Thornton Florida Seminar Video Review

[Luis Gutierrez]

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This is a review by Matt Edmondson that I cut from the underground JKD forum.

First off let me say that I've never had a chance to train with Matt or any of his instructors. I have trained some BJJ and Muay Thai in the past but right now my job has me far away from any school's so I am reliant on instructionals for my techniques for a few years. I have just about every instructional known to man and I can honestly say that Matt's tapes are, in my honest opinion the best.

The 2 Tape Florida Seminar has the highest production value I've ever seen from a seminar. Great recording angles from somebody that apparently knows what they are doing. In 4 hours of footage, I only remember one time when I wished the camera would move to the other side, but Matt explained it fine so there was really no need. For a seminar that an outstanding accomplishment, I own some studio produced instructional tapes that weren't nearly this good.

The techniques on the tape aren't laid out in order like you will find on Matt's SBG tapes. You see Matt think of something himself, or in order to answer a question, and then start to teach it. Standup Striking instruction is almost non existent, only dealt with on the last part of the second tape. This actually made me happy as I don't think that the standup striking game is evolving quite as fast as the clinch range and the ground game.

The tapes are an excellent complement to Matt's 2nd series. I was worried about too much overlap and while I saw some, it was minimal. Things that Matt harps on in his tapes (i.e., principles of his active guard) are only discussed shortly while things that you wished Matt would have shown more of (actually technique sequences) are shown and explained in great detail. There is a TON of material from the half guard, both top and bottom.

Matt shows some drills (and also explains why he usually doesn't show drills) and discuses the three stages of learning a technique, introduction, isolation and incorporation. This and other info really made me think and evaluate my own teaching style and I believed improved it quite a bit. Matt makes the claim that some people, after training with him, with his way of teaching, can in a years time be competitive with BJJ purple belts, after watching all the footage I have seen with him and his methods, I don't doubt that one bit.

In Summery, These tapes are a must buy for anybody who wants to improve there game. Even if somebody didn't give a rip about defending themselves in the street, striking, or clinch work these are still some of the best non-GI grappling tapes I've seen. Two years ago if I was forced to stick to tapes from one instructor, it would have been an easy choice, a BJJ instructor who released some fine Vale Tudo and Sport BJJ tapes. Today the choice would be just as easy, but I would choose Matt and his tapes. And I imagine anybody who has seen them feels the same, so if you do, you will NOT be disappointed in this Seminar. Luis has another very satisfied customer, and being in law enforcement and also having a young child, I am highly anticipating his 2 upcoming tapes.

Matt (Votequinby) Edmondson


Tape Set can be purchased at:

www.onedragon.com

-Luis