DVD Review-BJJ Blue Belt Requirements

I was ridiculously excited when I got BJJ Blue Belt Requirements in the mail. I have been training in no-gi submission grappling for a couple of years and find that complicated enough. Putting on a gi on adds a whole new layer of complexity. Luckily, BJJ Blue Belt Requirements is the perfect roadmap for building a solid foundation.

BJJ Blue Belt Requirements is an instructional DVD set focusing on the fundamentals of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu. It features Roy Dean, a black belt under Roy Harris who holds belts in numerous other arts including judo, aikido, Japanese jiu jitsu and Iado. (I, of course, remembered “The Art of the Tap,” his amazing article on Grapplearts, in which he described BJJ as “a dance, a sophisticated martial interplay where warriors jockey for position and leadership.” The article offers a refreshing alternative to the tough guys I’ve come across in my training.)

Within moments of viewing the DVD I immediately noticed Roy Dean’s startling clarity. His voice is clear, his instruction precise and easily understandable. After an interesting welcome, the DVD goes into positional escapes from mount, escapes from sidemount and follow-up techniques, and some high percentage sweeps. I found this section particularly useful because I weigh 135 lbs. and am almost always the smallest student in any given class. Although I have drilled my share of escapes, I have trouble with them and end up expending a lot of energy in futile attempts to gain position. Because the DVD is so clear and the technique description is so precise, it was easy to find subtle nuances I hadn’t been getting that I feel will improve my game.

The next chapter is on submissions, and the DVD was very submission-heavy indeed. There were ten chokes shown, followed by several armbar variations. Realizing that armbars do not always go according to plan, Roy Dean showed the types of resistance one is likely to encounter and how to change your submission accordingly. For example, when attempting a kimura your opponent may straighten their arm, in which case you can go into a straight armlock. The submission section ended with several leglocks (to be used with caution as a white belt.) Several guard passes, proper based and posture and common resistance were covered to complete the first of two DVDs in this set.

The second DVD in the set began with ukemi, or falling/rolling, something which Mr. Dean had to practice for 3 months when he lived in Japan. I have always had trouble with rolls and breakfalls, so an additional instructional resource is always welcome. Following ukemi, Roy Dean moved onto throws and takedowns. Next were some Brazilian Jiu Jitsu guidelines that I think many white belts would find particularly useful; unspoken rules some people pick up faster than others. And last but not least were several incredible demonstrations from blue belt tests, some amazing competition footage and some basic BJJ combinations.

There were many strengths to the DVD series. As mentioned, Roy Dean’s instruction is as clear as it gets. The production quality is superb and moves are shown several times and often from several different angles. It would be difficult to NOT understand anything demonstrated. In addition to being a stellar instructor, Roy Dean is instantly likeable. His desire to have his students and viewers “taste success as quickly as possible,” direct and channel their energy effectively and have more fun is evident. Being a beginner in anything is incredibly frustrating; Roy Dean’s advice to “continue to water the plant—if you stop now it’ll never bloom” and “just go to class” was music to my ears.

Lastly, the techniques covered are pretty basic. BJJ is a complicated art, and it is easy to get lost in countless variations. But there were no unnecessary details here. Blue Belt Requirements includes 157 minutes of instruction. At $44.95 (plus shipping), it’s a steal. The DVD set is available from http://www.roydeanacademy.com.