OK Here goes. As I stated above this is the best instructonal video I own. I'll now describe in detail why it's so good.
VALUE: Although £50 for one video may seem quite expensive, the tape lasts around 3.5 hours, which makes it very good value for money.
PRODUCTION: As stated on Steves' website, the video is simply filmed using a hand held digital video, which is more than adequate for the purpose of the tape. If anyone owns any of the Michael Jen videos, the production quality is comparable.
WATCHABILITY (is that a word?) On of the best features of Steves video is that it is immensely watchable. It is a recording of a session teaching two students (one of whom is Floyd Brown), and is informal & unscripted. Steve has a unique and enthusiastic teaching method, and the tape is entertaining to watch, and can be watched over & over. Indeed, each time I watch it, I pick up masses of new information I have previously missed. The only drawback here is that the tape is not structured into any specific order, but this is only a minor point.
CONTENT: This is the real strong point of the tape. The tape doesnÕt teach a whole host of new techniques Ð What it does teach are principles and guidelines in order to make techniques work in an NHB environment. Steve has an amazing knowledge of how the human body works and how we learn and retain motor skills, and how these principles relate to preparation and training for NHB. I have a First Class honours degree in Sport Science from Loughborough Uni, but my knowledge of topics such as Sport Pychology; biomechanics; conditioning; and skill acquisition pales in comparison to Steve Morris. No one else out there is aware of most of these factors, let alone teaching them. There literally is a life-times worth of study on this tape for the stand-up aspect of NHB. Here are some of the main things I have picked up from his tape (so far):
Stance: How to develop a stance which facilitates offence & defence, both in relation to striking & grappling.
Alignment: How to align your stance to your opponent in a way that maximizes your offensive & defensive capabilities, and minimises your opponents.
Steps: A variety of steps to achieve different objectives such as shooting/penetrating; attacking; defending; sprawling; hitting whilst retreating, and many more.
Modification of techniques: The importance of modifying techniques from Muay Thai, BJJ; wrestling etc. so they are tactical and applicable in the context of an NHB fight. One example he gives is when Nick Nutter tried to perform a classic freestyle double-leg takedown on Igor, and ran straight into a knee which knocked him unconscious.
RED Zone: How to develop awareness of the area & time when you are vulnerable to attack form your opponent.
Striking Power: The mechanics of effective striking. He also covers at least ten individual principles of developing impact and power in your shots. I could punch and kick pretty hard before, but I have probably increased my striking power by around 20-30% in the three months I have had the tapes.
Entries: How to enter safely for takedowns; how to close the distance quickly & cover entries to prevent getting hit in ÔRed ZoneÕ when you enter.
Training & Practice Methods: How to train and practice skills properly, including entering into the appropriate state of mind, and developing clear impressions of the intent of different techniques.
I have trained/attended seminars with many excellent, world-class individuals including Eric Paulson; Vernon White; Marco Ruass & Rick Young. However, I would rate Steve Morris as the most impressive, and this video is a reflection of that. In short, if you can, Get it!
Al S
