Streetwise Self Defence

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Customer reviews

review by: date: 2004-01-13 rating:
dont expect this video to turn you into bruce lee
this is a gd video with easily understood techniques but dont expect to be told how to kill a man in 1 punch this i a simple punch then kick then throw video but the moves do seem very preactical

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review by: djhagan date: 2003-12-18 rating:
No Nonsense approach to Self Defense
A brilliant self Defence video which demonstrates techniques and tactics which actually work - and the great part is they are all fairly easy to apply, so you don't have to be a budding Bruce Lee to take the big guys down! I have purchased other self Defence videos but the problem was you had to be a black belt to understand the terminology and the moves involved.

From the moment I started watching the tape I was picking up on new techniques to defend myself from open attack either by an individual or a group of persons.

This is definately a No Nonsense approach to Self Defence!

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review by: date: 2003-10-26 rating:
Very Good, it could have got a 5 star rating
The tape is excellent it shows quick, simple but effective ways of protecting yourself on the street. I've seen it before, a fight starts out between two people in a pub - one does karate moves whilst the other kicks him in the balls and then batters the sh*t out of him. The fancy martial arts like ninjitsu, kungfu, karate etc... don't work on the street as they take too long and aren't powerful. Whereas, The British-Free Fighting combat system (which is what this is) is more practical it uses striking techniques at the same time as when you are restraining people. Compared to other martial arts you have to strike and then restrain them or vice versa - the BFF way you can hit restrain and hit in half the time.
The only criticism is that it doesn't show you what you should do if you are unfortunately struck to the floor and how you should protect yourself. That is why i've given it only 4 stars.

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review by: date: 2003-09-15 rating:
A basic self-defence video
The video quality is reasonable albeit with a slightly home made feel. However, with this kind of video that is to be expected.

The video contains a series of self-defence scenarios first shown in a 'realistic' street setting and then in the gym where the movements are broken down and explained.

The general approach to self-defence is sensible. The techniques are kept simple (a must for street self-defence) and are easily followed.

My criticism of the video starts with the fact that there is little or no advice on how to avoid trouble in the first place nor does it provide strategies for assessing situations for potential trouble. Also the scenario approach is fine in itself but it gives the impression that there is only one technique for any given attack. I would have preferred to see a more generalised approach perhaps giving a series of basic techniques that could be applied in combination to meet a variety of situations. Also worthy of note is that there are no techniques for ground fighting.

All-in-all I would say this video is of some use to students of self-defence looking to add to their knowledge bank. It should be noted however that the work of people like Geoff Thompson is more detailed and ultimately more practical.


review by: date: 2002-04-29 rating:
Simple techniques - very effective!!
Have you ever asked yourself “could I deal with an attack when it really counts - on the street?” Andy Hopwood has now produced a video designed to help you answer that question in the affirmative and it’s an assured debut.

The great strength of this video is that it’s as simple and natural as the techniques he endorses and by that I mean that the structure is simple and as a result very effective. Andy takes us through a range of street scenarios and then shows us how to practice them in the gym before returning once more to the scene of the crime. This straightforward, no nonsense approach reinforces technique through repetition and the video benefits from choosing a small range of easily identifiable “classic” street attacks.

Andy himself is a fluent and confident visual narrator, whether it is walking through the streets discussing the wider principles of self defence, or in the gym breaking down the techniques with the aid of his students. As a result the narrative is clear, concise and informative, especially as it is allied to solid camera work that utilises the clearest angles. The street scenarios are excellent in that they represent situations all of are only too well aware of, (even if only as spectators) and we can therefore relate to them on a personal level. The attacks are filmed in such a way that they have the gritty air of authenticity and a number of the street scenes benefit enormously from having real (as opposed to glamour girl models) women illustrating the defences to emphasise Andy’s argument that technique rather than strength is the key.

The chosen attacks continue the vein of authenticity as they highlight swinging punches and kicks, grapples, chokes, hair grabs, and attacks with knives and pool cues. A lot of thought has gone into making the structure simple and the key to this tape, as to the real training, is repetition. The original street scene is played out (very convincingly by Andy’s students) and then taken to the gym, where it is analysed and broken down into its component parts. We then return to the street with a better understanding as the scene is replayed once more in slow motion. Finally we are taken through training drills that replicate street situations not only in technique terms, but by introducing the pressure element that helps reproduce the adrenaline charged emotions that course through the veins of a potential victim.

This is a classic example of less definitely being more and the 45 minute running time carries no excess weight, just sound advice, solid techniques and realistic scenarios, professionally produced. If nothing else, the all-too believable situations on display will get us all asking that crucial question, “could I deal with an attack when it really counts - on the street?” And that’s got to be a good thing.

This video is a product of real quality. Accessible and eminently informative, this tape will appeal to complete novice or black belt alike, and acts as a genuine introduction to practical street self defence.

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