Chuck Liddell and Scott Adams: Hybrid Freestyle
Tapes 1 - 4
Title:
Hybrid Freestyle
Instructors: Chuck Liddell and
Scott Adams
Price: $29.95 each or all seven videos for $159.95
Island Home Video offer - 5 tapes for $99
Available from:
Island
Entertainment Group/Island Home Video
P.O. Box 3166, Laguna Hills, CA 92654
Phone (USA) 1 800 599 9512
Phone (International) 1 949 366 1509
Fax: 1 949 369 0576
email: IslandVid@aol.com
Island
Home Video
Island Home Video are relative newcomers to the instructional video tape
market (1999) but have quickly established themselves as an important
source of vale for money mixed martial arts instruction. Their tapes feature
both established fighters and new up-and-comers including such names as
UFC champion Tito Ortiz, UFC/IFC veterans Chuck Lidell & Scott Adams,
Chris Brennan, Shonie Carter, Chad Saunders and five times world Brazilian
Jiu Jitsu champion Kazeka Muniz.
Chuck
Liddell and Scott Adams
Born on December 17th 1969 and hailing from San Luis Obispo California,
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell is the chief instructor at
SLO kickboxing. A renowned knockout merchant, he is ranked among the
top five Light Heavyweight mixed martial artists in the world and is a
veteran of Pride, IFC Warrior's Challenge and the UFC.
Liddell began his journey in martial arts at the age of 12 with Koei-Kan
Karate, a style in which he is graded a black belt and holds a national
title, but it was in his Sophomore year at San Marcos High School that
he discovered wrestling. Chuck's wrestling career continued at Cal Poly
University where he was a starter for four years in their Division 1 wrestling
program. He was also a Freestyle Wrestling California Sate Champion. After
University Liddell continued his martial arts training learning kickboxing
from former world-class professional kickboxer John "The Train" Hackleman.
Under John's tutelage Chuck went on to become a North America National
Champion and also earned titles in the International Kickboxing Federation,
World Kickboxing Association, and the Muay Thai Association.
Chuck's Ultimate Fighting Championship debut came in May of 1998 at UFC
17 where he took a unanimous decision over Noe Hernandez in an alternate
bout. Three months later in Brazil he won once again by unanimous decision
at IVC 6, this time against the world number one ranked Vale Tudo fighter
at 170 lbs Jose "Pele" Jones.
Liddell made his return to the Octogon at UFC 19 where he suffered a disappointing
loss to Jeremy Horn by arm triangle choke. Chuck followed up this loss
with a win over Paul Jones by TKO at 3:35 in UFC 22 and a win by KO (kick
to the head) over Steve Heath in IFC Warrior's Challenge 9.
"The Iceman" has since clocked up impressive wins over big name fighters
Jeff Monson, Kevin Randleman and Guy Mezger (the last two by KO) and looks
set make a lasting impression on the world of mixed martial arts.
Scott Adams is the submission grappling instructor at
SLO Kickboxing where he has co-coached his submission fighting team
to tournament champions in many grappling competitions including the Sacramento
Grappling Tournament and WSW.
Scott developed his wrestling skills at Cal Poly University on a wrestling
scholarship where he competed for five years and won the sate championship
in Division 1.
Renowned for his submission skills, particularly his leglocks, Scott Adams
has amassed a 6-0 record in mixed martial arts competition including winning
the Warrior's Challenge Heavyweight Tournament, in Jackson, CA. In March
2000 Scott fought in UFC 24 where he disposed of Ian Freeman by heelhook
in the first round.
Tapes: Production values
Shot at Slo Kickboxing
in San Luis Obispo California in a fully matted room (tape 1-3) and a
ring (tape 4) these tapes feature good picture and sound quality. Directed
and produced by Bruce Borden they are not quite up to the standard of
Paul Vielie's World Martial Arts tapes but are far superior to many of
the tapes out there shot on camcorders and similar equipment.
The tapes are shot on a single camera at around eye level with Chuck and
Scott showing the moves from different angles by turning around. Cuts
are of a quick "mix" style. There are no slow motion replays. Some of
the tapes end with camcorder footage of fights from IFC Warrior's Challenge
and Neutral Grounds featuring Scott Adams and Chuck Liddell.
Tape 1: NHB Takedowns
Running time: approx 42mins
As the title suggests, Chuck Liddell and Scott Adams take the viewer through
a selection of their favourite takedowns and related material.
After a quick introduction we get straight in to the techniques, a pace
that continues throughout the tape.
Areas covered:
-
Swing single
-
Limp arm to counter a wizzer
-
Duck between legs finish to swing single
-
Head between legs double
-
High level "fat man" double
-
Low single
-
Twisting takedown from underhook
-
Snapdown from underhook
-
Double leg and avoiding the guillotine
-
Bodylock takedowns
-
Pick up against a knee strike
-
Duckunder to bodylock
-
Lifting throw from behind + leg lace counter + breaking grip counter
-
Valley drop + kneebar counter
-
Rolling kneebar
-
Sprawl
-
Single leg defence
-
Crossface
-
Snatch single + dump finish
-
Single from low tie up
-
Whip over
-
Crucifix
-
Takedowns against striker drill
As
you can see from the above list there is a HUGH number of techniques crammed
onto this tape. However, to achieve this there is very little detail covered.
Much the same as the Tito Ortiz takedown video (also by Island Home Video)
the techniques featured in this tape are mostly leg tackles from folkstyle/freestyle
wrestling with the occasional adaptation for MMA. As there is very little
reference to striking and submissions as set ups or counters I don't think
this tape warrants its "NHB Takedowns" title.
Liddell and Adams are clearly both experienced grapplers and demonstrate
the techniques well but the moves are covered very quickly with too little
instruction. The fighters essentially take it in turns to show moves with
Scott being far the more articulate and comfortable in front of the camera.
Chuck Liddell is a great competitor but his teaching skills on this tape
are sadly lacking.
I wanted to like this tape but there are just too many faults with it.
One of my main complaints is that after the moves have been talked through
they aren't demonstrated at full speed, which is a BIG mistake in my opinion.
Add to this the scarcity of detail, absence of set ups, total lack of
flow and you end up with a real disappointment.
In my opinion most the techniques on this tape are workable but I can't
figure out who it would be for because a wrestler would know 90% of it
already and a non-wrestler wouldn't be able to pick up enough information
to perform the techniques properly.
Obviously it's still better than the rubbish put out by many companies,
and maybe it'll be of entertainment value to fans of Chuck and Scott,
but if you want takedowns go buy something like the USA Wrestling Syllabus.
Rating: 5/10
Tape 2: NHB Leglocks
Running time: 50mins approx
In this tape Scott Adams takes over the instruction to teach a variety
of leglocks and counters
Areas covered:
-
Elbow pressure guard break
-
Achilles lock from guard (top) + two entries
-
"re-setting" achilles lock into heelhook
-
Rolling with a heelhook
-
Kneebar from guard (top)
-
Kneebar from half guard (top)
-
Freeing kneebar when opponent crosses ankles
-
Heelhook when kneebar from half guard is blocked
-
Kneebar from half guard (bottom)
-
Heelhook or achilles lock from half guard (bottom)
-
Heelhook from mount (bottom)
-
Kneebar when opponent has back
-
"whip over lock" from guard (top)
-
Countering the achilles lock
-
Countering the heelhook
-
Drilling escapes
-
Kneebar drill
Scott
Adams is 6 - 0 in Mixed Martial Arts, with most (all?) of his wins coming
by leglock (IFC WC 4 and UFC 24) so he certainly knows how to apply these
submissions under pressure.
Adams instruction on this tape is excellent, he is clearly both knowledgeable
and enthusiastic about the subject. Each technique is covered carefully,
explaining the mechanics and important details of applying the holds that
are often missed. In addition, attention is paid to flow and chaining
moves, with comments on dealing with your opponent's reactions and various
counters (and counter-counters) shown.
All the techniques on this tape are very effective with none of the more
exotic or lower percentage moves that appear on some other tapes. As this
is an "NHB Leglocks" tape there is some mention of strikes and how get
the submission without sustaining punishment.
I would have liked to see some information on how to chain these submissions
with other techniques such as armlocks, sweeps and escapes but that's
not really a reflection on the great material presented on this tape.
The video ends with some camcorder footage of Adams winning a vale tudo
bout with a nice kneebar from the half guard (as taught on the tape).
As a single tape introduction to leglocks for MMA it'll be hard to beat
this production. For more variations and ideas I like Erik Paulson's Killer
Leglocks series but I suggest you get this video first.
Highly recommended
Rating: 9/10
Tape 3: Submissions from Various Positions
Running time: 42mins
On this tape Liddell and Adams show a mixed collection of submissions
and positional movements.
Areas covered:
-
Head behind clinch + a takedown
-
Roll to inserting hooks from back + choke
-
Spiral ride + inserting hooks
-
Leg riding and breakdowns
-
Blocking and escaping hooks + defending choke + turning to guard
-
Ankle lock when opponent's hooks are crossed
-
Shinlock
-
Mount escape: foot lift and knee push to half guard
-
Mount escape variation
-
Armbar entry from guard: keylock
-
Kimura to armbar from guard
-
Rear naked choke to armbar
-
Kimura + guillotine + chest to chest attack from guard
-
Side choke from mount
-
Further nelson + neck crank from side position
-
Keylock from scarfhold
-
Spine lock from scarfhold
-
Armbar against leg shot
-
Armbar from back mount
-
Kneebar to toehold
-
Leglock from kneebar when ankles are crossed
-
Sitting guard attacks: elevator sweep, rolling sweep, sit out, bodylock
There
are many good techniques on this tape but often the details aren't covered
and there is a complete lack of organisation to the material. While one
or two moves are sometimes shown in combination, the video jumps back
and forth between different positions and situations with no attempt at
providing overall flow or structure.
As with the first tape, both Liddell and Adams teach techniques with Adams
once again being by far the clearer of the two.
Despite the jumbled nature of this tape the techniques covered on it are
effective. Certainly not a product for beginners, intermediate mixed martial
artists with a grasp of the basic should still find much of it useful.
The tape ends with camcorder footage of Scott Adams winning two fights
quickly by kneebar and heelhook respectively.
Rating: 6/10
Tape 4: Vale Tudo
Running time: 45mins approx.
The fourth tape in the Hybrid Freestyle video series features an assortment
of striking techniques, tactics and training methods for mixed martial
art competition.
Areas covered:
-
Muay Thai clinch + knees and elbows
-
Countering Thai clinch
-
Kneeing a shooting opponent
-
Striking off a pummel
-
Striking from a high bodylock
-
Kicks for MMA
-
Striking from guard (top)
-
Striking from guard (bottom)
-
Striking from side position
-
Striking from mount
-
Defence when mounted
-
Vale Tudo half guard
-
Drilling ground and pound
-
Focus mitt training on ground
-
Kneeing a turtled opponent
-
Countering kicks
-
Off balancing opponent for a low Thai kick
-
Focus mitt training
-
Muay Thai pad training
-
Escaping from against cage/ropes
-
Getting back to feet against cage/ropes
-
Snatch double leg against ropes
-
Controlling opponent against cage
This
video features an unusual mix of attacks, defences, tips and training
methods for both standing striking and ground and pound. In much the same
way as Scott took over the teaching on his specialty of leglocks, Chuck
is the main instructor when it comes to striking.
As with previous tapes in the series, all the techniques shown are effective
but the instruction is let down by a lack of structure, flow and detailed
explanation. In addition, the striking isn't combined with submissions
and this tape simply tries to cover too much ground. A tape just on stand
up striking mixed with stand up grappling, or just ground and pound chained
with submissions, would have been much better in my opinion.
One advantage of this tape is that much of the material, in particular
the striking on the ground and techniques using the cage, is hard to find
in video instruction. However, the stand up striking techniques shown
are very basic with little or no instruction on how to perform them and
most of the ground and pound techniques could be picked up from watching
any recent UFC event.
One section I really liked was Albert Malatanban using the focus mitts
and Muay Thai pads. Albert is an advanced striking instructor at
SLO Kickboxing and trains Chuck Liddell in preparation for his fights.
Here he explains pad positioning for different strikes and demonstrates
a stack of combinations he uses with Chuck explaining why they do them.
Good stuff.
I found this an enjoyable and interesting tape because Chuck is one of
the best strikers in MMA but if you've done rudimentary striking training
and watched some MMA bouts none of it should really be new to you (and
if you don't know your striking there isn't the detail here to teach it
to you).
The instruction on this tape only lasts 35mins with the rest of the running
time made up of footage from three fights. The first features Chuck Liddell
circling around the ring repeatedly landing kicks on his opponent before
knocking him out with a beautiful kick to the head. The last two fights
occur in a cage showing Scott Adams winning by kneebar and Liddell by
rear naked choke.
Rating: 6/10
Links
-
SFUK Vision - Levo's MMA photo site
-
Leicester Shootfighters - Levo's club
