5 comments about Shaolin Wheel of Life.

1. This production is amazing and inspiring for all walks of martial artists. The choreography and pure talent of all the monks is humbling and unbelievable. I highly recommend this DVD for those who study martial arts, and for those who enjoy a good show. Flawless..



2. Excellent documentation of a fascinating production, which toured the US and told the story of the Shaolin teachings, as well as demonstrating the "Kung Fu power". The part I actually enjoyed most was the additional documentary about the creation of the production - how they formed a team to go the Shaolin temple and recruit monks of all ages (7-70) to be in the touring company. A very interesting story for anyone interested in some of the culture behind one of the world's true martial arts.



3. I know absolutely nothing whatsoever about martial arts, but I will tell you that this is one helluva good show - sort of like a martial arts ballet - telling the story of the Shaolin Temple and its monks. The monks themselves are graceful and strong. It reminded me of watching the Olympics on TV - sort of a "gee whiz, did they really do that?" quality. I also got a big kick out of the little kid monks. I know kids are generally more limber than grown-ups, but jeez! Don't let your kids try these stunts at home. Some of the posters here seem to know a lot about gongfu, which I don't, but I will say that all in all, this is a very entertaining DVD. .



4. Like a Chinese Phantom of an Opera, but on film, and a lot more physical endurance, literally. The story was a bit boring, and some of the physical attributes seemed a bit repetitive, but otherwise undeniably impeccable. Some of these physical stunts people did take a lot of trust, physical strength, and endurance. You can't be drunk doing this kind of show, that's for sure. Things from a person standing on his two index fingers, probably with more help from the bar than we realize, and how a person made himself half lie flat on one sharp point, and another person laid totally flat on 5 sharp points with people he trusted helping him reach that point. Almost seems like visual proof of how acupuncture has an art form to it, and possibly even works. Some people being able to tumble or bend their bodies at incredible angles, especially if the people have some muscles, you'd think they'd be less flexible, but it's like holy cow, the entire package. If you appreciate physical talent and movement and not much storyline, this is a great movie to watch. Even though there's not much plot, it does not deserve criticizing!
   
   I think there was only like one female in this movie if any, so sorry females! I guess you assume that people just chooses to live like monks and join the crew.



5. I purchased this product to present to a class I teach about alternative health and exercise lifestyles. My expectations were exceeded with every passing minute. While the play begins slowly, it doesn't take long to become fully involved in the dedication, athleticism, and tenacity of the Shaolin monks. I strongly recommend this DVD presentation.

2 comments about Saulo Ribeiro Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Revolution Series One. Six Volume DVD Instructional Series for Grappling and Mixed Martial Arts.

1. This six set DVD covers the major aspects of BJJ: Mount, Cross Body (ie side control), Back, Guard, Half Guard, Passing Guard. The only other piece needed for a complete sport game is takedowns, which are covered in Series Two. All instruction is with gi, with Saulo demonstrating on Chris (one of his brown belts) for around 15 techniques per video.
   
   The techniques lean towards offense, so for example Half Guard spends more time passing and submitting than defending or sweeping. Saulo does a great job of emphasizing a consistent theme in each DVD. For example in the Cross Body DVD the first few sequences demonstrate the importance of controlling the opponents hips with your weight, as opposed to with arm positioning or grips, and he reiterates this point in every cross body technique. This theme of using your core positioning rather than limbs to maintain control comes across as one of the key tenets of Saulo's approach. Another key point is that jiu-jitsu is not as simple as learning a set of magic techniques that always work, and Saulo teaches you to recognize the moment ("momentum" is his word) in which a technique will be most effective.
   
   Overall this series is very good. As a white belt who has trained for six months, I found the half-guard DVD particularly enlightening, both the specific passes and the general philosophy for defending and sweeping. The only complaint is that the series emphasizes advanced techniques at the expense of basics. This is most pronounced on the Guard DVD, where the basic submissions (armbar, lapel choke, kimura, triangle) aren't touched, while multiple butterfly sweeps are. Bill Lewis's online review says this is probably due to marketing concerns of avoiding material well-trodden by other series. Still, I found Saulo's series most valuable when it laid out correct body placement on basic moves and positions as opposed to exotic submissions, and having this for the full range of "BJJ 101" would have been nice.
   
   Another minor complaint - both Saulo and Chris are wearing shiny white gis and sometimes it's hard to tell exactly where an arm or leg is positioned. Kind of an obvious oversight in what otherwise is a very well produced set.
   
   Overall though anyone up to a blue should find this set greatly clarifies some basic points and erases many of the misconceptions you've picked up early in training. I'm guessing advanced belts will benefit from the more advanced techniques, but I'll leave that to another reviewer to confirm.



2. it is well worth the money as it provides a different point of view n way to tackle some of jujitsu problems. saulo repeatedly emphasized the importance of energy conservation, leverage and avoid using power against power on the moves are something that all beginners n intermediate practisioners need to take at heart. his teaching is solid, very detailed and easy to understand. also the techqiues he taught are also the ones he used successful on the tournament i.e the spectacular judo throw !!!!!

5 comments about The Cat - Gogen Yamaguchi, 10th Dan.

1. I have been searching for a dvd with all of the Goju Ryu kata on it so that I could learn and practice them and this dvd not only has them all on it but many of them are done by Gogen Yamaguchi himself. I couldn't be more excited about this dvd. It is amazing.



2. The DVD contains everything that the editorial review promises but in really poor quality. The DVD disc is a DVD-R that the manufacturer reproduced very cheaply and although the cover says that it is digitally remastered, the quality of the DVD is really quite appalling, being very amateurish and in some parts, simply not watchable. Although the content will make me watch it again, I'm really disappointed that I've had to pay so much for something of such poor quality.



3. Gogen Yamaguchi video contains only shadows moving in the dark!
   No resolution, no contrast...looking at the same video on internet is much much better! I bought a DVD!!!!!!!!
   Completely dissatisfied!!



4. A truly awesome dvd. It is an incredible honor to be able to watch Yamaguchi perform. I highly recommend this rare historical video.



5. I am a Goju practiotner x 2o years. I believe this video does offer historic footage of Gogen Yamaguchi and you can see him personally perform many of the katas on the Goju Kai curriculum. It is inspiring to see him enter the waterfall too. At the end is footage from the funeral where Sanchin is performed by the group. Also 3 karateka perform Seipai, Suparinpei and Kururunfa simultaneously. The cameraman focuses mostly on the Seipai kata performer. Lastly, Goshi Yamaguchi performs Hakatsuru Kata (I believe this may also be known as the Master's Kata Genkaku). Do not confuse with Shotokan's Gankaku. Unfortunately the quality here is very poor. The narration by Mr Alexander is informative. The content is fantastic. The quality should be a little better. A probably must have for one in the Japanese Goju lineage. There is a paradoxical lack of any published footage from Gogen Yamaguchi after this 1960's reel from one of his training camps. Osu!

3 comments about Pride Fighting Championships: Bushido, Vol. 5.

1. in this dvd are some great matches but also some bad fights.
   bushido 5 features the return of mma legend igor vovchanchyn,shogun rua(ufc),charles bennet(eleite xc),gomi and ryo chonan(ufc)
   
   best fights:Ryo chonan vs newton 2)takanori gomi vs charles krazy horse bennet 3)crosley gracie vs hayato sakurai 4)shogun rua vs namekawa



2. the pride bushido events are some of the best , i really like Takanori Gomi and Ryo Chonan who both appear in many of the bushido events , get them while you can cause that ufc pres.dana white is the vince mcmahon of mma trying to takeover ALL MMA and disassemble rival orgs..



3. I just finished watching this DVD last night and knew the reviews needed one more to set the record straight. If I had read my review or one like it I would have bought this DVD without a moments hesistation. Nobody likes a slow boring fight, and although there are a couple that arent great fights, the fact is they aren't boring, and the really great fights on this DVD far outweigh them beyond measure. let me tell you, I saw some fights I would never have believed were possible from fighters I thought I knew well. I dont like to blow the surprises so even though you might not rate my review highly for lack of names and details I'll rish that and just say that there is no way I or almost any fighter can take as many knees to the head and stay in the fight and even turn around and burst into action a second after you thought he needed to be rushed to the Hospital and almost submitted the opponent. If he had, it would have made him famous. But, even though he went on to lose the fight (by decision) he gained a heck of a lot of respect from this reviewer!! I never saw such a high energy action fight where someone who took sooooo much pain, from more than just a couple knees and strikes, and after all that, along with the dazed ''head dropped'' posture, about to keel over, he suddenly turned around fighting as though he was on remote control. I only wish he had gotten the submission, it astounded even Bas Ruten, who was so amazed he couldnt believe his eyes, nor could I mine! no exaggeration, this fight alone made a great DVD way better and worth buying to see it if it only had that one fight on it, just an awesome thing to witness! I own about 100 fight DVDs and am glad I didnt miss this one. Its one I'd recommmend if you wanted to borrow just one or two of my DVDs. ENJOY!!!

No comments about Bas Rutten MMA System Workout.

3 comments about Krav Maga Moni Aizik 2 DVD Box Set.

1. I saw Moni on an episode of Human Weapon--on the History Channel,and knew he was someone with knowledge that I would like to add to my own practice of the martial arts. I think the video is excellent--I just feel bad for the assistant being used in the demonstrations! But, do recommend buying Moni's videos--they are very practical.



2. Great production, easy to learn and use. Brutal, simple and effective.Can't go wrong with this guy, what you learn(providing you DO learn it) may save your life.



3. OK another Moni offering. As usual visually stunning, well produced and attractive to watch. Here'es the rub. It is NOT Krav Maga, its Monis own system and its NOT taught to the Israeli military. I believe Moni has now retracted these claims but these are what sells the DVD..
   
   That is important to understand because if you think you are buying a military combatives DVD or a Krav Maga DVD you are not. If you are looking for some interesting techniques that Moni has adapted from other systems then this could be an interesting buy.

3 comments about Pride Fighting Championships: Bad Blood - Ringside Collector's Edition.

1. This isn't a terrible PPV. There are a few memorable matches, such as Antonio Nogueira vs Enson Inoue and the main event Ken Shamrock vs Don Frye. However, the product in its entirety isn't as exciting as it seems on paper.
   
   I expected a lot more out of Bad Blood, than I got. If you're looking for a PPV stacked with swift finishes and shocking upsets, this is the wrong DVD. Most of the fights (or hugging contests), go quite the distance, namely Alex Stiebling vs Wallid Ismail and Heath Herring vs Igor Vovchanchyn. Other matches are simply too predictable, including the ones worth watching.
   
   The Special Features on Disc 2 are decent, collecting some uncut interviews and backstage clips of the fighters before and after. If anything after a rather dreary seminar of matches, the "Outtakes" with Ken Shamrock and Don Frye shooting to promote the PPV warrant a viewing to lift your spirit.
   
   The fight card is as follows (no spoilers):
   
   - Tom Erikson vs Tim Catalfo (4/10)
   This match could've been held at King of the Cage.
   
   - Alex Stiebling vs Wallid Ismail (5/10)
   True to all of Wallid Ismail's matches, feel free to fast forward 90% of it.
   
   - Carlos Newton vs Jose "Pele" Landi-Jones (8/10)
   The first solid fight of the night.
   
   - Heath Herring vs Igor Vovchanchyn (6/10)
   How did this match go wrong?
   
   - Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Enson Inoue (8/10)
   The most thrilling bout in the PPV.
   
   - Wanderlei Silva vs Kiyoshi Tamura (7/10)
   It's not the typical slugfest you'd expect from a Silva fight.
   
   Main Event:
   - Ken Shamrock vs Don Frye (8/10)
   Although Shamrock and Frye lose steam quickly, their emotional struggle is what really makes this fight.
   
   Bonus Match (disc 2):
   - Daijiro Matsui vs Rodrigo Gracie (5/10)
   Nothing special...
   
   Pride 19: Bad Blood is definitely one for the faithful. I'd probably not recommend it to conventional fans, who don't thoroughly appreciate the sport. In other words, it's somewhat of a snoozefest. But something tells me you're gonna have to watch it and decide that for yourself.
   
   The booking looks excellent on paper, no doubt. Perhaps the last few matches aren't as bad as my conviction. Yet when the event is analyzed as a whole, from start to finish, the introduction fights are reliable substitutes to counting sheep. And by the time business starts picking up, Bad Blood is a little too late to be great.



2. PRIDE or PRIDE Fighting Championships is the largest mixed martial arts organization in the world. It is based in Japan and currently promoted by Dream Stage Entertainment (DSE). Its inaugural event was held at the Tokyo Dome on October 11, 1997, promoted by Kakutougi Revolution Spirits (KRS). It is the most popular MMA organization in the world based on the number of event attendees: the PRIDE Final Conflict 2003 event had over 67,000 people in the audience. The audience record is 91,107 people on the PRIDE and K-1 co-production Shockwave/Dynamite, held in August 2002. It is considered to be the premiere MMA organization on the planet.
   
   PRIDE 19: Bad Blood is a very good show that showcases a wide array of talent; estalished veterans, world champions, and rising stars can all be found on this entertaining event. Furthermore, the event contains a fight that I consider to be one of the greatest in MMA history. Here is a spoiler-free breakdown on the fight card:
   
   Tom Erikson vs Tim Catalfo - 7/10
   - A short fight pitting two very large men. It almost looks like the clash of the titans when you first see these two guys at the staredown.
   
   Alex Steibling vs Wallid Ismail - 6/10
   - A relatively dreary fight between two fighters of contrasting styles. Wallid attempts to keep this fight on the ground while Alex tries his best to keep it standing.
   
   Rodrigo Gracie vs Daijiro Matsui - 7/10
   - Another typical Gracie-like fight in which Rodrigo attempts to ground his opponent
   
   Carlos Newton vs Jose Landi-Jons - 10/10
   - One of my all time favorite fight. Carlos Newton plays the role of the exceptional grappler while Pele plays the role of the remarkable striker. The fight is packed to the brim with nonstop action and some unintentional humor mixed in as well.
   
   Heath Herring vs Igor Vovchanchyn - 8/10
   - A fight between two of the top 10 heavyweights in the world. An incredible first round is followed up by less spectacular action.
   
   Don Frye vs Ken Shamrock - 9/10
   - This fight is where the tagline "Bad Blood" came from. A fight with an extensive backstory, both men give it their all until they are lingering at the brink of exhaustion. Great fight with a slightly debatable ending.
   
   Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs Enson Inoue - 9/10
   - Nogueira is the defending PRIDE Heavyweight Champion and #1 ranked fighter in the world. His challenger is Enson Inoue, a modern day Japanese-American samurai who's never-say-attitude has made him huge fan favorite with the crowd.
   
   Wanderlei Silva vs Kiyoshi Tamura - 9/10
   - PRIDE Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva, defends his title against top Japanese superstar, Kiyoshi Tamura. What on paper looks like an easy destruction, turns out to be far more than you'd expect. Great fight with a brutal finish.
   
   Overall, Bad Blood makes for a tremendous addition to any Mixed Martial Arts library. Although the undercard is somewhat lackluster, the main bouts more than make up for it. I would highly recommend purchasing this DVD.



3. I hadn't heard the best reviews for this double-DVD edition of Pride Fighting 19: Bad Blood. We are still in the rapidly developing stages of Pride and getting big names such as Shamrock and Frye (both "legends" of the UFC) is nothing but good for business.
   
   Tom Erikson v. Tim Catalfo:
   This one doesn't last long, but it is difficult to tell whether or not the win was that impressive, given the fighters involved. You will see what I mean... but a decent opening to the event.
   
   Alex Steibling v. Wallid Ismail:
   Ismail is a freak. He will creep you out in his pre-fight interview, with his child-molester stare and his odd speech pattern... but out in the ring, he's a serious fighter. These two are amped to get at each other, but for all the buildup, there is truly no clear winner after the first 10 minutes of fighting. The action picks up in the 2nd and comes to a head in the 3rd, when the winner becomes apparent.
   
   Carlos Newton v. Jose "Pele" Landi:
   I don't particularly like Pele, but I do respect his fighting ability. He annoys me with his behavior and demeanor, but he also entertains me. He is overconfident in this fight against the soft-spoken Newton. The battle goes back and forth and both fighters find themselves in trouble at different points in the fight, but the fight ends abruptly and unexpectedly at the end of the 1st round. Great fight.
   
   Heath Herring v. Igor Vovchanchyn:
   Herring is a wildman and you see it here against the slugger, Vovchanchyn. Herring controls early - and Vovchanchyn then surprisingly gets a few consecutive takedowns. As usual, he is not able to do much damage on the ground, but he makes it a good fight. The pace is fairly steady throughout - this is a very decent bout that ultimately goes to a decision.
   
   Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira v. Enson Inoue:
   Submissions end up telling the tale in this fight, rather quickly.
   
   Wanderlei Silva v. Kiyoshi Tamura:
   Silva, one of the most entertaining fighters ever to fight in mixed martial arts, steps in against Kiyoshi Tamura, with whom I was not particularly familiar. Nevertheless, I was anticipating another awesome Wanderlei Silva fight. He controls Tamura early with effective ground & pound and the fight ends in very exciting fashion early in the 2nd round. Classic Silva!
   
   Ken Shamrock v. Don Frye:
   In the pre-fight interviews, Don Frye says that he respects Ken as a fighter - Shamrock refuses to make the same claim. Shamrock finds reasons to dislike fighters simply to hype the fight. He rarely makes sense when he speaks, causing his fans to slowly lose respect for him as the years pass (ultimately leading to the pitiful state of his current "I hate Tito Ortiz"-based career)... These two trade body-blows in the clench during the first round. There is a LOT of clenching in this fight. Shamrock makes a few weak leglock and toehold submission attempts but, there's nothing there. They seem to be fighthing an "old man's" fight: clenching the whole time, landing weak body shots and engaging in standing exchanges for only seconds at a time. Frye remains crisper than Shamrock, expelling less energy throughout. This is revealed early in the 3rd round. The action then again fizzles after this moment of excitement. This one goes to a split decision and the decision is fair. So ends the "Bad Blood".
   
   This event was far better than the reviews I had read indicated it would be. The matchups were not exactly legendary, but the fighters were. Silva, Nogueira, Frye, Shamrock, Herring, Vovchanchyn, Newton and Pele each contribute to another great Pride Fighting event. The bonus disc includes extended interviews with Frye and Shamrock (and a hidden interview with Wallid Ismail's crazy @ss). Recommended.

No comments about WINSOR PILATES BASIC WORKOUT SYSTEM 3 DVD SET (BASICS Step-by-Step Workout + 20 MINUTE WORKOUT + ACCELERATED BODY SCULPTING WORKOUT) + EXTRAS: The Win-in-10 MEALPLAN, SCULPTING JOURNAL, The WINSOR DOZEN GUIDE. CHANGE THE WAY YOU LOOK AND FEEL!.

5 comments about Vampires: The Turning.

1. In this third installment of the series we find ourselves following some American tourists in Thailand. One is kidnaped by some biker vampires while her boyfriend is unable to save her. But he does meet a mysterious character who kills one of the vampires and disappears. The boyfriend follows the stranger to a forbidding old house. He then tries to enlist the aid of the local police but gets no help. The mysterious stranger seems to be his only hope. He tracks him down and we find out what is going on.
   
   The city has two types of vampires. The oldest do not drink human blood. They keep to animals. They do not like the second type although they accidentally created them. The second type revels in human blood and killing. They fully embrace their power. The first group is led by a woman who was the first vampire. There is a chance that she can break the curse that turned her into a vampire. If the curse is broken, all the vampires who sprang from her will become human again. The second type vampires do not want to be human again. The whole concept leads to some very interesting situations.
   
   Other than the idea of bounty hunters going after vampires (and the use of a winch) there is no resemblance to the earlier films. This is based on a completely different mythology. Vampires are killed in different ways and turning into a vampire after being bitten is an act of will. So don't expect this to really be part of a series. By itself it is a very interesting take on the vampire legend and very stylistically handled. Sets, lighting, and atmosphere are really some of the stars of this film. In my opinion this is the second best of the three Vampires films (I preferred the edginess to the serenity). Check it out.



2. Got this movie as part of a box set. Best thing about the movie is that it is less than 90 minutes long.



3. An American in Thailand watches his girlfriend get kidnapped by a gang of bad vampires, so he joins a gang of good vampires to get her back. Nothing great, but it isn't bad. There are some cool fight scenes, but the movie is kind of short. Still, if you dig vampires you'll dig this dvd.



4. Every now and again you get to see something old and new mixed together, with the "new" being strong enough to counteract the "old" which has been seen a number of times before. "Vampires: The Turning" is a case in point.
   
   It's a familiar story: boy loses girl to a gang of vampires, and he's determined to get her back. The new turns to this story are an exotic setting (Thailand) and the guy turns himself into a vampire to get the extra boost needed to go toe-to-toe with the vampire bikers.
   
   Film quality is surprisingly good. Cimeaphotography is top-notch, light work and camera angels add a real sense to the experience. Acting is also surprisingly good.
   
   If you're a fan of John Carpenter's Vampire series, you'll enjoy this movie, though I'll stop short of saying it's a part of that series, like some have said.



5. Hey I actually saw this movie (i think i rented it). Anyway this was actually a good movie once you got past the beginning (kind of slow). After that it starts to pick up and when the movie ends you're wishing there was more. It seems like it should have been longer and better produced (Duh, its really a foreign film). Either way... it is on my list of really good vampire be movies...plus it had martial arts.
   
   I'm not saying its the best its not Subspecies but if your into watching the good B flicks that have the vampire genre, then give it a shot if its cheap.

5 comments about Pride Fighting Championships: Shock Wave 2004.

1. Pride FC: Shockwave 2004 is another stellar card. None of the matches disappoint. Taka Gomi vs. Pulver is an awesome slugfest. Anderson Silva always amazes. The highlight for me was the Hunt/W.Silva fight. Worth the price of the DVD alone.
   
   This is another must have for those who are unfamiliar with the Pride Organization.



2. Great way to get your feet wet, with the Pride organization.
   Great show, and some of the best fighters in the world.
   If you are a mma fan, this dvd will not disappoint.



3. Topping the card is Fedor vs Minotauro, which is fun to watch how Fedor dominates. The feature is Mark Hunt v Wanderlei, which is wonderful and has a surprise ending. There's also Gomi v Pulver, which is the best fight on the card. There are no bad fights on the card, and this is a top-five Pride Card.



4. ...Another very good 1. The fight card is tight...with surprises as usual. Pride fighters are the best on the planet...most MMA fans would agree. Another exciting DVD...get it!



5. shockwave 2004 was one of the biggest shows that pride made over the past years.
   this event features the third fight between fedor emelianenko and antonio rodrigo nogueira,also feaures the rematch between crocop and kevin randleman and the superfight between wanderlei silva and mark hunt.
   
   best fights:
   1)wanderlei silva vs mark hunt 2)takanori gomi vs jens pulver 3)ryo chonan vs anderson silva 4)dan henderson vs yuki kondo