Search - Jiu Jitsu for the Streets on DVD

Great Techniques for a Great Price!

S. O'Nill | Tuscany, AZ USA | 11/10/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have bought and viewed many Jiu-Jitsu DVD's over the past years and the one I bought "Jiu-Jitsu for the streets" is unequalled! In fact I have just ordered online the other 2 DVD set (such a great price!) called "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" and I want to thank Gene Simco for providing such quality instruction! The moves exhibit excellent flow patterns and are extremely functional, and reliable. Not to mention these LEG LOCKS!... Each technique is shown from initiation to a finishing move. While each scenario has a smooth flow, the moves progress in intensity in a way that can be stopped at the point where the situation has been neutralized. Whether you are using the DVD for self-study, review, or to augment the training materials of your own style, this is definitely a good investment."

Acceptable for NHB sport fighting, but not street fighting.

Honkeywrench | 09/07/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"

This is sort of a strange instructional DVD set. It's not bad information per se, more like just bad information for the stated purpose ("street" self defense). The premise that Simco continually stresses during the DVD is that you're learning to do BJJ against another guy who is doing BJJ in a street fight. Huh? The only way this highly improbably scenario would occur today is if you got into a fight with a classsmate from your BJJ class. The other 99% of the time, the guy is not going to be a BJJ player, but, rather, some combination of brawler, bully, and ex high school wrestler.

Secondly, Simco continually refrains, "I'm going to teach you to tap him." Think about that. Tapping is a sport-specific way of ending a match, not a way to end an altercation. When you tap the guy with your gogoplata, does that mean the two of you then patiently untangle yourselves, and he walks away with a sheepish look on his face? ("You got me. Good one!") If he taps, and you release, as you would in NHB/BJJ, how do you know he's not going to attack again? Also, why pass the guard? Why break his hold and then go to knee-on-belly? If you've broken his guard, walk away. Don't climb back on him! Do you want to explain to the police -- or to the judge -- that you escaped his guard, but then wanted to see if you could get an arm-bar from mount?

Some good points are made, such as the obvious mistake of fighting on your knees or back while on pavement. However, the style of pure grappling espoused is for sport, not street fighting. Even the Gracies, while attempting to establish the superiority of BJJ, used punches and kicks -- and they were on mats. So, once again, this video only makes sense in the context of NHB sport. Change the title to that, and you have a 3-star introduction to NHB.

For self defense, on the other hand, the emphasis should be on escaping, clinching, pavement-friendly take-downs, pavement-friendly attacks/sweeps, and soft-tissue strikes throughout. If he's too far away to strike you, get away. If he's close enough to strike you, clinch. If you're clinching, don't forget that he has eyes, a nose, a neck, genit4ls and knees -- and that a hip throw or outside trip onto the pavement should disable him enough so that you can get away. If you're on the ground, you can't stop when he cries, "uncle!" -- you need to continue until he's disabled enough for you to get away (read: unconscious or broken).

Finally, the dated and gimmicky production, as well as Simco's chatty, stammery style, is a turn off."

It's neither jiu jitsu, nor is it for the streets

rolo0509 | 09/05/2007

(1 out of 5 stars)

"this is one of the worst videos on real world combat i've seen. the techniques reviewed are very basic and, frankly, unrealistic for a street-fight situation. i just think Simco doesn't have much to teach in this area (or in jiu jitsu in general).
if you are serious about no-holds-barred fighting, you are much better off getting the 'secrets of chute boxe' by the Rua brothers, who are accomplished NHB practitioners and reasonably good teachers. for the disarming techniques and standing submissions, you are better off with a krav maga video, such as any in the 'Combat Survival' series."