The Gracie Combatives DVD is a comprehensive instructional video series that teaches viewers the fundamental self-defense techniques and strategies developed by the renowned Gracie family. The DVD is part of the Gracie University curriculum, which aims to provide accessible and effective martial arts training to people of all skill levels and backgrounds.
The Gracie Combatives program focuses on teaching practical and efficient techniques that can be used in real-world self-defense situations. The DVD covers a range of topics, including stance, movement, and striking, as well as various types of takedowns, submissions, and escapes. The techniques are presented in a clear and concise manner, with a focus on simplicity and effectiveness.
One of the key benefits of the Gracie Combatives DVD is its emphasis on scenario-based training. Rather than simply teaching isolated techniques, the DVD presents a series of common self-defense scenarios, and then shows how to apply the techniques in a practical and effective way. This approach helps viewers to develop a deeper understanding of the techniques, and to learn how to adapt them to different situations.
The Gracie Combatives DVD also features instruction from some of the most experienced and knowledgeable instructors in the Gracie system, including Rickson Gracie, Carlos Gracie, and Helio Gracie. These instructors bring a wealth of knowledge and expertise to the DVD, and provide viewers with a unique opportunity to learn from the best.
Another advantage of the Gracie Combatives DVD is its accessibility. Unlike traditional martial arts classes, which often require a significant time commitment and a local training facility, the DVD allows viewers to train at their own pace, in the comfort of their own homes. This makes it an ideal option for people who are busy or who live in areas where access to martial arts training is limited.
Overall, the Gracie Combatives DVD is an excellent resource for anyone interested in self-defense or martial arts training. The techniques and strategies presented are practical, effective, and easy to learn, and the instructional format is clear and engaging. Whether you are a complete beginner or an experienced martial artist, the Gracie Combatives DVD is a valuable tool that can help you to develop your skills and improve your confidence in a self-defense situation.
In addition to the technical skills, the Gracie Combatives DVD also emphasizes the importance of situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, and verbal communication in self-defense. The instructors on the DVD stress the importance of avoiding physical confrontations whenever possible, and of using verbal de-escalation techniques to diffuse potentially volatile situations.
The Gracie Combatives program has been widely praised for its effectiveness and accessibility. Many law enforcement agencies and military organizations have adopted the program as part of their training curricula, and it has been used by thousands of individuals around the world to develop their self-defense skills.
In conclusion, the Gracie Combatives DVD is a comprehensive and effective instructional video series that teaches viewers the fundamental self-defense techniques and strategies developed by the Gracie family. With its emphasis on practical and efficient techniques, scenario-based training, and accessibility, the DVD is an excellent resource for anyone interested in self-defense or martial arts training.
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" gracie combatives dvd
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:
Here’s a short, useful story that illustrates the value of the Gracie Combatives DVD set—not just as a product, but as a tool for real-world confidence.
Title: The Late-Night Elevator
Mark was a 34-year-old software engineer. He wasn’t weak, but he wasn’t a fighter. After a close call in a parking garage—a guy screaming nonsense and shoving him for “looking at him wrong”—Mark realized his cardio and “hoping for the best” weren’t a self-defense plan.
He didn’t have time or money for a traditional gym. Between work, a toddler, and a second kid on the way, a 6 PM BJJ class was a fantasy. Plus, he was intimidated. The idea of getting crushed by a 22-year-old wrestler named “The Kraken” didn’t appeal to him.
Then he found a used Gracie Combatives DVD set online.
The box looked old-school. It promised “36 lessons” and a “street-effective” system—no sport moves, no fancy inversions. Just survival: punch blocks, takedown defense, escapes from mount and headlock, and control positions.
Mark was skeptical. “A DVD can’t teach you to fight.”
But the first video changed his mind. Rener Gracie didn’t just show a move—he showed why it works, where it fails, and how to drill it with a partner. He used common English, not Portuguese jargon. He even addressed the “untrained aggressor’s” most common moves: the wild hook punch, the bear hug, the shirt grab.
Mark bribed his brother-in-law, Dave (a similarly out-of-shape dad), with pizza. Every Tuesday and Thursday, they rolled out a yoga mat in Mark’s garage, watched one lesson (20 minutes), then drilled the technique for 20 minutes. No sparring yet. Just repetition: “Upa escape from mount.” “Trap and roll.” “Punch block series 1–4.” The Gracie Combatives DVD is a comprehensive instructional
After four months, they’d completed all 36 lessons. They tested themselves with the “Reflex Development” drills—Rener would call out a random attack, and they’d react without thinking. It was clumsy at first, then smooth. Mark felt something he hadn’t in years: prepared.
Six months later, the test came.
Mark was walking to his car after a late night at work. The parking lot was empty. From behind a van, a man stepped out—jittery, eyes unfocused, holding a broken bottle by the neck. “Give me your wallet. Now.”
Mark’s heart slammed. His old self would have frozen or thrown a wild haymaker.
But his body remembered. The man lunged with the bottle—a clumsy overhead swing. Mark’s hands shot up in a high guard (lesson 4), deflecting the arm. He clinched, dropped his base, and used a simple outside leg trip (lesson 18). The man hit the concrete hard, the bottle skittering away.
Mark didn’t strike. He pinned the man’s shoulders with his knees (lesson 12: “Mount control”) and yelled, “Stay down! I’m calling the police!” The man went limp, defeated.
Police arrived five minutes later. No one was seriously hurt.
That night, Mark looked at the dusty Gracie Combatives DVD case on his shelf. He smiled. He’d never compete in a tournament. He’d never wear a fancy gi. But he’d passed the only test that mattered—the unscripted, chaotic, real one.
The moral: The Gracie Combatives DVD isn’t about becoming a UFC champion. It’s about building a reliable, repeatable survival system for ordinary people with no time, no athletic background, and no desire to get punched in the face during practice. It works if you work it—one lesson, one garage session, one pizza at a time.
Beyond physical techniques, the program also covers mental preparation and strategic thinking. This includes understanding distance management, timing, and leverage. Students learn to think strategically during a confrontation, prioritizing de-escalation and escape when possible. Title: The Late-Night Elevator Mark was a 34-year-old
Buying the DVD is the first step. Here is how to get the most out of your purchase:
Gracie Combatives is a comprehensive self-defense program that goes beyond teaching physical techniques. It offers a holistic approach to personal safety, combining practical techniques with mental preparation and strategic thinking. The program aims to empower individuals with the skills and confidence needed to protect themselves and their loved ones in a variety of situations. Whether you're a beginner or an experienced martial artist, Gracie Combatives provides valuable insights and skills that can enhance your self-defense capabilities.
The Gracie Combatives DVD is a 13-disc instructional series that became a flashpoint in the martial arts world, bridging the gap between elite military training and civilian home study. Origin: From the Battlefield to the Living Room
The program was originally developed at the request of the U.S. Army. Military leaders wanted a hand-to-hand combat system that could prepare soldiers for survival in roughly 40 hours of training. The Gracie family analyzed three generations of real-world fights and identified 36 essential techniques that were used more frequently and successfully than all other moves combined.
For nearly 17 years, this curriculum was exclusive to military personnel. In 2008-2009, Rener and Ryron Gracie released the material to the public as the "Gracie Combatives" DVD box set, marking the official launch of what would become Gracie University. The "Video Belt" Controversy
The DVDs gained notoriety not just for their content, but for the Gracie Video Evaluation Process. For the first time, students who did not live near a school could film themselves performing the "Blue Belt Qualification Drills" and upload them for review by Gracie Academy instructors.
This sparked a massive debate in the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) community:
Title: Is the Gracie Combatives DVD Still Worth It in 2024? A No-BS Review
If you’ve spent any time in the "YouTube rabbit hole" of self-defense, you’ve seen the clip: a smaller, older man in a white gi effortlessly controlling a larger, aggressive opponent. That man is usually Grand Master Rorion Gracie or Ryron Gracie, and the system they are teaching is Gracie Combatives.
But with the rise of MMA and YouTube tutorials, is spending money on a DVD set (yes, DVDs still exist) actually worth it for the average person?
Here is the honest breakdown of the Gracie Combatives program for the busy adult who just wants to be safe.
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.