Have a pile of martial arts books or DVDs just sitting around the house? Why not trade them in for something new? While we can’t buy back everything, there are many items that we can. All you need to do is send us an email listing what books or DVDs you have to sell. We’ll get back to you with the amount of store credit we can give you for it. So trade those old books & DVDs in and get that new item you’ve been waiting for!
The 2nd annual Nogi worlds are right aroung the corner. Taking place on August 9th and 10th in Carson, CA, this event is one of the premier nogi grappling events of the year. While the athlete list isn’t complete, expect to see many of the biggest name in grappling competing for the gold.
The registration ends on Aug 2nd so if you haven’t signed up already hurry up!
The event takes place at Cal State Dominguez Hills - just like last year.
Check out the highlight of last year’s event and get the DVD here.
Manto - that fashionable apparel line from Europe has just released their new line of products and we’ve got plenty for you to choose from!
New hoodies, track jackets, shirts, and rashguards are all in stock but moving fast.
Getting a lot of attention is the new Luchadores zip ups available in black or white:
Also popular are the BJJ shirts available in a variety of colors in short sleeve:
And long sleeve:
The Manto logo hoodys are back with printing inside the hoods now:
And finally, 4 new rashguards for the grapplers:
I thought I’d let you know about a new title that’s just on the horizon. Coming in August is a new title from Airyudo (the company that brought you the Alberto Crane Book/DVDs, Draculino Book/DVD, Baret Yoshida Book/DVD, and others. Customers always comment on how detailed the instruction is and what a great deal their products are at only 25 bucks for a book and a DVD.
The downside of some of their products is the language issue. Some of their products are in 2 languages (Japanese and English) and some of them are only in Japanese. Baret, Draculino, and Alberto all speak English on the DVD so understanding them is no problem. Daisuke (being Japanese) speaks Japanese on this one so unfortunately for us English speakers we’re not going to get to understand the verbal part but from my experience, having the DVD and the book with all of the positions laid out is enough to figure out the moves.
So who is Daisuke Sugie? Here’s what I know about him. He’s both an active Jiu-jitsu and an MMA competitor and most of his mma fights were in Shooto (one in Pride).
The content consists of gi and nogi techniques as follows:
NoGi
1: Takedowns
2: Guard passing
3: Sweeps
4: Submissions
5: Combinations
Gi
1: Takedowns
2: Guard passing
3: Sweeps
4: Submissions
I’m anxiously awaiting this title and judging from their other releases, this will be another great one!
Kurt
One of the perks of being a Budovideos employee is having access to the newest products. A couple weeks ago the brand new 2008 Vulkan gis arrived and I was first in line to get one.
Even though I have 6 gis already, a 2 of them have shrunk down so much that they aren’t very comfortable to wear. I try to hang dry my gis but sometimes my wife forgets and tosses them in the dryer. When a gi shrinks down the sleeves become shorter (sometimes to the point of being illegal in competition), the pants shrink up (again, maybe illegal in competition) and the jacket sometimes shrinks up to wear it’s almost hard to close. When you spend $100 or more on a gi the last thing you want is for it to become unwearable due to shrinking.
I was told that the 2008 Vulkan gis are PRESHRUNK but I didn’t believe it. I said “yeah but it will still shrink up a little bit right?” “No,” I was told “It won’t shrink at all because the fabric has already been washed in hot water and dried hot.” I still didn’t believe it so I took one home to test for myself. Before washing it I put it on and took pictures. The fit was perfect. I would be really upset if it shrank up! So I tossed it in the washer and then in the dryer. After dinner I went to the dryer and slowly took it out. To my surprise the gi did not shrink at all - not even a millimeter! The fit was still perfect! Why would I want to mess around with hang drying gis anymore?
I also should mention the fit. Right out of the bag the gi felt like a bath robe. Very soft and completely different than some other gis that feel like cardboard right out of the bag. The feel is the same before washing and after drying. It was soft, but would it hold up in training?
The next day I took the gi to the gym to train. I felt like I was wearing summer pyjamas. Very light weight (the lightest gi around, says Vulkan) but strong enough for daily training. After a 2 hour class it still felt great - albeit a little heavier as it was now soaked with sweat.
I’ve worn almost all of the different brands of gis over the years and when you consider the fact that the Vulkan gi is 100% PRESHRUNK, LIGHTWEIGHT (approx 2.8lbs), and COMFORTABLE, it’s at the top of my list for now. I really don’t know what else I would want in a gi.
Kurt Weber
Fresh off the heels of a stunning submission victory over Kron Gracie at the 2008 World Jiu Jitsu Championships, undefeated MMA fighter and Alliance BJJ black belt Sergio Moraes sat down with BudoVideos.com for an exclusive interview.
The soft spoken champion discusses his humble roots in Brazil, where his path in life as taken him before, where he is now, and most importantly where he is going.
This choice footage is only available here and on the approaching release of the 2008 World’s BJJ DVD set.
Coming soon to http://www.budovideos.com
I was excited to watch Felipe Costa’s documentary The Path to Success because it promised to show how an average BJJ fighter could become an expert competitor. Through three sections, “Felipe’s Story”, “Old Mistakes”, and “Techniques”, The Path to Success offers a new take on jiu-jitsu documentaries by showing how three aspects of jiu-jitsu combine to make a great competitor. Unfortunately, the actual content left me wanting more.
The first section is a personal account of Costa’s journey to become a world champion. He narrates his life from the time he was a “little fat guy with no talent in the beginning” up until he becomes a two-time world champion. His narration accompanies a slideshow of pictures that together form a somewhat cohesive story of Costa’s life. There are also some clips of old tournament footage that offer humor to his story, such as the coach yelling, “Are you dead, Felipe?” in the background of his fight.
While this section seems to drag on too long at some points, it offers the most important aspect of this DVD: Felipe’s outlook on jiu-jitsu. His positive viewpoint on training hard to become the best is inspiring and motivational. He emphasizes the point that he was not talented in jiu-jitsu. He lost most every match growing up, but with persistence in training, focus, and confidence building, Costa was able to move up the ranks until he reached his goal of standing atop the medal podium at the Mundials.
While it does incorporate an incredible message about never giving up in a fight, I found a disconnect between Costa’s story-telling and his actual training regimen. As much as he said he received great coaching and sparring partners, viewers do not get a chance to see what kind of training makes a champion. The Path to Success lacks a very important connection between the type of training one must do to become a champion and the mindset of a champion. There is no doubt that Costa is correct in his philosophy about hard work paying off, but I am not so naive as to think that a champion mindset alone will create a world champion. It would be nice to see real footage of the type of training it takes to win competitions.
On another note, if you are looking for a documentary that shows the lifestyle one must lead to be a champion, this is not the one for you. You don’t get the same “lifestyle” feel that other DVDs, like Arte Suave, have created. This DVD is more focused on one man’s journey to become a world champion: the pressure from his family to be the best at whichever career he chooses, the long road to actual victory in competition, the benefits of becoming a world champion and the opportunities championship has afforded him. This section is best described as a video magazine interview rather than a documentary.
The second section, “Old Mistakes”, had great intentions. Costa’s friends, including Demian Maia and Michelle Matta, critique his old matches. The point of this section is to show viewers common mistakes and what can be done to avoid them. Unfortunately, this section is quite awkward with each of Costa’s friends watching his matches on computer screens and explaining what they see him doing wrong. Matta’s observation is in Portuguese, so English speakers are forced to read subtitles while Matta acts out what Costa should be doing. While she has great pointers, it is difficult to absorb the technique because of the distracting set up of this section. Altogether, the point of this section didn’t come through. It shows viewers some common mistakes Costa made at blue and purple belts, but I feel it lacks the actual depth to improve an outsider’s jiu-jitsu.
“Techniques”, the third section, shows Felipe Costa’s incredible ability to teach jiu-jitsu. He has great detail in his description of each technique and viewers also get to see him pull off each move in competition. Personally, I think this section should have been the focus of his DVD. He has such a gift for teaching, especially in English, but he only shows five techniques.
There is also an “Extras” section that could have been left out of the DVD altogether. If you did not get enough out of Felipe’s story the first time, you can watch his wife tell it all over again from her perspective. Meanwhile, her story cuts between a view of her speaking and her dog traipsing across the lawn (random!).
On a media level, the layout of this DVD is sufficient, but it could have done a lot more. The sections are split into three chapters, but viewers are forced to scan through each section if they want to return to a certain idea or technique. The menu is easy enough to follow, but it would have been nice to have more chapter options. The sound quality is not the best, as Costa’s narration echoes in the room he’s in, and the multimedia quality of the DVD was amateurish to say the least. However, there is a Portuguese subtitle option for non-English speakers that makes this DVD versatile.
In the end, everyone would have benefited more had Felipe Costa intertwined his story with actual teaching and event footage. Separating these aspects was a bold new idea for jiu-jitsu documentaries that just didn’t pay off in the end. Costa’s message as a whole is an important one that will inspire viewers to be the best they can be, but altogether, it does not offer actual advice to become an expert competitor, as promised.
So would I recommend this DVD? The Path to Success offers a first-hand account of what it took to go from so-called talentless to world champion. If you are looking for some motivation in your training, this DVD could supercharge your competition mentality and push you to the next level. However, if you are looking for an actual strategy and training regimen, this may not be the source for you. I would try Martin Rooney’s Training for Warriors, instead.
Happy Training!
Kevin
What gi should I buy? If you currently practice jiu-jitsu or are thinking of starting, you have probably faced this dilemma. There are so many different brands, weaves, and colors, the selection can be quite overwhelming. In the following review, I compare the Keiko Raca Limited Edition Special Gi with the Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono. Hopefully, this will help you in your quest to find the best gi for you.
I have tested many gi brands, and Keiko Raca continues to be one of my favorites for a few reasons. The jacket is made of light, soft cotton that unlike many other brands, doesn’t become crunchy after that first wash. I like the jacket because it has a wide fit that comfortably wraps all the way around my body when tied with a belt. If you have a strong upper body, this top may be too constricting in the shoulders. I like the versatility of this gi; there is a large color selection in case you are looking for some individuality while on the mats. If you decide to buy this gi, keep in mind that it shrinks just about every time you wash it so buy a size up.
The Keiko pants are often criticized for being too stiff and uncomfortable. Personally, I find that the legs are cut too straight and the fabric is thick and stiff, restricting mobility. It really feels like the pants were designed for a tall slender build in mind, someone like Braulio Estima. I often mix and match my Keiko jacket with a different brand’s pants, like those of the Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono.
Ouano has historically produced some amazing pants. Some of the most comfortable pants I’ve ever rolled in were Ouano brand. However, with Ouano you don’t always know what you’re going to get because the cuts of these gis change between batches. Sometimes, the pants have a very low crotch that forces you to either tie your pants high on your waist or train with a drooping crotch that limits your leg mobility. Other times, the pants fit perfectly and have just the right amount of bagginess. Low crotch or not, these pants are always very comfortable, even if you have to pull them up high on your waist.
Overall, the Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono has the potential to be a great gi for you. Like the Keiko, the jacket is made of a light, comfy cotton, but it has a different, thicker weave to it. It has a nice fit, but beware - this top will shrink at least once, and when it shrinks, it becomes shorter, sometimes so short that it untucks from your belt. I cannot stand the super short gi style and I prefer something more akin to a tighter judo gi style - like the Mizuno Eurocomp. The collar is thick due to EVA foam and many find this helpful to keep from getting choked out. Personally, I find the collar so thick that it often digs into my neck when I’m drilling a technique and no one is choking me at all.
So which is better? I’ll start off by saying you can never have too many kimonos. They get dirty and stinky, and if you train every day, you will be doing a lot of laundry.
That being said, I personally like the Keiko jacket and the Ouano pants the best. Because everyone’s body is so different, the best advice I can give is to try them both on and see which one fits you the best.
As a whole, I think the Keiko Raca Limited Edition Special Gi is reasonably priced and well worth the money. The Ouano 2007 Pearl Weave Kimono is a great buy, too, especially for beginners because it comes with a white belt and is the right price if you’re not sure you’re ready to commit to a more expensive gi when you’re just starting. For a little over a hundred dollars, you get a comfortable gi that doesn’t shrink repeatedly. Just be sure to try it on before you buy it.
Good luck in your gi shopping and happy training!
Kevin
The Smashing Machine is a fascinating documentary that takes viewers inside the world of no-holds-barred fighting in the late 90s. It shows the raw details in and outside the ring through the eyes of Mark “The Smashing Machine” Kerr and his friend/opponent Mark “The Hammer” Coleman. Through their stories, viewers get a glimpse at the bright side of MMA when a fighter is at the top of the food chain as well as the dark side, where drug addiction and failure threaten to ruin not only a fighter’s career but also his personal life.
On a production level, this film offers quality camera work and audio. Interviews and candid video are strewn together in a cohesive and interesting storyline. The director/editors didn’t hold anything back when including material in the film so viewers have a very authentic perspective of what it is like to be a professional fighter. This is a real behind-the-scenes look at fighting, unlike the contrived and dramatic Ultimate Fighter television series. The DVD itself also has a lot of special features including deleted scenes, filmmaker commentary and the biography Fight Day, a film that features Renzo Gracie.
The MMA aficionado will enjoy this film because it offers rare fight and training footage. It shows how hard one must train to keep up with the competition and even has cameos of Bas Ruten and Renzo Gracie. As they experience all this, viewers essentially get to watch a train wreck: Kerr’s glory when he is at the top of his game is the peak of elation while drug dependency and relationship troubles edge him closer to self-destruction. While it covers a period of MMA almost ten years ago, this film remains relevant because it touches on the public perception of no-holds-barred fighting and discusses the difficulty this sport has had breaking into the mainstream.
Even the non-MMA lover can appreciate this film because it delves much deeper into the personal battles of an individual, rather than focusing on fighting alone. At times, viewers will feel excited, depressed, and sympathetic all at once. The Smashing Machine is a humanistic story in which anyone can relate. The audience watches as Mark Kerr works through personal problems that many have faced: a family that doesn’t support his career, an unhealthy relationship with his girlfriend, drug and alcohol use, balancing friendship with work, and all the small issues that come along with these. Pressures from media, fighting organizations, friends and family all add up to an explosive story of life and love in this thrilling display of filmmaking.
Would I recommend this DVD? Yes!!!! I recommend this documentary to anyone who has even the slightest interest in no-holds-barred fighting or MMA. All 92 minutes of this film are engrossing and effective. While grandma might find the fighting scenes to be graphic and disturbing, most of the audience will find this film worthwhile and entertaining.
Happy training!
Kevin
With an unparalleled knowledge of fighting, health, and physical preparation, Martin Rooney, the director of the Parisi Speed School and performance coach for the IFL Pitbulls, is the perfect person to write the Training for Warriors guide. Meant to be a guide for all fighting sports, including MMA, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, wrestling, judo, boxing, and Muay Thai, Martin provides the quintessential manual for the necessary physical preparation to successfully compete in these sports. Just as the title says, this book provides the “ultimate mixed martial arts workout”.
Martin Rooney presents the most comprehensive look at both orthodox and unorthodox training methods for fighting sports that I have ever seen. With over 270 techniques, this is also probably the biggest. To assist the reader, Martin has chaptered all of his techniques by the muscle group under focus. These techniques range from traditional body weight exercises to amazing tire and hammer routines. Of all the techniques, I found that most could be mimicked at a home gym and easily transferred to a local fitness club. To accompany the techniques, Martin provides warrior workouts built to maximize the important systems for fighting.
Apart from the techniques, Martin also provides key insight into some of the most important aspects of fight training: the warrior mindset, diet, supplements, and weight cutting. It is obvious when surveying these non-workout elements that success is paramount for Rooney’s fighters and he does not waste a single breath on inefficient training.
The warrior mindset is a collection of proverbs from famous fighters and non-fighters alike. Rich and full of inspiration, this section provides the perfect “pep talk” to begin a warrior workout, sparring session, or fight. I found the inclusion of mental training to be an invigorating positive step for the martial arts and fitness book industry.
The diet is probably one of the most valuable sections of the book. When combined with Rooney’s Hurricane workout series, it is a sure fire way to optimize your body’s performance as you prepare for the arduous tests of fight preparation. Although I have seen other books, like Royce Gracie’s Superfit, which attempt to explain diets such as the Gracie Diet, I found Rooney’s to be much simpler and easy to follow. His method is clear - to be a warrior, you must eat like a warrior.
Speaking of maximizing performance, Martin also discusses the role of supplements for the MMA fighter, grappler, or serious athlete. To break through the possible fear or doubt over supplements, Martin delves into what he sees as positive supplements for recovery, strength building, immunity, and more. What I enjoyed most about this section was it really made sense that fighting sports athletes have special needs and that a wise usage of supplements could have beneficial results.
Weight cutting was the final section that made a big impact on me. Wherever there are weight classes, there is sure to be weight cutting. Martin describes the safety and effectiveness of weight cutting techniques so that athletes truly understand their health parameters before resigning themselves to a drastic weight-cutting plan. This section serves as a public safety and education announcement for all fighters and competitors.
When it comes to the combat sports training market, Training for Warriors stands heads and shoulders above the rest. Although other books like Superfit and DVDs like the SAID training series have all done good jobs of outlining workouts, routines, and diets, none of these has accomplished as much as what Rooney has set out to do. So, whether you are a striker, grappler, or modern combatant, you owe it to yourself to pick up Martin Rooney’s masterpiece and take your game to the next level.
Happy Training,
Kevin