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I get a lot of the same questions sent to me time and again. I thought it would be helpful to post a Q and A session. Please feel free to write me at BJJ33@aol.com with any other questions you might have. I might add your question to the list in the future. Q: I am new to Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, what tape set should I start with?
A: It depends on what you are interested in. Most people fall into three camps. Those that want to learn sport BJJ, those that want to learn Vale Tudo or NHB fighting, and those that want to learn Submission Grappling.
For those that want to go the sport BJJ route, I would highly recommend getting Pedro Carvalho's tapes. Pedro's tapes are also the best place to start for those just starting out. On his tapes, he covers the three parts of BJJ - Sport, Vale Tudo, and Self-Defense. This will give you the best overview of the art. The other thing that is nice is that you will learn all the basic chokes, arm bars, etc and you will learn the counters to them. This help you get over the frustration that one often feels when you start learning to grapple. This will also start you down the path of thinking in terms of move/counter/move. Also, the conventional wisdom is to start with Sport BJJ and then later move into Vale Tudo or submission grappling.
If you want to head down the Vale Tudo/NHB path, then you should get the Mario Sperry Vale Tudo tapes. Mario has three sets of tapes and they should be purchased and watched in order. Each tape set builds on each other and assumes that you have the earlier sets. This will walk you by the hand through a complete Vale Tudo game plan. No other set comes close to these. Sperry is the man.
For those that have a submission grappling inclination, Sperry is the man again. Mario Sperry's submission grappling tapes are best tapes out there. His tapes are based on the rules that are used in a large tournament held in Abu Dhabi. Many tape sets that fit into this category fall into it by accident. The creators of the tape sets did a grappling set but did not show sport or Vale Tudo techniques. If the "Vale Tudo" tape set you are watching does not deal with how to punch or how to defend punches it probably belongs in the submission grappling category. Generally, no uniform is used and you have all the chokes, locks, and submissions you want, just no punching or kicking. The tournament in Abu Dhabi has really solidified this category into something tangible and given it a standard rule set that is widely used. Sperry's tapes are the only tapes that walk you through these rules and give you a sold game plan.
Q: I suck at BJJ, what is the fastest way to get better?
A: Two things will make you better at BJJ. Knowledge of the techniques and the ability to execute them. Tapes can really help in the knowledge department. For those training at home, tapes are your best way to gain knowledge. For those training at a school, tapes are a great way to round out your knowledge. Finding a capable and qualified instructor can be hard and/or impossible. With tapes, you are guaranteed to be getting instruction from the best in the business.
Now for the second half of the equation - Execution. The fastest way to get better at BJJ (or anything for that matter) is to pick one or two moves and practice them to death. Then resurrect yourself and do the moves some more. When you are completely sick of the moves, you know it is time to move on. Pick a couple more moves and repeat. Do the moves fast, slow, and with your eyes closed.
Q: I just saw an ad for "Billy Bob's Hillbilly Wraslin' Banjo Head Bustin'" tapes. I really want to get these, what do you think? (I can't wait to see how the internet foreign language translating programs deal with that question)
A: If you don't see a set reviewed on the site drop me a note at BJJ33@aol.com. I have a lot more tapes than what I have time to review. So, I might have seen a tape set that you are interested in. Never hurts to ask.
Q: How much can I really learn from tapes?
A: A lot!! You can learn how to grapple from tapes. Really. You can also make a strong argument that tapes can, in many cases, be better than many instructors. The people who make tape sets have taken the time to break the moves down and thoroughly explain then. They show close-ups of important details and often show the move in slow motion. Plus it is hard to argue that the quality of information of your local blue belt or the hordes of others who now claim to be grappling experts is superior to Mario Sperry or Murilo Bustamante instruction. This fact has been proven to me over and over again by those that buy tapes like Sperry's and are now able to submit their instructors. There is no shame in being submitted, but often the instructor is only one-step ahead of his students.
Similarly, I have had people write from most of the major BJJ instructors around the United States saying how different tape sets have improved their game. Tapes are great to solve specific problems. People often write me asking how to escape from a particular hold or how to improve their ability at something like passing the guard. Hopefully, in my reviews I have given you enough information to select tape sets that will solve specific problems for you. Tapes have a proven track record in this area.
Q: What is the best tape set on the market?
A: If I have to pick one, it would be Mario Sperry's Vale Tudo set. Read the review and you will see why.
Q: Should I buy just one or two tapes from a given tape set?
A: No, this is not a good idea. Lets' face it, tapes are not cheap. However, the least cost effective way to buy tapes is one at a time. Many companies sell the individual tapes for $59. However, the whole set of 6 or more tapes is $200. You will save over $150 getting the set. Another reason to buy the set is the fact that one tape in a set often builds on the one before it. You will regularly find the instructor saying that he will not show some move or position because he has covered it on another tape in the series. This is one reason I have avoided the temptation to review individual tapes. If I have not seen the whole tape set, I will not do a review. How can I?
Q: Which is better to learn BJJ from, books or tapes?
A: This one is easy. Tapes are far superior to books. Books are cheaper than tapes, but really are best used to help you remember moves. Only tapes can really show you how the move flows and the proper pacing. In my days in Karate, you could always tell the guy who learned a Kata from a book because he would include the "transition moves." When a Kata is taught in a book there are often photos added that try to give you an idea of how to flow from one technique to another. These photos are not showing techniques that are part of the Kata. So, when you see someone performing a Kata and you see these transition moves, you know where they learned it.
The fact is, it is very hard to show movement on a printed page. Anyone who has tried to take notes on what they have learned in a grappling class knows the difficulty of translating a simple arm lock into words. Books have their place, but if I had to pick one over the other, I would always go with the tape.
Q: Do you trade or sell tapes?
A: No. So, don't write me asking to trade or sell you tapes. However, if you want to know where you can buy a given tapes set, I will point to the company that sell it. This can be hard sometimes. Companies and www sites come go. So, it can be hard to figure out where to buy some of the older tape sets.