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Water and Steel Video

Kelly Worden, Brett Jacques, Joseph Simonete

    This video was filmed in 1999 at Kelly Worden's annual Water and Steel seminar, which that year also featured instruction by Brett Jacque and Joseph Simonete.  This makes the video interesting from the start, in that it contains material from all three instructors (about a half-hour each), just like if you had been there.  The difference between this and other seminar tapes, however, is that these instructional segments are filmed as "private lessons" with the camera right in close and personal (not back in the corner of the room somewhere behind a group of spectators) so you can see all the details of what they are doing.  Technically the material is intermediate to advanced level, and comes from a wide variety of styles, both Eastern and Western.

    The tape starts off with a brief introductory segment, introducing the instructors and showing some of the people training at the Water and Steel seminar.  Even here you can pick up on some interesting techniques if you pay attention.  From what is shown, it looks like it was a great time training in the outdoors.

    The first instructional segment features Datu Kelly Worden showing some advanced techniques with the espada y daga (sword and dagger) and then showing the connections between this and the daga (dagger) and mano-mano (empty hand).  As always, Mr. Worden is expressive, humorous, and amazingly skilled as he demonstrates each sequence, "making the connection" between each of the weapon forms, and showing how conceptual technique links them all.  He is one of only three people Professor Remy Presas promoted to the rank of Datu (Chieftain) and here, as always, you see why.  One interesting thing he shows throughout this segment is the concept of either entering (going to corto) or moving out (going to largo mano) at any point in his sequence.  Base disruptions in both armed and unarmed fighting are also shown.

    Next up is Dr. Brett Jacques, a 2 time national Sambo champion, teaching his very streetwise Combat Sambo.  One amazing thing with everything he shows in this segment is that although he is a huge guy, you need hardly any strength to apply what he is showing.  One of his techniques, "The Big Stir", I guarantee will rip someone off their feet even if you are quite small, because it works against the person's own natural reflexes.  Dr. Jacques clearly explains how certain Sambo basics like the "Butterfly Position" can be used for defense against common pushes, grabs, and strikes, and lead into locks and throws.  Whether you are interested in self defense, grappling, or even the Western Medieval arts, I think you will find this segment insightful.

    The final segment is by Joseph Simonet, a Silat and Doce Pares Escrima instructor.  He demonstrates the connections between the close-range stick fighting of Doce Pares and the Silat "Tiger stick".  This style uses a stick approximately the length of your inseam and about 1.5-2.5" in diameter, and features extensive use of the sticks butt end, referred to as the Tiger's Tail.  After an initial crashing entry, Mr. Simonet demonstrates many scissors or triangular-style holds to the neck and arm with the stick (for the Western Medieval stylist these have equivalents in many of Talhoffer's plates) as well as take downs and power strikes.  Several applications of the basic hand djurus (hand sets) are also shown.  Interesting stuff from some rare martial arts.

    Afterwards, there is a cool section showing clips from the other videos that all three of these men have produced with Paladin Press, and if you want to scrounge every bit of information out of the tape then I bet you'll be rewinding this section a bunch.  I have seen Kelly Worden and Brett Jacque's tapes and will give a more detailed review later, but for now just leave it to say "just get 'em", great stuff.

    Don't miss the out-takes at the very end of the tape, either...funny as hell!

Technical Details: Color, approx. 90 min., VHS (U.S. format) only.  ISBN: 1581601255 Price: $39.95