No comments about Modern Arnis, Vol. 1.

No comments about Modern Arnis Vol. 2 [VHS].

2 comments about Rolls and Falls (Self Defense and Martial Arts Inc. Series).

1. Highly recommend these self defense programs. High Quality and excellent instruction.



2. Highly recommend these self defense programs. High Quality and excellent instruction.

4 comments about Malay Fighting Arts(c) - Mano Insayo (Hand Drills).

1. This product really has me torn. On the one hand, I realize that people have 'aha' moments when their art fits together in their mind and it is nice that someone puts those thoughts on video to benefit others. On the other hand, the advertising feels like a bit misleading.
   
   The ad I saw for this only said Malay martial arts, and had a quote from Bob Orlando. I thought to myself 'I should get this, even sight unseen, because there's not a lot out there about Malay martial arts'. After viewing this video, there still isn't.
   
   What he covers is basic hubud-lubud from Filipino arts. There is little here that one can't find elsewhere and, I'm sorry to say, the little that one might consider 'new' is an easy extrapolation. I would have been happy even with a unique application of the basic drills.
   
   At one point he says "I don't think anyone else has ever put this on video" and I think, 'I have: Dan Inosanto, Paul Vunak, and Steve Grody, among others'.
   
   He does this bit about the exercise not being called hubud-lubud, and that it's just a name. Whatever the veracity of this argument, he's still showing the same stuff.
   
   He also does some things that I think are wrong, but to each his own. I would have found a discussion of stylistic differences interesting, but there were no explanations as to why they do things the way they do to even come to your own conclusions.
   
   The production value is middling. At times, there's a child and someone else in the background. He does perform in front of a white area. A better production would have the performers fill the frame more. All that being said, while these things are noticeable, you can still hear and see the performers.
   
   I suppose this video has some value for beginners. But truthfully, I find Steve Grody's videos are better.



2. Quote Breton:
   The ad I saw for this only said Malay martial arts, and had a quote from Bob Orlando.
   
   Response:
   Dear Sir, if your going to comment on this DVD please be truthful. Your E-bay account name is abmalpc and here is the exact ad you saw, see it shows you as the winner. [...]
   
   The ad said,
   "Mano Insayo (Hand Drills) is the combat hand drills of the Malay Fighting Art that is based on the Filipino martial arts. This DVD takes you from the basic drills to the advance, teaching you how to build a good combat flowing drill. You will know how to flow and change in mid-drill without missing a beat. In the heat of combat there is no time to stop, you must adapt to change and keep fighting. This DVD will teach you to adapt in seconds to your opponent's change in technique and never break flow. You need this DVD for the serious Malay Arts fighter.
   
   Reviews:
   
   Bob Orlando of [...] wrote the following e-mail after reviewing the Mano Insayo DVD.
   
   "I received your DVD today and viewed it during lunch. It is amazing how we both combined Filipino hand drill training and the other arts to which we've been exposed. Some of our drills even look alike. I've always said, good martial skills, movements and lines will be found in many systems (that's because--in the past at least--those skills that did not work quickly *died* out :-)
   
   Thank you for sending that. It's always good to see similar drills and effective training methods taught by others.""
   
   Your right this is a Basic Skills DVD meant for beginners.



3. First I must say that the dvd provided the information that was promised.
   
   It is an introduction of hand drills of the instructor's style, which are hand drills. The drills are not new but I don't believe it was stated within the description that they were.
   
   I found the drills & the presentation of the drills to be informative, which is the purpose of a "instructional" dvd. In this respect whether we are already familiar with the drills presented or not, as long as the information educates us about the technique, the instructor has done the what was promised.
   
   Regarding the production efforts & techniques: it is ridiculous to expect that the 1st production & presentation is going to be as polished as Guro Inosanto's last dvd. Matter of fact I've been a student of the FMA since 1985, I've seen the 1st productions that Guro Dan, Cass Magda, Paul Vunak & others released early in their careers; their productions while they were informative/instructional also needed to be polished.
   
   For that matter I believe a previous review mentioned Steve Grody dvd production; I owned dvds by Guro Steve Grody & gave them away because it was material that had been done & over done by other instructors. While this does not take anything away from Guro Grody's skill, it really doesn't speak to the creativity of his production either.
   
   Any perspective buyers/students should keep one simple fact in mind; this is an "instructional" dvd of FMA hand to hand drills. This is not a dvd on movie/video production, set design &/or script writing. If someone wants instruction on movie/video production, I would recommend shopping for that material rather than in FMA martial arts dvds.



4. Aside from basic production values which is the only reason the dvd does not get 5 stars, theis is a GREAT DVD!. As a self defense trainer I appreciated the variety of drills, and the pratical applications taught. The instructor is laid back but detailed and you can see that they are having fun. The skill is one often taught but this dvd offers some unique twists and interpretations not seen on other dvd's Also the Price is right! A well done dvd to include in your library for under 30 bucks. Cant beat that!

1 comments about The Lure of The Highlands.

1. This video is a must for anyone who wants to understand the Icelandic Horse in it's natural environment and traditional use in the annual sheep roundup.
   
   IMHO It's a cheap way to "travel to Iceland" and a great gift for anyone.
   
   I can't recommend it highly enough!

No comments about Ted Lucaylucay Kali JKD DVD #2.

3 comments about Tour of Arnis Vol. 2.

1. These DVD's are great. Guru Valdes shows dozens of techniques in a clean and simple format from many angles. I'd recommend this DVD to any stylist who wants to learn more about Joint Locks, Chokes, Knives and other weapons. Hard style TKD and Karate stylists will be able derive many techniques to add to their self-defense curricula.



2. I have attended North Austin Tae Kwon Do Seminars that have featured Mr. Valdez, and his mastery of whips, knives, escrima and hand-to-hand techniques are mesmerizing and informative. Aside from the self defense value these techniques provide, Mr. Valdez provides detailed instruction on how to best utilize these techniques for both offensive and defensive use. You will not likely find this quality of instruction anywhere else.



3. The second in the NATKD set of Arnis DVD's these focus on the Baton, Whip and Knife. The techniques are once again presented in clear terms allowing the viewer to understand and practice them. Again this DVD is aimed at both the novice who would like to simply see the techniques, and the more experienced martial arts enthusiast who has already mastered the body mechanics and wants to see techniques with enough detail to integrate them into their current set of skills. Anyone interested in Arnis, Escrima or Kali should have this DVD and the first in the series as well.

No comments about Ted Lucaylucay Kali JKD DVD #4.

4 comments about Tour of Arnis Vol. 1.

1. These DVD's are great. Guru Valdes shows dozens of techniques in a clean and simple format from many angles. I'd recommend this DVD to any stylist who wants to learn more about Joint Locks, Chokes, Knives and other weapons. Hard style TKD and Karate stylists will be able derive many techniques to add to their self-defense curricula.



2. I have attended North Austin Tae Kwon Do Seminars that have featured Mr. Valdez, and his mastery of whips, knives, escrima and hand-to-hand techniques are mesmerizing and informative. Aside from the self defense value these techniques provide, Mr. Valdez provides detailed instruction on how to best utilize these techniques for both offensive and defensive use. You will not likely find this quality of instruction anywhere else.



3. This DVD provides an introduction to key Arnis (sometimes called Kali or Escrima) techniques involving empty hand and the whip. The format is very clean and there are jumps that allow you to go to different techniques easily to make review a snap. This DVD was clearly made to present the information with a minimum of superfluous material, just the thing for an introductory DVD. Master Valdes is interesting and clearly knows his stuff. Anyone interested in these techniques should also look at the second DVD in the series which also deal with Arnis.



4. This DVD provides an introduction to key Arnis (sometimes called Kali or Escrima) techniques involving empty hand and the whip. The format is very clean and there are jumps that allow you to go to different techniques easily to make review a snap. This DVD was clearly made to present the information with a minimum of superfluous material, just the thing for an introductory DVD. Master Valdes is interesting and clearly knows his stuff. Anyone interested in these techniques should also look at the second DVD in the series which also deal with Arnis.

2 comments about Crashing the Lines - The Art and Science of Doce Pares Eskrima.

1. Crashing the Lines is an excellent introduction to Doce Pares Eskrima by Christopher Petrilli (8th degree black belt)and his demonstration partner a 6th degree black belt. Together they demonstrate the effectiveness of Doce Pares with and without weapons. Starting with the basic striking patterns and compression arm movements in vol. 1, to the snake set and painful arm bar series in vol. 2 to the over and under arm series and empty hand applications of vol. 3.
   Practice these techniques carefully or you will run out of training partners. Use these techniques and you may run out of enemies, not that I am suggesting you do that. Mr. Petrilli's instructions are concise and to the point as well as his skill and execution. This is an excellent training series and I would suggest to anyone to get the complete series.



2. When it teaches, This DVD is what a training video should be like: Very clear, no fluff, and no long useless info.
   The trouble with this DVD, is that is starts from a faulty premise. Nothing in here is practical, unless you are in a competition with another stick fighter. If you were to hand a stick to someone on the street, your attacker would never attack like this. What untrained attacker uses a checking Hand in a circular motion? There are about 15 very effective moves starting from the same position.
   The position is: if your attacker uses their left hand to grab your left shoulder with their palm facing away from you, and you grab the back of that hand with your left hand using a circular motion.
   All the moves assume they are doing the same motion, and you are able to grab their hand in the air. That is the starting position for every move. [Look at the box cover to see the grip].
   They don't go over any other possible attacks, nor do they show any variations on how to get your attacker into the starting grip. They could have just as easily said, "When someone throws a punch at you, grab the first finger on their other hand, and now here are 15 things you can do with that finger." That is about how useful this is.
   It's very detailed and clear, but ultimately, useless for self defense.