Product Details

• Actors: Bas Rutten
• Format: Color, NTSC
• Region: Region 1 (U.S. and Canada only. Read more about DVD formats.)
  
• Number of discs: 1
• Studio: Bas Rutten
• DVD Release Date: November 6, 2003
• Run Time: 105 minutes
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (28 customer reviews)
• ASIN: B0000Y8IWS
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #18,344 in Movies & TV (See Top 100 in Movies & TV)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

58 of 65 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Self defence for a big man, January 8, 2005

By 

Seppo Vesala (Helsinki, - Finland) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Bas Rutten's "Lethal Street Fighting" Self Defense System (DVD)

The instructor in this film is Bas Rutten, former bouncer and UFC champion. This background is evident in this film, as some of the techniques presented are somewhat exotic, and not your average street realistic self defence for every man and woman -type stuff.

The film is divided in two halfs. The first half is filmed in a bar, and the techniques concentrate on standing techniques. The latter half is filmed in a boxing ring, and the techniques cover floor techniques. The film opens up with presentation of various objects found in a restaurant you can use as improvised weapon. Next, Rutten presents a correct ready posture and handles ranges of combat. After that, the film moves on to actual self defence techniques.

Most (but not all) of the techniques are quite simple, but many of them are not very universally applicable, or even very safe to perform. First of all, many of the techniques require that you lift your attacker off the floor. That might suit well for a big and strong man, but I don't see how a petite woman would pull this off to a man three times her weight. OK, it can be done, but is it reasonable to practice these kind of techniques, when you could use a different kind of technique that doesn't require as much strength. Secondly, some of the techniques can be used only in a very specific situations, and are not usable in different situations. Third, some of the techniques are risky to perform, like haymaker block, that makes you to walk straight into your opponent's fist if you use it to block a straight punch. Or a knife defence that requires you to kick your opponent's knife hand, making it very easy for your opponent to make you impale your leg into his knife. Fourth, these techniques do not present a real self defence system, rather they are a collection of separate techniques.

The best thing in this film are not the actual techniques, but principles and attitude. While the techniques are not very realistic for average man or woman with average skills, the attitude is towards surviving a street attack, rather that practicing for a competition of for overall fitness. For one thing, Rutten constantly reminds that the attacker may have friends, and some techniques are designed to take care of those extra attackers. He also advises you to look for objects you can use as weapons, if the need arises. And the overall attitude of the film is toward defending against real attack; you never forget that Rutten is speaking of real life situations instead of some techniques you can practice in dojo as a hobby.

There is quite lot of humour throughout the film, and Rutten also tells true stories where he has used these techniques (or they have been used against him); either in the octagon of in the street. I like Rutten's attitude that he does not try to convince the viewer that he knows it all, and that his way is not the only one there is. For example, he freely admits that he teaches some techniques that are pure krav maga techniques, and that for a better instruction on these techniques, you should seek a qualified krav maga instructor.

I think that this film does not present a very good self defence system. Rather, Rutten presents some interesting techniques, and handles some important principles of real life self defence. Therefore, this film serves best as an addition to your existing self defence techniques.

Run time: 1:45

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Expert Self-Defense From Bas, February 16, 2004

By 

Chester (England) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Bas Rutten's "Lethal Street Fighting" Self Defense System (DVD)

As a no-holds-barred, mixed martial arts wannabe fighter I didn't know what to expext from Bas Rutten when it came to self-defense. I thought it would be the same UFC type techniques I have seen Bas use in NHB fights just taken outside to the street. Man, was I wrong. Bas explains the difference between a fight with rules and the no rules world of street fighting. The street calls for pure savagery when your life is on the line and there are no judges around to stop the bout. You will get an eye opener as to what street fighting is all about from spraying tabasco in your attackers eyes to breaking his leg with one sharp turn of your body. Good stuff and great quality from Bas all the way. Bas is "THE MAN"!

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars VHS Review, April 1, 2004

By A Customer

This review is from: Bas Rutten's "Lethal Street Fighting" Self Defense System (DVD)

I picked up the vhs no too long ago and I must say that it was a professional production. I cannot speak to the quality of the DVD since I have not viewed it.

It is true that while he shows many useful techniques and attitudes to use in a "situation", I am not sure that a small person could use even half of them. Then again, he assuems that you are seriously training if you want real abilities. Even so, I give it a five since it is still very useful for many techniques and for understanding the type of fighters that are out there who have no problem beating you up for "giving them the eye" or something as stupid as that. Bas is indeed a bad mo fo.

What I would suggest you to buy, however, is his ten video series on pancrase (sp?). He isn't joking around on them, so the entertainment value is zero, but each tape deals indepth with arm or leg locks, chokes, striking, take doowns, reversals, etc. I am not a huge person, but these techniques work very well with practice and time. He also shows you some techniques not to do and explains the physics behind each move as well as the pshychology involved. His work out tape is a killer and one of the series is an interview and several of his fights with his commentary. Very worth the money. Amazon may not sell them yet, but budovideos does for a good price.

Gambatte!