Company: Straight Blast Gym Productions
Tape Name: Tape 10 Four Quarter on
Top & Tape 11 Four Quarter on Bottom
Tape Cost: $44.95 or $299.00 for the 12 tape series.
Length of Tape: Tape 10: 44 minutes & Tape 11: 46 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: Tape 10: 15 techniques & Tape 11: 13 techniques
Return Policy: Unknown
Experiences
in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Bob Bass/Rick Williams
Address: 1812 Ne 43rd Ave
Portland Oregon 97213
Company's Phone Number: 503-230-79248
Web
Page: http://www.straightblastgym.com/
E-Mail: info@straightblastgym.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1.
Production/Tape Quality: 10
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3.
Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 10
4. Degree to which this will make
someone a better Martial Artist: 10
5. Score on delivery vs. Hype: 10
6. Degree
to which we would recommend this product: 10
7. Wasted time (The higher the number,
the less "fluff"/repetition: 9
8. Playback Score/Watching it over and
over again: 9
9. Would I purchase more of this company's product: 10
10. Overall
grade based on cost vs. Value: 9
Grand Total: 97% (4.25 stars = Excellent)
Secondary Grading Criteria Series:
1. Beginners benefit: Excellent
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3.
Advanced benefit: Good
4. Time to benefit: Some Immediate, greatest benefit with
practice
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None, although
the entire series would benefit one the most.
Written Summary:
For an
overview of the entire 12 tape series please see Passing the Guard Tape #1 (Review
#279). Tapes 10 and 11 cover the Four Quarter Position both on Top and on the Bottom.
These two video’s are up to par with the other tapes in this series. There are a
number of techniques on this video that have not been seen on tape before. Throughout
this series Bass and Williams really do try to give the viewers there money’s worth
by showing new things that have not been seen on video. Of course some of the techniques
will not be new however with all the tape series on the market today this is understandable
as it is getting harder and harder to come up with new material. Of the material
that has been seen before often I found an extra detail to the techniques that help
me understand what was being done and why. These two tapes can stand alone for those
that are interested in this particular area of ground grappling.
On the slightly
negative side, without the long introduction and conclusion (11 minutes total for
each tape) these two video’s would be 33 and 35 minutes in length. As I have stated
in past reviews of some other the other tapes in this series I also believe that
these two video could of been combined into one longer tape. This no doubt is better
for the consumer and I do understand why Tape Companies make a larger set of tapes
with a larger price tag, but as consumers we want the best bang for our buck! If
you have the money this series will deliver the goods for those interested in Sport
Jiu Jitsu. As I have stated before, of all the Sport Jiu Jitsu series available today
this one would be at the top of the list.
Here is what you will find on these
two video’s:
Tape 10:
- Good explanation of how a person typically
gets to the Top position and the different positions your opponent may be in while
he is on the bottom ie. Tight like a ball or with their base spread wide.
-
the goals of the Top person are explained as follows: 1) to pull your opponent to
the side or 2) get the hooks for the back mount. This is all explained in very good
detail.
- how to get to your opponents back
- how to properly use your
weight to control the person on the bottom
- various ways on how to turn someone
over. One way shown was to grab you opponents arm and pull it away from their body.
This could work but would be hard to pull off against a strong opponent. To Bass
and Williams credit though they do show a counter if you can’t get your opponent’s
arm.
- explanation of how to get the hooks in.
- several variations
of collar chokes
- the clock choke
- several ways are shown how to
set your opponent up from this position. Basically your giving your opponent something
to get something.
- section on Rick teaching at the I.M.B.
Tape 11:
-
explanation of how to get your opponent to their back and how to control them using
your weight while obtaining side control.
- importance of trapping the top
person’s arm high to prevent them from controlling your hips
-granby roll
into an arm bar from the bottom position.
- roll into a knee bar.
-
how to get your leg behind your opponent and roll into the side control position.
- several ways to obtain the guard position from the bottom
- how
to roll forward to get the person’s back.
- Section on instruction at the
I.M.B.
Overall another excellent job by Straight Blast Gym
M.O.
