Review of Ultimate Fighting Systems “Mastering the Danger Zone” From www.ultimatefightingsystems.com This was a difficult set to review.
It’s an excellent set of DVDs, quality was not the problem. The problem was there are so many techniques presented by BJJ Black Belt and Muay Thai master Geoff Aitken that putting together a coherent review took a lot longer than any other set I’ve ever looked at.
The series looks at getting through the mid range striking zone safely and into the clinch or a takedown without having to damage on the way in. You might be thinking at this point, ‘big deal, that’s been done before’. Not like this it hasn’t. Aitken manages to pack an incredible amount of detail into each technique. I was relieved that the DVDs have sub-titles, as even though the sound quality is good you will find yourself rewinding again and again to pick up the extra details.
Most DVD sets I’ve reviewed so far tend to contain “fluff” and a fair bit of repetition. Aitken doesn’t do any of that. He trusts that any technique you want to review more than once can be re watched, so instead of the normal ten or so techniques you get in a six disc set Aitken crams more that 100 into his set, more if you count the extras he includes.
I’ve broken down the contents of each disc as follows:
Disc 1: Aitken covers the basics of fighting stance, posture and movement. He also goes into the basics of finding your range; vital for any MMA fighter, but by far the most important is the section on structural covers. As with all of the Mastering the Danger Zone DVDs this could have been a product by itself. There’s certainly enough material. Even if you’re a high level striker there is plenty on here to keep you occupied.
Disc 2: The second disc takes us through evasive footwork and it’s by far the most detailed product on footwork as applies to MMA I’ve seen to far. Most producers of MMA DVDs want to give us the candy of offensive moves straight away, but Aitken goes to the trouble of giving you the footwork and bio mechanics to back up your shiny new combos. There is a move on here Aitken calls a switch angular step. If you’ve never seen it before it’s going to change the way you fight forever.
Disc 3: This was my favourite disc. It covers the Thai boxing clinch and wrestlers tie up in detail, but it coves them both from an MMA perspective. My big problem with using the Thai clinch has always been being left vulnerable to takedowns and uppercuts (those little five ounce gloves don’t leave any margin for error). If you’re into Anderson Silva’s fighting style then this is well worth your time. As with all the DVDs Aitken provides plenty of detail for every move and I would recommend investing in a decent note book to take down details as you go.
Disc 4: This one took me a couple of viewings to get through properly. Aitken takes viewers over forcing your opponent out of position. There’s also an in depth look at feints and set ups to sucker your opponent into your waiting trap. Disc 5: Somehow Aitken got two DVDs worth of stuff onto this one disc. On disc one he went over the basics of defensive structures and how to use them. This DVD takes us in depth on using those defensive covers to set up striking attacks. Aitken also does a COMPLETE look at arm drags and clinching in order to take the back of your opponent.
Disc 6: If you’ve ever been punched on the way into a takedown then this is your disc. Aitken covers multiple set ups and MMA specific entries for the high single, low single and double leg. I use the double leg the most so that was my favourite part of this disc. It’s worth mentioning that most of the techniques are MMA only, if you tried some of these in a wrestling competition you’d be banned for life!
Bonus material: This is another disc that could almost have stood on its own. Aitken put in a good section on catching your opponent’s leg and making him pay for even thinking of kicking you.
Then there’s the street fighting stuff.
If you want to use some of the moves Aitken describes in his street fighting section you had better be certain that your life is in danger otherwise you are going to get a visit from the police asking why you maimed someone. It’s great fun to watch and the moves are absolutely hair raising at times, but this is strictly serious self defence only.
Finally Aitken as left an unassuming audio CD at the back labelled “Presenting yourself as a threat to an assailant”. It’s only 20 minutes long but it’s one of the best resources out there on psychological preparation and response to external threats. It should be mandatory listening for anyone training for self defence. That Aitken throws it away as a free bonus on this set gives you an idea on just how much material he’s packed in to Mastering The Danger Zone. It does have some moments of background static but nothing that takes away from the material presented.
The set isn’t perfect (though it’s close); there are some sound issues with background noise from traffic, although Aitken makes sure that all of his points are covered and he backs it up in the subtitles. The lighting changes significantly at times but again nothing that takes away from the material being presented.
This is worth your investment. It’s a complete, intense exploration of the most neglected aspect of MMA training. I have already mentioned that most of these DVDs could have been released as single products, but the set as a whole ties together technique, concept and action in a way that makes it greater than the sum of its parts.
Awesome techniques, valuable bonus material and absolutely zero “fluff”. Go get it.
Available, along with some worthwhile freebies at www.ultimatefightingsystems.com
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