Reviews posted on the Underground Forum (mma.tv)

From: tarado4
Date: 26-Nov-03 12:55 PM
Member Since: 21-Jun-02
177 Total Posts

got my copy of Dynamic Kneebars from Grapplearts.com I had previously seen the omo-plata vids and yoga for martial arts. I think this DVD is the best one yet. Why is it the best? The production values are better than the earlier omo-plata tapes which were somewhat uneven in lighting. The material is presented in a logical, systematic manner,..which is what I feel is the strength of all of the DVD's from Grapplearts.
The DVD covers the mechanics of the kneebar (how to make it as tight and efficient as possible), varaitions, has clips from competition where the entries are deomonstrated working in competition and ,..the BEST part,..the entries and setups.

This is advanced stuff. Some stuff that I only have seen once before,..when I was caught in them and tapped to the kneebars in training. I have been to seminars with Oleg Taktarov and Eric Paulsen,..and this stuff was new to me.

Check it out. Mark Mullen
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From: zugec
Date: 28-Nov-03 11:51 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
50 Total Posts

I also have a copy of this dvd and it is everything Tarado4 says it is. I also train with Erik Paulson, which means I have had a lot of ecperience with leg locks and I still find the information on these tapes very valuable. I think it is the detailed explanations that have added to my game, understanding the small adjustments can make or break a technique.
These tapes are a must have, Adam
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From: CBK
Date: 28-Nov-03 08:44 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
373 Total Posts

I am anxiously awaiting for my DVD to arrive. I have purchased Stephan's other instructionals and they have been great so I am confident that this DVD will be the same or better!
Mike
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From: leggo
Date: 29-Nov-03 01:16 PM
Member Since: 24-Sep-02
36 Total Posts

well done stephan. this is an excellent compliment to the existing material out there. the information is organized and very detailed. as torado said, you will find new material here that you havn't seen before. i am a blue belt with marcus soares and have trained with stephan quite a bit as well as being a tape fanatic. i have been attacking and defending legs for over 5 years. that being said, stephan is an excellent instructer, he doesn't hold back on this dvd and that he is always researching and developing . where do you see counters and recounter? you will be going into kneebar from everywhere and finishing them!
again, well done steph

todd
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From: exjudoka
Date: 29-Nov-03 07:04 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
444 Total Posts

Just to clarify, all the reviewers above have met me and trained with me - that is how they got the DVD so quickly! These are kind words by gentlemen grapplers, but they are not completely unbiased.
A LOT of orders have gone out in the last week, so although Thanksgiving will slow down the mail somewhat, hopefully you'll get some 'unbiased' reviews soon.

Stephan Kesting www.grapplearts.com
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From: GrdStorm
Date: 29-Nov-03 07:25 PM
Member Since: 17-Aug-02
14 Total Posts

Does your Kneebar dvd (and omoplata/dynamic guard) dvd focus on no gi or gi grappling?
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From: Adam Singer
Date: 29-Nov-03 09:15 PM
Member Since: 17-Mar-02
626 Total Posts

I have just purchased. Adam
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From: exjudoka
Date: 29-Nov-03 09:56 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
446 Total Posts

GrdStorm - For 80 to 90% of the material in the Omo Plata videos and 95% of the kneebar video material you do not need a gi. The few variations that do require a gi are clearly identified. The competition footage on the tapes used to illustrate the techniques is a mix of gi and no-gi competition.
Stephan Kesting www.grapplearts.com
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From: whtblt4ever
Date: 30-Nov-03 07:46 PM
Member Since: 09-Jan-03
164 Total Posts

I just saw the combined video sale and ordered all of the DVD. Great price for a great product(from what I hear!)
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From: On the Mat
Date: 01-Dec-03 04:27 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
808 Total Posts

on sale now at www.onthemat.com
scotty
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From: migel
Date: 01-Dec-03 06:04 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
522 Total Posts

mine is on the way... right scotty? ;)
Miguel
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From: exjudoka
Date: 01-Dec-03 07:12 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
448 Total Posts

Miguel - I sent you your DVD yesterday, on Scotty's behalf. Hope you learn lots from it.
Stephan Kesting www.grapplearts.com
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From: migel
Date: 01-Dec-03 08:00 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
523 Total Posts

thanks man!
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From: exjudoka
Date: 02-Dec-03 03:19 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
450 Total Posts

ttt
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From: LowOtis
Date: 03-Dec-03 03:56 PM
Member Since: 02-Jun-02
118 Total Posts

I got the DVD in my hand and will let you know what I think. I think that if it anything like the omo-plata tapes, It will be good.

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From: Dogfight
Date: 04-Dec-03 12:16 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
543 Total Posts

I got mine - Dynamic Kneebars is an awesome DVD. It is actually better than Steph's omoplata video, which imo (and that of many others) was one of the best instructional videos out there. A good overview of Kneebar basics, followed by a great breakdown on entries to the kneebar, including some that are downright devious. I like the way steph shows the underlying principles for the various entries, so that you can develop your own entries.
But for my money, the best section of the DVD is counters and re-counters. I had almost given up on throwing kneebars - guys in class would counter my attempt, and then I was in a worse position. Steph has put together a great section on what the common counters are, and then how to defeat them. Great, applicable stuff that has made my kneebar attacks much more dangerous.

Great material. I would prefer if none of you buy it.
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From: Dogfight
Date: 05-Dec-03 01:12 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
548 Total Posts

ttt
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From: Mike Yelsik
Date: 05-Dec-03 02:50 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
493 Total Posts

ttt
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From: NHBRookie
Date: 05-Dec-03 03:24 PM
Member Since: 07-May-02
828 Total Posts

YESSS!!! My lovely wife just put the order through the other day. I'll have to get her something xtra special for xmas.
P.S. I can't imagine this set being better than his Omoplata series.
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From: tarado4
Date: 06-Dec-03 04:48 PM
Member Since: 21-Jun-02
192 Total Posts

For my money, the entries section of the DVD is best. The other nite in class i was doing some knee bars from half-guard. You should have seen the looks on the guys faces when I spun around and took the knee!
Cost of gi. $180

Cost of one month jiu-jitsu. $70.

Cost of Kneebars DVD. $40

Look on dude's face when I spin into kneebar from half Guard. PRICELESS.
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From: zugec
Date: 07-Dec-03 01:25 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
51 Total Posts

I just watched my dvd and it's great! Wicked value for the quality, and the instruction is very detailed. I've been a purple for two years and this dvd cleared up some of my small mistakes I have been making.
What other dvd's are in the making??

zu
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From: S.Mac
Date: 07-Dec-03 07:42 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
78 Total Posts

ttt
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From: migel
Date: 08-Dec-03 12:26 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
534 Total Posts

tarado4, was it back spin or foward spin?
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From: tarado4
Date: 08-Dec-03 12:36 AM
Member Since: 21-Jun-02
195 Total Posts

Back spin,..I felt like I was Sakuraba!
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From: easternfighter
Date: 09-Dec-03 04:13 AM
Member Since: 19-Apr-02
177 Total Posts

I finally get my DVD from Stephan. I have to say it is great product. I found there many new details, tips and trick how to make my kneebars much more tighter and destructive. I really think he puts a lot of research and effort in to his product and it´s definitely showed! I highly recommend this DVD to anybody without skill level.......awesome production, with logical progression and easy to follow chapters!
Keep up a great work Stephan,

Radek Sefcik /Slovakia/

www.jkd.sk
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From: Dogfight
Date: 09-Dec-03 01:04 PM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
552 Total Posts

Hey, tarado4, here is my half-guard kneebar story:
Me - forward spin to kneebar, bail, roll back over top to half guard again, then back spin into a secure kneebar.

My training partner - "you and that goddamn kneebar video! I have to get a copy!"
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From: GZFS
Date: 10-Dec-03 08:41 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
86 Total Posts

Two words for Stephan....THANK YOU!
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From: ottumwa
Date: 10-Dec-03 09:49 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
304 Total Posts

I have Stephan's Oma Plata tapes. They are in a league of their own (and I have seen a ton of instructionals). The information on these tapes is applicable to No Gi wrestling (I train strictly no-gi.) There is only a few moves that Stephan says would be easier to do if your partner had a gi on. In the videos, Stephan is wearing shorts and t-shirt.
Doug
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From: tarado4
Date: 10-Dec-03 06:38 PM
Member Since: 21-Jun-02
200 Total Posts

Dogfight,..I'll bet with that freaky flexibility of yours that you can get that kneebar from open guard.
My 35 year old back will have none of it!

Let me state for the record here and now that my next request for a DVD from Grapplearts is for training drills and fight conditioning. Every few days there is a question on this forum about drills. I know that Stephan has some far out stuff.

How about it Stephan? ,..I know that you have been in the laboratory late at nite concocting some new stuff.
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From: exjudoka
Date: 11-Dec-03 12:38 AM
Member Since: 01-Jan-01
470 Total Posts

I have a couple of projects on the go, but they are at that all-important scripting stage. There is a lot of material that I want to share, but I won't do it until I have an underlying structure/strategy/principle that I can articulate. For example, I have been working on my butterfly guard game a lot for the last 2 years, and it is really working for me, but until I find a way to present it that is a) effective and easy to understand, and b) different from what is already out there, I'm not going to teach the subject on video.
Stephan Kesting www.grapplearts.com