Tim Cartmell’s "Ground Proofing" DVD review

Tim Cartmell has a very good reputation as a BJJ instructor based in California. He teaches BJJ at Ace Jiu Jitsu and is a BJJ 2^nd degree blackbelt under Cleber Luciano.

Unbeknownst to most BJJer’s Tim has an impressive background in Chinese Martial arts starting out with Kung Fu San Soo and then training predominantly in the Internal arts (Bagua, Xing Yi and Tai Chi) which he learnt when training in Taiwan for 10 yrs or so training under such masters as Hsu Chen Wang, Xu Hon Ji, Lin Ah Lung and Gao Liu De. Tim has also studied Sun Style Tai Chi under Sun Lu Tang’s daughter, in Beijing.

What this “Ground Proofing” dvd aims to do is not turn the viewer into a BJJ master overnight. It aims to give some basic ground training to those people who are mainly stand up “strikers” so they have some kind of defence if taken down in a fight.

It begins with some basic theory and then shows how to break-fall backwards, to the side and forwards. Tim’s students then demonstrate this from different positions.

Following on from this Tim explains the basic ground position and exercises such as the circle rock and scissor kick. There are then a few more different drills (demonstrated by his students) using pads and Tim shows how to get up from the ground correctly.

Tim also covers escapes from the most common positions on the ground such as guard, side control and top mount.

This is an excellent DVD that gives those of us with no ground experience somewhere to start from to enable us to deal with being taken down and have some skills to deal with this and get back on to our feet. The information given is top notch and it is possible to  improve these skills by practicing them solo and with a partner.

Included on the disc is footage of TC sparring with his students (some of his takedowns and sweeps are just amazing) and some BJJ footage as well.

This is an excellent DVD and is a highly recommended purchase.

Tim also has another DVD available called “Standing Grappling” and I will review this at a later date.

Format: DVD

Run Time: 60mins

Cost: $39.95

Available from: www.shenwu.com

DVD Trailer:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HqNTbySfSD0

 

Lau Gar Kuen DVD review - Sifu Jim Uglow

Lau Gar Kuen DVD review - Sifu Jim Uglow

Sifu Jim Uglow is founder of the Essex Hung Kuen Association (now the  Hung Kuen Kung Fu Association UK). He learnt Hung Kuen from a friend in the UK but was advised that if he wanted to improve his skill he had better go to Hong Kong and learn from the source. The source in this case was Master Chan Hon Chung student of Lam Sai wing and a famous Dit Da practitioner in Hong Kong. Master Chan was featured in the 1980's BBC tv series "Way Of The Warrior".

This dvd teaches the Lau Gar Kuen (Lau Family Fist) form that is not related the UK Lau Gar Kung Fu system devised by Jeremy Yau. This form is from the Chan Hon Chung branch of Hung Kuen. The other different Hung Ga branches versions of LGK are similar but each 

do have their own “flavour.”

The form is demonstrated from the front and side aspects and then is broken down and performed slowly. Also detail is given with regard to the correct stances required to play the form correctly.

After this has been done some applications of the techniques from the form are shown by Sifu Jim and his students. I also like the inclusion of some of the “dook sau” or Poison Hand techniques found in this form.

This is a dvd transfer from an old VHS tape but the information on the disc is excellent and it does show why Sifu Jim is so respected in the CMA community.

For Hung Kuen practitioners or any kung fu enthusiasts this dvd is highly recommended.

Format: DVD

Run time: 60mins

Cost: £12.50

Available from: www.shaolin.co.uk

A good Chow Gar SPM lesson tonight. Started off with double grinding arms followed lots of conditioning - saam sing, bic boy, gau chois, tuk jeurng. Also did some hay gung and dip gwut gung followed by rib and collarbone conditioning (my floating ribs are a bit sore!). Went through the form Nip Kui (catching hands) and some of it's applications. Finished on some basic Kali knifework.

This followed a good session last week where I went through the form Say Bun Gen Sau, chy sau (single and double) and was shown the Nip Kui form. This was then followed by soc sau chong and then had some fun hitting the pads using gau chois. Ended on some doy chong and the batt doon kui sau drill and elbow drill to finish.

All in all a good couple of weeks of private lessons that I really enjoyed and that left me aching the next day (or two).