with the completeness of what you wrote. If you do not understand the technique 100% then repeat #2-#4.
5. Move through the rest of the techniques in a similar fashion and when you are finished do it again.
6. Leave your notes alone for a couple of days. Come back and read through them. If, after reading through the notes for each technique, you do not feel like you still understand the technique at 100% then pull out the DVD and do it again.
7. It really, really, really, really, really, really, really, really helps if you have a friend / training partner to practice the techniques taught in the DVD.

Good luck

and yes, I spend all my money on training. I don't even watch TV anymore. Unless it has something to do with Jiu-Jitsu.

[donovan99]

wow - thanks! these are great tips!!

[Jujujason]

I like the Bob Bass/Rick Williams (both are Rigan Machado black belts) ten tape series put out by Straight Blast Gym. I think that this series is a good one for someone with a year or less training.