Company: Paladin Press
Tape Name: Floor Bag Workout
Tape Cost: $39.95
Length of Tape/Time: Approximately 85 Minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: Numerous
Return Policy: Money Back Guarantee (just started in 2005)
Instructor: Mark Hatmaker
Company Address: P.O. Box 1307 Boulder CO 80306
Company Phone Number: 303-443-7250
Web Page:
http://www.paladin-press.com
E-Mail:
sales@paladin-press.com
Primary Grading Criteria:
1. Production Quality: 8
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 10
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 8
5. Score on Delivery Vs Hype: 10
6. Degree to which you would recommend this product: 10
7. Waster time (The Higher the number, the less “Fluff “/repetition):10
8. Playback score/watching it over and over again: 7
9. Would I purchase more of this company’s products: 10
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 10
Grand Total: 93% (Very Good)
Secondary Grading Criteria:
1. Beginners benefit: Very Good
2. Intermediate benefit: Very Good
3. Advanced benefit: Very Good
4. Time to benefit: Immediate
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None
Written Summary:
First I wanted to say what a pleasure it is to listen to how well spoken Mark Hatmaker is. He is a really good communicator. He comes across as somebody who knows his game and is very calm and articulate when getting his point across. I thought to myself what can you really tell me that I don’t already know about lifting a heavy bag. I have a series of bags filled with gravel that I train with for solo training.
Hatmaker actually had some new stuff to show as well as making an important point. It’s great to train with a partner but there are some things your partner will not let you do. Your partner is not going to let you elbow and knee them full out as you practice your ground game. I liked that Hatmaker says a good heavy bag is a lot cheaper than a grappling dummy and essentially says,” save your money”.
The first part of the tape concentrates on core strength. Lifting the bag in various ways and applying different chokes and holds while lifting the bag in different positions. The middle part of the tape shows ways of practicing positioning and moving while using the bag. The last part of the tape deals with the full out techniques that you just can’t practice on your partner like stomps, slams, and shots to the head.
Hatmaker teaches the techniques briefly but extremely clearly, and then either he or his partner demonstrates. He stressed that if he spent all his time giving descriptions it winds up being a 10 tape set, I agree. He advises that you break each technique into 3 minute rounds which really makes a simple exercise into a brutal exercise.
He talks about visualizing what you are doing. By saving money on a grappling dummy and working with a bag you really need to view it as a person in your mind, since there are no arms or legs. You need to make the exercise real for yourself, so you can apply them when you train with a partner.
The video is simply shot and this is not meant not meant to be derogatory. It is clear and audible and Hatmaker seems like a college professor when teaching. I like how Hatmaker stresses positioning, especially when demonstrating the cross face techniques and moving from one technique to the next. He really understands the finer points of grappling and is willing to share them.
This tape is a great reference for anybody that is into grappling or just wants to get functionally strong. I know that one can create exercises by oneself. I have various bags filled with gravel and one with a basketball inside to simulate chokes and face mashes and knee on the chest techniques. I was creating exercises for myself and my clients long before I saw this tape. But I know a good tape when I see one, and if you are looking for a good conditioning tape for functional strength then I highly recommend this tape.
Rick Weisbrot - With 30 plus years of martial arts training, Rick currently trains students one-on-one in Manhattan, focusing on combative principles that anyone can apply.
