Company: Straight Blast Gym Productions
Tape Name: Holding Mount Position/Tape 3
Tape Cost: $44.95 or $299.00 for the 12 tape series.
Length of Tape: 52 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: 24
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: 10
9. Would I purchase more of this company's product: 10
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. Value: 10

Grand Total: 99% (Excellent = 4.75 stars)

---

Secondary Grading Criteria:

1. Beginners benefit: Excellent
2. Intermediate benefit: Excellent
3. Advanced benefit: Very 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). Tape 3 deals with holding the mount position. Contrary to what one may think this tape does not only cover the mount but also takes a detailed look at the knee on stomach position along with various submissions from these positions. Like the 1st two video’s of this series that we have reviewed this video is of the same high quality. Another excellent video by Straight Blast Gym. This Company is quickly becoming a leader among the various tape producers.

The video covers the how, why and when of these two positions. Bass and Williams start off by throughly breaking down the knee on the stomach, explaining that this is a purely offensive position and how it is used to open up your opponent for submissions. This is most detailed look at the knee on the stomach that I have seen on video. Shown is how to properly get into this position and how to hold this position. Several submissions and the set up for the technique is shown. Some of these include the cross choke, knee lock (could of used a little more detail on how to finish with the knee lock on this one), ankle lock (good detail here), near armlock (when your opponent pushes your arm), far armlock and switching from side to side using knee on the stomach to mount. The submissions shown are basic but solid techniques. High percentage moves that WILL work from this position. The submissions themselves may not be new but the explanation that make them work are the key here.

The next section covers various ways to get the mount. To their credit Bass and Williams really explain this position well. Shown are how to keep the mount, proper positioning, what to do if someone pushes on you hips or tries the elbow knee escape. How to control an opponent who pushes on your chest. What to do if your opponent counters your attempted collar choke (nice counter to a counter). Also covered is the importance of keeping your body low (not allowing space). Shows how to counter the umpa using your legs. Finally, shows how to set up an arm bar from the mount by going for your opponents opposite arm first (another nice technique). Bass also shows you how to use the gi to trap your opponent arm while performing this technique. The standard armbar that is usually shown on most video’s from this position will not work on anyone but a beginner. This one will catch a few people by surprise!

Bottom line for this video: Some of the techniques have been seen before but there were also a lot of new details to these moves as well as some new techniques that have not been shown on video before. The techniques and the details on this video will take the average person’s game to a higher level. Buy it!