The DVD series often includes segments on applying techniques in real-life scenarios, demonstrating how to adapt techniques to different types of attacks and situations. This practical approach helps students to better prepare for the unpredictability of real-life encounters.
A standout feature of the Gracie Combatives DVD Package Dynamic Reflex Development teaching system
. This revolutionary method is designed to build muscle memory and "street ready" reflexes by breaking down complex techniques into three structured stages: Budovideos Technical Slices
: Each lesson begins by presenting a new technique through simplified drills to ensure you understand the fundamental mechanics. Reflex Development Drills
: The new technique is then combined with another previously learned move to start building fluid transitions. Fight Simulation Drills
: Each lesson concludes by placing the technique into the context of a real fight, combining it with several other moves to simulate a natural flow under pressure. Gracie University Additional Key Features The 36 Essential Techniques
: The curriculum focuses exclusively on the 36 techniques most frequently used by the Gracie family to successfully win real-world encounters. Blue Belt Qualification
: The 13th DVD in the set provides a complete demonstration of the test required for promotion. You can actually test for your Gracie Blue Belt via video submission to Gracie University or at a certified academy. Comprehensive Material
: The complete set typically includes 13 DVDs (over 18 hours of instruction), a 65-page training handbook, and a 24"x36" poster-sized flowchart illustrating how all 36 techniques connect. Accessibility
: Unlike many other BJJ series that serve as supplements to gym training, this course is specifically produced for individuals with zero prior experience to learn effectively from home. Gracie University : The official DVD box sets have been discontinued
and are no longer being manufactured, making remaining physical copies collectible. They can still be found through resellers like included in the curriculum? Gracie Combatives 2.0 - Gracie University
The Gracie Combatives DVD is widely regarded as a benchmark for technical instruction in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ), particularly for self-defense. While highly praised for its production quality and pedagogical clarity, it has faced criticism over its historical "online blue belt" certification. Review Summary
Instruction Quality: The teaching by Rener and Ryron Gracie is described as superb, featuring an "unprecedented level of detail" that often spends 30 minutes on a single technique. gracie combatives dvd
Curriculum Focus: The set focuses on 36 essential techniques designed for "street readiness" rather than sport competition. It includes movements often overlooked in sport-centric gyms, such as headlock escapes.
Production Value: Reviewers note the high-quality production, including smooth camera transitions, overhead shots, and multiple angles that make complex movements easier to follow.
Self-Defense Philosophy: The program is praised for building confidence in beginners by focusing on high-probability street scenarios. However, some experts disagree with the philosophy that one can ignore cross-training in striking.
Controversy: The "Technical Blue Belt" once offered via video submission remains a polarizing topic in the BJJ community, with many practitioners arguing that belts should only be awarded through live sparring and in-person evaluation. Pros and Cons
Crystal-clear instruction broken down into digestible parts.
Lack of live sparring feedback if training solely from home. High production value with multiple viewing angles. Controversial history regarding online belt testing.
Excellent reference for instructors teaching beginner classes.
Marketing claims (like no need for striking) are debated by some experts. Buying Advice
The Gracie Combatives DVD series, officially discontinued in its physical format as of 2022, remains a legendary cornerstone of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) education. Originally developed for the U.S. Army, this 13-DVD set was designed to take a complete beginner from "potential victim" to "street ready" using the 36 most successful techniques in the history of the Gracie family.
While the physical box set is now primarily a collector's item or "display art", the curriculum lives on through Gracie University’s updated digital platform as Gracie Combatives 2.0. The Core Curriculum: The "Power of 36"
Out of more than 600 BJJ techniques, the Gracies identified 36 that are used more often—and with greater success—than all others combined in real street fights. The DVD set covers these across 36 lessons, including:
The Gracie Combatives DVD set is organized into specific chapters that mirror the natural progression of a fight. Here is a glimpse of what the curriculum covers: The DVD series often includes segments on applying
The Punch Defense Series (The Clinch) Most people worry about being punched. The DVD dedicates significant time to the "Trap and Roll" and the "Clinch." You will learn how to safely navigate the striking danger zone, close the distance against a standing opponent, and neutralize punches before taking the fight to the ground.
Guard Recovery and Sweeps If you fall or are knocked down, you end up in the "Guard" position (on your back with your opponent between your legs). The DVDs teach the "Survival Posture" to prevent strikes and fundamental sweeps like the "Scissor Sweep" and "Pendulum Sweep" to reverse your position so you can get on top.
The Mount and Positional Control Being on top doesn't win a fight; knowing how to stay there does. The DVDs detail the "Low Mount," "High Mount," and "S-Mount." You will learn how to use your weight distribution to smother an opponent, making it impossible for them to escape or throw effective punches.
Headlock Escapes (The Most Common Street Hold) In a street fight, untrained individuals often resort to a headlock. Gracie Combatives devotes an entire module to escaping the headlock from the ground and standing up. This alone is worth the price of the DVD, as this scenario happens in schoolyards, bars, and domestic disputes more than any other.
The Punch Block Series (Dirty Boxing) Before the fight hits the mat, you need to know how to strike defensively. The "Punch Block" is not a traditional boxing block; it is a Jiu-Jitsu specific parry that places you directly into a clinching position or a takedown setup.
What it is
Curriculum & structure
Key concepts emphasized
Typical techniques covered (examples)
Audience and suitability
Formats & availability
Pros and cons (brief)
Credibility & lineage
How to get the most from it
If you want, I can:
1. The "Dirty Dozen" Structure The course breaks down exactly how to survive the most common street scenarios: getting punched in the mount, defending against a bigger opponent in your guard, and escaping the headlock (the #1 attack in high school fights).
2. Reflex Development This isn't just a highlight reel. The Gracies invented "Reflex Development Drills." You watch a technique, then drill it with increasing resistance. By the end of lesson 3, you aren't thinking—you are reacting.
3. The "Maintain Order" Mantra Rorion Gracie constantly says, "Maintain order." This is the gold of the DVD. It teaches you to breathe, relax, and find the structural frames even when a 200lb man is on top of you. That is a lesson you can't get from a self-defense book.
Many newer apps offer "BJJ fundamentals." However, these are often filmed by purple or brown belts with varying teaching abilities. The Gracie Combatives DVD features the direct lineage of Helio Gracie. The system has been battle-tested for nearly 100 years. Furthermore, the Combatives curriculum is a closed system. It doesn't randomly add "Cool new techniques" that confuse the beginner. It focuses on the 36 essentials and repeats them relentlessly until they become instinct.
The Gracie Combatives DVD stresses the importance of live training (rolling) and drilling. It encourages students to train with partners of varying sizes and skill levels to adapt the techniques to different scenarios. The methodology emphasizes slow and controlled drilling to build muscle memory and understanding of the movements.
Before the rise of online video platforms like Gracie University, learning legitimate Jiu-Jitsu outside of a physical academy was nearly impossible. The Gracie Combatives DVD set was designed to bridge that gap. It is a home-study course certified by the official Gracie Jiu-Jitsu Academy.
The course focuses specifically on "Combatives"—the 36 most frequently occurring positions in a street fight. According to Gracie research, if you master these 36 techniques, you will be prepared for 99% of the physical confrontations you are likely to encounter.
Unlike sport BJJ, which relies on a gi (the traditional uniform) and complex point systems, Gracie Combatives is taught exclusively from a "self-defense first" perspective. The techniques are designed to work regardless of what you are wearing (shorts and a t-shirt) and assume your opponent is larger, stronger, and potentially throwing strikes.