Radical Guard Vol 1 with Joao Crus - DVD review

Radical Guard Volume 1 with Joao Crus – DVD review

Joao Crus first tasted martial arts success in the karate arena back in Brazil before getting the jiu jitsu bug and prior to arriving in the United States, Joao earned his blue belt under Leonardo Castello Branco in Rio de Janeiro. In 2004, met Carlson Gracie in United States and Carlson invited him to have a class with him, after seeing Joao’s technique and skills on the mat Carlson Gracie awarded him his purple belt. Joao was given his teacher certification for Brazilian Jiu Jitsu by Carlson after demonstrating his ability to share the art and technique of BJJ. Joao was awarded his brown belt by Master Ricardo De La Riva in March 2006 and recently was awarded his black belt by Marcelo C. Monteiro in September 2007.

In 2007, Joao founded the Texas Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Federation, an affiliation of Jiu-Jitsu schools across Texas promoting the sport of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. In addition to setting up this Association, Joao has competed in a number of events, including:-

2nd place Int Masters Tournament, Rio, 2008
3rd place Int Masters and Seniors Tournament, Rio, 2006
3rd place Int Masters and Seniors Tournament, Rio, 2005
1st place Relson Gracie Open, 2003, Austin, Texas

Joao has now released a number of DVD’s covering the guard, DLR guard, basics and jiu jitsu for kids; the Radical Guard Volume 1 contains sixteen chapters and starts from a lapel wrap over the arm. From this position a number of chokes, sweeps and submissions are covered, all starting from the same position.

From there, Joao demonstrates a defence from the underhooks guard pass, which uses the same side lapel as shown in the first few chapters and from there Joao showcases a number of guard pass defences and open guard techniques from set positions.

Included in the DVD are a number of chapters covering triangles and omaplatas from a set position, which I found very easy to apply and very easy to teach to my students. The DVD rounds off with a number of moves when the opponent defends a guard attack, with sweeps and leg locks on offer and a number of ways of flattening your opponent when they defend an omaplata attack.

Overall, a very good instructional DVD, with easy to use techniques, all explained in a clear and detailed manner, no unnecessary padding out of each technique with multiple replays time and time again.

The DVD retails at $29 and is available from www.joaocrusbjj.com