Video/Book Review: Kamagong Self Defense
with Ricardo Sebastian and Scotty Gerton. Available in a book/video set or seperately through kamagong.com I mentioned this tape and book series a few months back as a possible bargain for newbies starting out in the FMA. Eda Koppo let me have his set as he wasn't too happy with it, with good reason. It IS NOT an FMA series but a jujutsu series but with a Filipino instructor. For you newbies, in the 1960's and after, Japanese and other Asian arts grew popular in the Philippines. Eventually, organizations combining Japanese and Filipino arts came about.
The BD
Punch Defenses (31 tech vs punches, 1-2 combo,grab & punch, low punches, front kicks
muliple opponents, sucker punches from the rear and side, headlock & punch)
Grab Defenses (14 tech vs all kinds of double grabs, chokes, the single leg takedown
ground defenses ala possible rape situations and bearhugs)
Knife Defenses (9 tech vs stabs in both grips from front and rear, mugging situations, one multiple opponent situation)
Gun Defenses (6 tech vs long guns and pistol threats from the front and rear, mugging situations)
Stick Defenses (3 tech vs 1 and 2 handed stick attacks)
This 45 min video is the probably the fastest MA tape out there (most techniques
crammed in a 1 hr period), more so than Practical Self Defense for Seniors. Each move is done once slow then at full speed to Scotty Gerton's narration. Sometimes Gerton's script didn't match the situation (he says punch to the face, video shows defense against a low punch). Master Sebastian and Gerton demonstrate the grab and weapons defenses while their students demonstrated the punch defenses. Sound was okay and you get into the material immediately, it's assumed you have the basic skills shown in the book which is called.
The Turtle" Kamagong Self Defense Vol 1. Book
182 pgs. B&W photos 6 chapters, the companion to the video above
The BD
Hand Techniques
Punch Defenses
Grab Defenses
Knife Defenses
Gun Defenses
Stick Defenses
Overall, I liked the book better, it was actually clearer than the video. However, the
video gives you the sense of speed and timing of the technique. I've seen tapes on judo and Japanese and Brazilian Jujutsu and boy they really stretch the "ju" (soft) concept here, it's almost total dojo mentality. You don't get the feel of the street or the adrenaline pumped attacker here. However, as a wise gunfighter on the Net told me, you could consider hardcore dojo tapes as concept tapes.
The good news is that there are about 6-8 skills/locks to master that just about MA
knows. The punch defenses are classic jujutsu, but I wouldn't try the single leg takedown defense against a NHB fighter. The knife and stick defenses were standard jujutsu but at least there were no X blocks.
I didn't happen to like all the gun disarms but there were shall I say hints
of similarity between these moves and those taught in combatives and in B. Taylor's tapes. The shotgun disarm lock is one taught by Taylor but the set up was too slow
and cleared the "wrong" way. The defender often crosses the line of fire twice while doing a wristlock. As with all gun disarms, the Taylor series by TRS is pretty much the standard so if you're remotely interested check that series out.
I mentioned that I thought the series was a bargain for the newbie. Well for the newbie
to classic jujutsu definitely not FMA (maybe 3 moves found in FMA or Silat). To be honest, this wasn't aggressive enough for most MA tastes and the followups shown aren't for multiple opponent situations.
As the defender often does short kicks while bent over.
Overall, not for me but it goes well the classic jujutsu books/videos and Morrison's Practical Self Defense for Seniors.
[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 03-08-2001).]
with Ricardo Sebastian and Scotty Gerton. Available in a book/video set or seperately through kamagong.com I mentioned this tape and book series a few months back as a possible bargain for newbies starting out in the FMA. Eda Koppo let me have his set as he wasn't too happy with it, with good reason. It IS NOT an FMA series but a jujutsu series but with a Filipino instructor. For you newbies, in the 1960's and after, Japanese and other Asian arts grew popular in the Philippines. Eventually, organizations combining Japanese and Filipino arts came about.
The BD
Punch Defenses (31 tech vs punches, 1-2 combo,grab & punch, low punches, front kicks
muliple opponents, sucker punches from the rear and side, headlock & punch)
Grab Defenses (14 tech vs all kinds of double grabs, chokes, the single leg takedown
ground defenses ala possible rape situations and bearhugs)
Knife Defenses (9 tech vs stabs in both grips from front and rear, mugging situations, one multiple opponent situation)
Gun Defenses (6 tech vs long guns and pistol threats from the front and rear, mugging situations)
Stick Defenses (3 tech vs 1 and 2 handed stick attacks)
This 45 min video is the probably the fastest MA tape out there (most techniques
crammed in a 1 hr period), more so than Practical Self Defense for Seniors. Each move is done once slow then at full speed to Scotty Gerton's narration. Sometimes Gerton's script didn't match the situation (he says punch to the face, video shows defense against a low punch). Master Sebastian and Gerton demonstrate the grab and weapons defenses while their students demonstrated the punch defenses. Sound was okay and you get into the material immediately, it's assumed you have the basic skills shown in the book which is called.
The Turtle" Kamagong Self Defense Vol 1. Book
182 pgs. B&W photos 6 chapters, the companion to the video above
The BD
Hand Techniques
Punch Defenses
Grab Defenses
Knife Defenses
Gun Defenses
Stick Defenses
Overall, I liked the book better, it was actually clearer than the video. However, the
video gives you the sense of speed and timing of the technique. I've seen tapes on judo and Japanese and Brazilian Jujutsu and boy they really stretch the "ju" (soft) concept here, it's almost total dojo mentality. You don't get the feel of the street or the adrenaline pumped attacker here. However, as a wise gunfighter on the Net told me, you could consider hardcore dojo tapes as concept tapes.
The good news is that there are about 6-8 skills/locks to master that just about MA
knows. The punch defenses are classic jujutsu, but I wouldn't try the single leg takedown defense against a NHB fighter. The knife and stick defenses were standard jujutsu but at least there were no X blocks.
I didn't happen to like all the gun disarms but there were shall I say hints
of similarity between these moves and those taught in combatives and in B. Taylor's tapes. The shotgun disarm lock is one taught by Taylor but the set up was too slow
and cleared the "wrong" way. The defender often crosses the line of fire twice while doing a wristlock. As with all gun disarms, the Taylor series by TRS is pretty much the standard so if you're remotely interested check that series out.
I mentioned that I thought the series was a bargain for the newbie. Well for the newbie
to classic jujutsu definitely not FMA (maybe 3 moves found in FMA or Silat). To be honest, this wasn't aggressive enough for most MA tastes and the followups shown aren't for multiple opponent situations.
As the defender often does short kicks while bent over.
Overall, not for me but it goes well the classic jujutsu books/videos and Morrison's Practical Self Defense for Seniors.
[This message has been edited by Smoke (edited 03-08-2001).]