So I'm watching Roy Dean's purple belt videos and I have to say...Roy's videos should be the STANDARD when it comes to beginners learning BJJ. I have bought thousands of dollars worth of instructional videos over the years and one of the big problems I have always had is that they seem to throw out a million things without any sequence or connection that allows a person to really put all of the material together. Some of the earlier instructionals will teach you 15 techniques for passing the closed guard but you get lost in the amount of material and how to really implement it into your BJJ. Also, some techniques are shown a lot of times without regard to the viewers skill level or in a manner that helps the viewer learn the "why" behind the technique. Roy's system of requirements at each belt level is absolutely the way things should be done. If every BJJ student had his videos and watched them through, practicing what they watched, I have no doubt they would learn and become proficient at such a higher rate. His blue belt videos set such a very solid foundation on which a BJJ white/blue belt can have a standard from to grow and build upon. His purple belt videos then take it to another level, building into even more of a blend of conceptual vs technique that anybody can use at almost any level of learning. As a purple belt myself there is not much in his videos I haven't seen technique wise, but they way he tries to instill the thinking aspect of BJJ is really good. Roy shows you that you need to learn to chain things together and he does an excellent job of teaching this concept.
I hope he decides to continue in his series because I think it is definitely something that could help so many BJJ students out there. Great job Roy!
As a related note, I wish more BJJ instructors would take the Harris/Dean approach of laying out a foundation of requirements necessary for advancement to the next belt level. That doesn't mean simply learn to demonstrate these techniques and you can move up, but more like showing you what is expected as a base of knowledge to work on and try to master at that stage in your training before you advance. So many BJJ instructors out there simply show techniques each different class and when a student is good enough for the next belt he is promoted. Even though this is how it is traditionally done I think it makes it harder for people to learn BJJ and their progress is not as quick as it could be.
Roy, if you are reading this can I ask if this is a project you plan on expanding upon in the future? Such as adding videos for brown and eventually black belts?
Joe
Cosigned
Agreed; Roy's instructionals are the best I've ever seen...
Both Dean and Harris are phenomenal instructors.
Any other recommendations for instructional DVDs or are these truly the best you've seen?
Any recommendations for tournament DVDs?
Thanks-
I believe that Roy Dean has said he'll eventually make the Brown and Black belt DVDs. IIRC, his next project is a "how to train No-Gi" DVD.
His students at his academy are a great testament to the success of his approach. They are cool, chill people who have slick BJJ that is based on well sculpted movement. I was MEGA impressed when I visited them.
agreed.
roy's disc's are really well thought out and set a wonderful foundation for bjj
the only other set i have seen that does this is mario roberto's 10 disc set. nothing fancy just basics and counters.
anybody with a white or blue should be watching these 2 sets.
I teach a beginners class and find myself re-watching these all the time.
i will definitely pick up roy's brown belt when he does it.
i also cant wait for roy's documentary style dvd to come out. that clip i saw of him training at saulo's was killer
coop
I saw some of his Bjj for blue belt requirements and I'm very impressed on the detail and high quality of the production. Very basic and shows moves from different angles and doesn't try to cram too much in so little time. I find that most bjj dvd show too much.
have you seen all the other sets?
I think I've seen them all; I've been impressed with all of them, but they do seem to be improving in quality each time.
I can't wait to see the no gi...
Another thing that Dean has going for him is he speaks very, very, clearly. He's easy to understand. Harris does too, but he's a bit too quiet and monotonous. Up until Dean started putting out videos, Harris was pretty much the top dog.
That said, he's not the only guy I look to. Guttierrez with his hyper flowing from one thing to the next style is also useful, as he actually teaches you the way you roll, rather than teaching you individual techniques outside of a specific context.
JoejitsuMD -
As a related note, I wish more BJJ instructors would take the Harris/Dean approach of laying out a foundation of requirements necessary for advancement to the next belt level. That doesn't mean simply learn to demonstrate these techniques and you can move up, but more like showing you what is expected as a base of knowledge to work on and try to master at that stage in your training before you advance.
Couldn't agree more. His and Roy Harris' materials have helped me so much in that area.
They are definitely great videos.
Question about Roy Dean: why doesn't he wear a BJJ black belt? I mean, the typical one with the red bar?
The belt he wears seems to have japanese writing on it...
anyone know the story?
I appreciate the kind words!
I am definitely planning on finishing the series with brown and black belt requirements. I produce each belt DVD as I'm actually training people for that level, so brown won't be out for another year or so.
But, I am hard at work on the No Gi Essentials DVD. Nine no gi lessons, each under 10 minutes, all of them filmed in a very up close and personal manner.
I'm trying to improve the level of production and make every DVD unique. So far, I haven't seen anything else quite like what I've done with No Gi Essentials. Here's the trailer:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iOH8Ti5zg58
CaptainWicked,
I usually wear my BJJ black belt with the red bar, but one day while filming Purple Belt Requirements I realized I left it at the Academy. I simply grabbed another belt (Seibukan Jujutsu blackbelt) and put it on for the day :-)
TTT for Roy Dean; I'm trying to convince my teacher to affiliate under him.
That's awesome that the videos are progressing out with the students; I don't know if it's the editing, but I'm always impressed at the testing vid's. I watch them fanatically and am always blown away by the technique...
Watched the trailer for no-gi essentials. Thought it looked great overall, but something was bothering me.
The arm-drags at the beginning of the video looked off to me - they seemed too lazy and loose, for lack of better words, without the proper angle.
Anyone else see this, or am I totally off base?
You're totally off base^
Anyway, The chances of me buying that DVD are about 200%. I'd move to Oregon just to train at Roy's school if I could.
Tango_MF - Watched the trailer for no-gi essentials. Thought it looked great overall, but something was bothering me.
The arm-drags at the beginning of the video looked off to me - they seemed too lazy and loose, for lack of better words, without the proper angle.
Anyone else see this, or am I totally off base?
Actually, More than likely it was due to Roy showing it in "slower exaggerated" motion so the viewer can see details in movements.. It was probably taken from the instructional portion of demoing the moves.. Roy's stuff is GREAT for visual learners, and is one reason I REALLY love his previous DVD's... He doesn't JUST talk with his mouth..he speaks through his movements as well.Just my take...