4 comments about Guillermo Gomez Kickbox Underground.

1. I was disappointed with this workout. I have been working out for a long time and would consider myself at the intermediate/advanced level. I bought this DVD after purchasing Hardcore Kickbox Circuit with Janis Saffel. The parts that Guillermo Gomez did on that DVD were great- a much better workout that Janis Saffel's sections and fun and intense. So I thought I would buy this Guillermo Gomez Kickbox Underground.
   
   Fist off, the production on this is not very good. But I could have lived with that if the workout was decent. I barely broke a sweat and my heart rate was not much above resting. It's very slow and great for a beginner, but if you want a real and intense workout, look for something else.
   
   One thing that Guillermo Gomez is very good at, however, is going through the steps and building each combo. He also works both sides evenly.



2. I used to take kickboxing classes at my local gym, but was sidelined for a while by cancer treatments. Now I'm trying to get back in shape, so I consider myself to be back at the beginner level. I got a great workout from this DVD, and I actually had to "step-touch" for about 10 minutes in the middle to catch my breath! As the other reviewer said, Guillermo does a good job building the combinations. I found his personality and music to be enjoyable. I'm looking forward to doing this workout many, many more times in the future!



3. This intermediate-level workout is slower than some other kickboxing workouts I've done, but it's still very intense. This workout offers drill-type kickboxing, not much choreography. I feel you could make this more advanced by adding some power into the slower moves and putting your all into the punches. I use light weighted gloves while I do it,(1-1/2 lbs.) and when I complete it I feel exhaused! I consider myself intermediate-low advanced level cardio. My thighs need more work and I felt that doing the moves a bit slower lets you hold the muscle contractions longer...and I feel it more in my legs. The only reason I would rate this at a lower intensity than a Cathe or Billy kickboxing workout would be the length. Had this been a 45-60 minute workout, it would have killed me!
   
   I love the techno music... very different and upbeat. I like doing crescent kicks and this workout has a lot of it. Lots of kicks on this workout. The time goes by very quickly for me. The workout grows on me. The more I have done it using light weighted gloves, the more I sweat each time.



4. I work out to DVD's allthe time mand have been through what seems like a ton. Guillermo is a great instructor. I took off one star ust because the production value is not that great BUT this is a great workout. I'm in good shape and I can work up a sweat and high heart rate to this video. If you like kicking, you'll like this video!

1 comments about Wing Chun 5 DVD Set.

1. One of the best DVD martial arts training sets for Wing Chun Kung Fu that I've come across. For over 16 years I've been training on and off beginning with Shaolin Kung Fu then Wing Chun Kung Fu classes (training in a class setting is by far the best way). For me, this 5 DVD collection is very close to the feel of training in a real class situation. The production value is as simple as you can get and offers easy to understand instruction and applications of the Wing Chun forms and weapons. Having formerly trained under a Wing Chun instructor, I could immediately react to the benefits of this very valuable alternative training tool and I responded favorably to the instructor on the DVDs, Sifu Todd Shawn Tei. Sifu Todd offers great commentary and explanations of the techniques as well as demonstrates their applications with the use of his students. I highly recommend getting the whole set, since each DVD breaks down the instruction: The 3 forms are covered separately on their own DVD vol.1-3, vol. 4 focuses on the 116 Wooden Dummy techniques and weapons forms (nunchakus, butterfly broad swords, staff, and more), and vol. 5 focuses on street fighting techniques. Great overall DVD collection to learn Wing Chun Kung Fu.

1 comments about Return of the Warriors.

1. This is a good set of old school kung-fu. I ordered this for myself but when I got it I found that I already have all these movies except for about three. I plan to give this away for a present to one of my friends. I just wanted to list the movies for the next person who might want to buy this set. I will not review the movies, just give the titles.
   1. Screaming Tiger. 2. Sister Street Fighter. 3. Street fighter. 4. Return Of The Street Fighter. 5. Street Fighter's Last Revenge. 6. Dragon Princess. 7. Karate Warriors. 8. Rage Of The Dragon. 9. The Crippled Masters. 10. Ninja Turf. 11. Dragon On Fire. 12. Golden Dragon. 13. Return Of The Tiger. 14. 36 Crazy Fists. 15. Blind Fists Of Bruce. 16. Black Dragon. 17. The Deadly Kick. 18. The Fists Of Bruce Lee. 19. Tattoo Connection. 20. Militant Eagle.

5 comments about Billy Jack.

1. I love this movie as much today as I did seeing it growing up. Ok the fact that Tom isn't hard on the eyes is one thing but I love the story line.
   I love watching him kick the crap out of the bad guys! Ok give it a break it's an old movie and the quality is that of that time era...which I would give anything to go back to. The music is good. Coven's version of One Tin Soldier is amazing. The kids in the school ...love it! Love those rebel stand up for what you believe in songs!
   Give me these good old movies over the garbage of today anytime!



2. A silly 70s propaganda film in the vein of Reefer Madness and The Eternal Jew! As a matter of fact, let's just call it Liberal Madness, because that's about all it is. I still have to give it a reasonably good star value because it is so entertaining.
   
   Billy Jack is a Native American vigilante who's only occupation is being the deus-ex-machina character in the little scuffles that a local hippy commune continually gets themselves into. The head of the commune is a homely spinster schoolmarm. Actually homely isn't strong enough, there probably isn't a word strong enough to describe her, so let's just say she looks like her face was carved out of wood with a butter knife.
   
   To fully understand this movie there are some certain rules, laws of the Billy Jack universe you have to understand. The most important rule is that all white people not of Native American descent are pure evil, redneck, axx-holes that have nothing better to do then attack hippies and Native Americans. While Native Americans, and hippies in general, are loving pacifists that merely want to do their own thing.
   
   That's basically the meat of this story, Hippies annoy rednecks, rednecks annoy the hippies back only they do a better job, and Billy Jack comes riding in on a white steed to save the day. The real joy of this movie is watching how crazy the leftist hippies are. All they do is perform weird skits, do drugs, and sing horrible off key sing-a-longs.
   
   Occasionally they go "into town" where they act weird and annoy the normal people until they can't take it anymore. Then the normals do something harmless like dump flour on them to try to coerce them to leave, and what happens? Billy Jack sticks his big nose into things and beats the crap out of them. Then the pacifist hippies cheer because it's ok that someone else used violence just as long as their hands are still clean.
   
   Even though Jesus was a pacifist, the most important pacifist ever actually, the hippies don't mind mocking him in one scene where they are preparing to do a skit about a pregnant girl. "How about the world is really fxxxed up and needs a savior...but this will be a modern one; it doesn't have to be like the old kind...Jesus."
   
   Finally the residents of the town cannot take the hippies causing them trouble all the time and they call a town meeting. This is where things really get funny. Of course if you take this movie too seriously you could become outraged at just how immature and stupid the hippies act, but I assure you, for me it's all laughs. There's actually a lot to be learned here though, as the libs to this day use a lot of these same plays and tactics. For example, when a rude hippy gives a fake name, "OK Coralis" and is chided he responds, "That is my real name! What do you have something against Mexicans? I don't see any on the board!" There's also the classic "famous quote shtick" where you take a patriotic quote out of context and ask who said it, surprise, it's Adolf Hitler or some other dictator.
   
   The ruthless and completely irreverent hippies make more and more noise and personal attacks about the town council showing complete disregard and lack of respect, even though the council is trying their best to listen to them and answer their questions the hippies only grow increasingly hateful and angry. So much for pacifism.
   
   Yadda Yadda Yadda, the tension between the hippies and the normals escalates and a war breaks out, with Billy Jack once again fighting their battles for them.
   
   The acting in this movie is beyond amateurish, it is obvious that a lot of it is just made up on the spot, or read from a cue-card as their lines come off so stiff and emotionless that it is obvious that we are watching the first take of every scene, no need to waste film after all.
   
   The lefties haven't really updated their playbook after all these years so there's a lot to learn from this little time capsule. Pair this up with the complete fools the lefties make themselves look like and you've got a fun campy classic.



3. Like many children of the 70's, I was fascinated by this yarn in the day. I saw it several times and dutifully saw "Born Losers" ( a exploitation re-release that features Billy Jack's character, and a far better film) as well as "The Trial of Billy Jack" (the third installment and even worse than this outing). Years later, it's enlightening to realize what we have outgrown from our youth. The acting, directing and production is pretty awful, but forgivable. The ideology spouted in this stinker is a fast food bastardization of the worst "hold hands and sing together" hippie trash.
   Tom Laughlin plays the title role of former Green Beret and reclusive half-breed protector of a southwestern "Freedom School" where love interest/head schoolmarm Jean (Delores Taylor) and her doltish charges harbor runaways,perform dreadful improv and guerilla theatre and generally get under the skin of redneck cowboy law enforcement in their town.
   When Jean protects the runaway daughter of local lawman, tension come to a head and Billy Jack must step away from the pacifism he and Jean cherish and lay gratuitous Kung Fu beatdowns on local bullies.For martial arts fans, the payoff are far and few, if you enjoy rape scenes ( and I sure hope you do NOT!) there are a couple of man-with-knife-doing-bad-things-to-women scenes that appear as salacious panders to this element.
   
   If watching the Freedom School kids travel around like a Marxist Partidge Family in their stupid hippie bus doesn't make you dread Flower Child nostalgia, you will surely be disgusted by the use of violence to market non-violence, the lecturing moral high ground tone of the films message and the all around insipid style of this useless atrifact.
   
   (NOTE* all martial arts in the film are performed by Laughlins stand-in, the great Master Bong Soo Han, and if you look closely you'll notice a distinct physical disimilarity between Laughlin and the man doing great roundhouse kicks)



4. You don't get/watch this movie for the production values. You don't get this movie for the 70's nostalgia or the flower-power hippie esque themes.
   
   You get this movie because of a very simple thing. Sometimes a man's gotta do what a man's gotta do. This movie is about having the courage to do what's right - no matter the cost.
   
   Billy Jack is the archetype of the great protector who turns to violence because sometimes it's the only way. And this movie is the 300 of the seventies.
   
   Ironic how true it all rings when we look at the battles Tom Laughlin had with hollywood and with the government when it came to making and screening the Billy Jack Movies.



5. Some reviewers are lambasting this film as being "pretentious", and otherwise unreal. Well...it IS unreal, it's a MOVIE. If it's politically incorrect, so what??? I watch movies for the entertainment factor, not the reality factor. If you want reality just turn on the 6 o'clock news. As for the karate, it must be a popular thing considering the success of Bruce Lee's films (and now Jet Li). Yeah, it's a movie about an ex Green Beret who defends the school kids because he wants them to live without having to fight the way he does...so that makes him a big brother figure trying to change the future for the kids. Come to think of it, isn't that what our government is always doing...bomb the heck out of somebody so we can live in peace??? Maybe Billy Jack should have run for president! Then he would have had political immunity and not had to go to jail.

5 comments about UFC Presents The Ultimate Fighter - Season 1.

1. Just terrible and not worth the money. The fights are horrible and the fighters have very little skill. Puchase PRIDE instead where the best fighters in the WORLD come to fight.
   
   That Matt guy who wrote the first review has no clue what he's talking about. PRIDE is the biggest stage for MMA not UFC. That is a fact.



2. i think that mma serves it's purpose, but without traditional martial arts like japanese jujutsu, karate,and taekwondo mma would not exist!i liked this series because it shows how martial arts is used to improve yourself physically and mentally and people who think martial arts is just for bangin each others head in are crazy and don't deserve to take martial arts!plus stephan bonnar rules and his spinning back kicks are awesome!!!!!!!



3. I just started watching MMA about a month ago when I found some UFC DVDs in the bargain bin at my local Blockbuster. Long story short, a month later, I own UFC 40-60 and TUF (The Ultimate Fighter) season 1. TUF Season 2 is coming in the mail. MMA is completely new to me, yeah I've been living in a cave. If MMA is new to you, TUF season 1 is a terrific place to start.



4. I didnt get the opportunity to watch this season when it was happening, but recently purchased this DVD set after watching seasons 2-current and can honestly say this is one of the best. The most recent season with BJ and Pulver and all the lightweights was pretty great, but it seems that with every season we end up with more and more drama taking place over the fighting and training. While this makes for decent TV, the addition of chumps like Gabe Reudiger and the like who are obviously there for airtime over MMA oriented reasons has watered things down for me. Season 1 was serious, with serious coaches that were not about the insanity of the house and all the sophomoric behind the scenes BS. Not to mention the fighter and trainer profiles are really cool. The training section was cool, but a little light on info.



5. The idea was brilliant: pit two legendary UFC Champions competing against eachother in another aspect of Mixed Martial Arts - COACHING. The Teams are divided by divisions and weight classes for Randy Couture (The former Light-Heavyweight and Heavyweight champion and future heavyweight champion) and Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell (Reigning Light-Heavyweight Champion). Interesting team challenges decide whose team gets to pick the first fight, and so on. Great season, introducing the likes of eight of the best middleweight rising stars and eight of the best light-heavyweight Future Stars of the fast growing phenomenon that is MMA.
   
   Light Heavyweights
   Team Liddell: Bobby Southworth, Sam Hoger, Forrest Griffin, Alex Schoenauer
   Team Couture: Stephan Bonnar, Mike Swick, Lodune Sincaid, Jason Thacker
   Middleweights
   Team Liddell: Diego Sanchez, Josh Koscheck, Kenny Florian, Josh Rafferty
   Team Couture: Nathan Quarry, Chris Leben, Alex Karalexis, Chris Sanford
   
   
   The hosting by Willa Ford is an unusual bonus.
   
   Episode 1
   
   Light Heavyweight and Middleweight teams are chosen by coaches Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture
   Episode 2
   
   Team Liddell wins the first Light Heavyweight Challenge.
   Jason Thacker is sent home by Randy Couture.
   Team Liddell wins the first Middleweight Challenge.
   Chris Sanford is sent home by Randy Couture.
   Episode 3
   
   Alex Schoenauer wins the Light Heavyweight challenge. Bobby Southworth comes in last and will be forced to fight in the elimination bout.
   Bobby Southworth vs. Lodune Sincaid.
   Episode 4
   
   Alex Schoenauer is traded to Team Couture as part of a team re-balance.
   Team Liddell wins the Middleweight challenge and the opportunity to schedule the next fight.
   Diego Sanchez vs. Alex Karalexis.
   Episode 5
   
   There was no challenge or fight in this episode. The show featured Nate Quarry's injury and the fight and pranks between Bobby Southworth, Josh Koscheck and Chris Leben.
   Episode 6
   
   As fallout from the previous episode, there is no challenge and Dana White schedules the Middleweight fight between Chris Leben and Josh Koscheck.
   Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Leben.
   Episode 7
   
   Josh Rafferty is traded to Team Couture in another team reshuffle.
   Team Couture wins the Light Heavyweight challenge.
   Stephan Bonnar vs. Bobby Southworth.
   Episode 8
   
   Nate Quarry is eliminated from the show due to his ankle injury. Dana White asks Quarry to stay on as an assistant coach, and he agrees.
   Quarry gets to choose what fighter from the loser's lounge gets to come back and he chooses Chris Leben.
   Team Couture wins the middleweight challenge.
   Diego Sanchez vs. Josh Rafferty.
   Episode 9
   
   Team Liddell wins the light heavyweight challenge.
   Sam Hoger is accused of stealing from the other competitors.
   Forrest Griffin vs. Alex Schoenauer.
   Episode 10
   
   In the first middleweight semifinal match, Kenny Florian vs. Chris Leben.
   Episode 11
   
   In the second middleweight semifinal match, Diego Sanchez vs. Josh Koscheck.
   Episode 12
   
   Forrest Griffin vs. Sam Hoger.
   Stephan Bonnar vs. Mike Swick.
   
   IN THE FINALE!
   Undercard
   Alex Karalexis vs. Josh Rafferty
   Mike Swick vs. Alex Schoenauer
   Nathan Quarry vs.Lodune Sincaid
   Josh Koscheck vs. Chris Sanford
   Chris Leben vs. Jason Thacker
   Sam Hoger vs Bobby Southworth
   Main card
   Middleweight Final - Diego Sanchez vs. Kenny Florian for the TUF championship in the middleweight division.
   Light Heavyweight Final - Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar(Fight of the Year for 2005 - both fighter win contracts for their performance)for the TUF championship in the light-heavyweight division.
   Main Event - Rich Franklin vs. Ken Shamrock

1 comments about Catch Wrestling - The Lost Art of Hooking: Complete 5-DVD Set (10 volumes) + Double Trouble DVD.

1. First, let me note that this is in fact a 5-DVD set, covering ten volumes, with different cover art than that shown here.
   
   If you are interested in submission grappling, Cecchine's Lost Art of Hooking is one of the best purchases you can make. He is clear and thorough in his explanations, and he covers in detail some basics not generally found in other submission grappling sets (such as weight distribution for controlling an opponent).
   
   With Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the default ground game for mixed martial arts today, learning a different approach on the ground (personally, I cross train catch and BJJ, with catch as my base) will give you not only an immediate competitive edge (most BJJ guys, for instance, aren't expecting you to launch a leg lock from inside their guard), but also a larger base of knowledge from which to draw as you put together your own unique ground game.
   
   One of the biggest strengths of the set -- in addition to covering leg locks in a way you simply won't find anywhere else save, say, Russian sambo instructionals -- is Cecchine's attention to detail: it is the nuances that turn submission attempts into submissions, and often times the difference between getting the submission or not is as simple as positioning your blade successfully, or twisting the wrist, or levering out rather than back. Cecchine shows you plenty of that, and in doing so will help you make your submission holds that much better. In catch wrestling, submission holds -- or "hooks" -- are intended to break, tear, and maim. So while these holds can certainly be adapted to pure sport fighting, Cecchine also shows how, with the proper finish, they can be used to brutal effect outside of competitive venues.
   
   An excellent companion set to Drysdale's Nth Dimension (BJJ), Ribeiro's Freestyle Revolution (BJJ), Yakimov's Leg Lock set (Sambo), Rutten's Big DVDs of Combat (general mma), Mark Schultz's set (amateur wrestling and mma), and Bravo's Mastering the Rubber Guard (whatever it is that Bravo is calling his stuff these days). I've also heard nice things about Josh Barnett's "Attacking the Guard," but I've yet to see that.

1 comments about Muay Thai Fights Volume 1 DVD.

1. This video shows Thai boxing as the sport has developed in Thailand. The action-packed fights are quite entertaining and the overall quality of the video is very good. The traditional music that accompanies the bouts is presented in this video. I highly recommend it for serious students of this art.

1 comments about Of Cooks and Kung Fu.

1. Now if you have never heard of Chen Shan, aka Chang Shan, then let me let you into my world. This is the one guy that I have always believed to be superior to Bruce Lee on screen. Hwang Jang Lee and a couple of others come close but Chen Shan is the only one that I could even consider on the same level. That being said I now have to give you the bad news. I know of 6 movies including this one that he is in. Now I am not new to these movies. I have been a follower for MANY years and have only been able to find 3 movies since I began searching about 3-4 years ago. Well it has all been worth it, I think I just found Chen Shan's first performance! How excited I was when I saw his face on screen can only be described by a high impact leg kick. He plays kind of the same old tired Manchu evil guy but the story is new and oh so refreshing.
   
   The king of cooks I guess created this style of cooking kung fu a long time ago. He used to be the personal cook of the emporer. So the cook has a grandson and revenge will take place, blah blah blah. It does have the same storyline as most but the whole cooking aspect makes this really original. Get ready for some really good training sequences and a very good directorial job so we can tie everything togethter at the end.
   
   Of course though the reason to watch this movie is for the great Chen Shan. I feel really weird knowing that it may be the last moivie I will ever see him in. If anybody knows of any movies he is in please tell me! I will do anythihg for you. But sadly all good things really do have to come to an end. Now let me list you all of his movies for the last time and if ANYBODY can add just one name to it, I will be very very grateful.
   
   SHAOLIN VS LAMA-ahhh, Buddha finger
   
   SHAOLIN TEMPLE STRIKES BACK, aka SHAOLIN KUNG FU-A top 10 kung fu performance of all time by anybody
   
   SEVEN STEPS OF KUNG FU-just like Cooks and Kung Fu, it will take you a little while to spot him.
   
   NINJA HUNTER-great cheese movie, great perforamnce by Chen Shan
   
   FIVE FIGHTERS OF SHAOLIN-this and Ninja Hunter are his 2 worst perforances but still better than 99% of anyone else. Buy this one to check him out with no mustache!
   
   Good bye Chen Shan :(
   
   And oh yeah, the kung fu is VERY good in this movie and like I said the story is well done and somewhat interesting. Only a 3 star movie, but 4 stars to any movie that my favorite star performs well in. Like it's possible for him not to perform well, lol.

5 comments about World Combat Championship.

1. this film rocks the nhb world. Not once during the entire film do you see the referee jumping in to break up the fight. the only slight draback is the fact the renzo gracie and Bart vale are the best talent but it is definatly a good buy.



2. This was the first no-holds-barred video I bought, and it really was worth it! Professionally put together, some good fighters, and a hefty paycheck at the end of it all went towards this being one of the (potentially) best NHB events in the world. UFC is the most popular, but WCC SHOULD be! Bart Vale, Renzo Gracie, Eric Paulson are just a few names on the card, and I can tell you, the Vale-Bitonio fight is the BEST fight I have ever seen. You have to buy this video even if just for that one fight.



3. This video has good action for that particular time when NHB was just starting to get popular here in the U.S.A. This organization WCC no longer exist. Erik Paulson shows good skill in spite of unexpected adversity. U.F.C is still the cream of the crop in the U.S. But the Pride events are in a league of thier own with the worlds best fighters.



4. This is basically an MMA event. One half of the 8 man tournament bracket is full MMA, and the other half allows no submission holds, only allowing striking on the ground. Because of this ridiculous rule, a couple of the fights are a lot more bloody and brutal than is at all necessary. The only good fighter on the card is Renzo Gracie, and he walks through the competition. Erik Paulson and Bart Vale also compete, but they didn't impress me. The WCC only held this one event, probably because they were paying TOP dollar to mainly mediocre fighters. The purse for the winner was $250,000, an amount only rivaled by the Pride Grand Prix and the annual Rings King of Kings tournament, both of which had MUCH better fighters. You certainly can't complain that the WCC lacks action, though.



5. Mike Bitonio and I were classmates and sparring partners at The Kapu Kuialua school. We had trained hard for my fight but it was still an unknown of what would happen. When I lost UFC6 I trained with Mike even harder. We started training in a cage similiar to UFC but round. With the rules at that time we learned how to work the cage to our favor. I only wished we had trained in the cage for my fight. Mike was a newcomer that wasn't even expected to even hold a candle to veteran Bart Vale's who I've been told had once knocked out Ken Shamrock in his earlier years. We had trained for hours every day and when I was lucky enough to get him in any kind of submission move he wouldn't even tap unless I was on the verge breaking his ankle or something. He is definately one of the hardest sparring partner I've ever had. I'm pleased to have been a part of his training for the fight against Bart Vale. It was definately one of the best fights on the tape. One thing that I remember about him is that he was half my size yet he was as strong as I was.

3 comments about Ultimate Ninja Collection - Ninja vs. Mafia.

1. If you've ever enjoyed watching cheesey martial arts flicks just for the laugh value, this is definately one worth checking out. It has some of the silliest dialog, action sequences, and plot devices (including ninjas that turn into piles of grass that scurry away) I've ever come across.
   
   My friends and I enjoy pulling this movie out from time to time just for the comic effect.



2. I happen to ketch this movie on the Action Network one night and laughed myself to tears. It's absolutley ridiculous. It's kind of dry for a bit, but the scene in the forest makes the entire movie. A must see.



3. The mafia has hired ninjas to kill a rival mafia group. Problem is, Alexander Lo Rei stands in their way. There is nothing good to say about this movie other than the action. There are lots of fights with good choreography. Lo Rei was one of the best fighters around, and director Robert Tai knows just how to use him. Eugene Thomas has a role as one of the villains and he gets a good fight scene. None of the fights are spectacular, but all of them are pretty good. The final fight is a tad better than the rest.
   
   2.5/5
   
   The Crash DVD is full screen and has decent picture quality.