Company: Panther Productionss
Name: Extreme Pancrase - Stances, Footwork, Kicks & Punches (BAS-1)
Tape Cost: $49.95
Length of Tape/Time: 70 minutes
Number of Moves/Techniques: tape is on basics
Return Policy: for damages and defects
Experiences in dealing with this company: very polite and friendly
Instructor: Bas Rutten
Company's Address: Panther Productions, 1010 Calle Negocio, San Clemente, CA. 92673
Company's Phone Number: 800-332-4442
Web Page: Century purchased Panther's entire library http://www.centurymartialarts.com/accessories/media
E-Mail: panther@speed.net

Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 10
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 10
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 9
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'd recommend this product: 9
7. Wasted Time (The higher the number, the less "fluff"/repetition): 10
8. Playback Score/Watching it over-and-over again: 9
9. Would I purchase more of this company's products: 9
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. value: 9


Grand Total: 95% (3.75 stars = Good)

Secondary Grading Criteria:

1. Beginners benefit: Excellent
2. Intermediate benefit: Good
3. Advanced benefit: Good
4. Time to benefit: Couple of months
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None

Written Summary:

It's been awhile since I've seen a Panther series that looked promising. Maybe Panther has finally started listening to the voice of martial arts consumers. This 70 minute video had no excessive repetition, it went very fast, covered a ton of info, and the instructor, Bas Rutten, explained things well, unlike other NHB titles we've seen. This is the first tape in this series. Panther sent us all 10 tapes, and we've got 9 more to review after this one. Tapes 2-8 seem to be the core, and should give us a better idea about the series as a whole, and things like: excessive repetition, number of techniques, tape length, and whether or not we see some new stuff in this series, versus stuff shown in all the other grappling/NHB tapes on the market.

The video starts out by covering the stance from which Rutten likes to fight. He seems to favor more of a forward stance than a boxers or sideways stance. He also emphasizes that one should keep their weight on the balls of their feet, for quick movement. Rutten likes to close the distance with his front leg moving first, instead of his back leg. He gives some good hints on how to punch and get through someones guard. Rutten says he doesn't believe in using quick jabs. He likes to deliver solid lead hand punches, and says that his stance allows him to deliver it with more power than a boxers stance will. Rutten emphasizes that power in punches comes up from ones legs, and that people should use their shoulders more in their punches. Throughout the tape Rutten periodically shows some of his favorite combinations, and actual fight footage, showing how certain techniques helped him win certain fights.

One of the things I really liked about this tape was the detail in which Rutten covered the hook punch and uppercut. There are tons of martial arts schools in our area that don't teach these two techniques to students. These are two very valid techniques, and I believe many schools spend too much time doing acrobatic kicks that will probably never be used in the street, versus teaching students how to get REALLY good with more useful weapons. Also covered in a good amount of detail were elbows, palm strikes, and my favorite technique, the spinning backfist. Now I know some of you will probably say: "So what, I know those techniques". However Rutten has some unique pointers, on almost each of these, that shows you how to make them alot more powerful. It was also interesting to hear Rutten discuss how he didn't really like acrobatic kicks, such as the turning heel kick, and then he demonstrates an awesome head high one with an unbelievable amount of speed and precision. Speaking of which, Rutten showed that he can really punch and kick. This is one bad dude folks! OK, on to the rest of the tape.

Next Rutten goes over the front kick, and how to deliver it with maximum power. He also shows a unique way to throw it, turning the foot to the outside, so that you strike with the heel. He says he gets alot more power with it that way, and he doesn't risk breaking his toes, which he says he's done alot. After this he goes into the roundhouse kick. With this kick, Rutten likes to strike with his shin. Next we go into knee strikes, followed by foot stomps. Rutten also covers distancing, and would rather block and use distancing than bobing, ducking and weaving. He then spends a good amount of time covering blocking, and this was another very interesting section. Rutten favors small movements, versus big traditional martial arts blocks, and he likes to block kicks in such a way that it puts you on the outside of an opponent, so you can follow up with a hook punch to the jaw. He likes to block low kicks with his shin bone (ouch!), versus arms or leg muscles.

Although I found some of the things Rutten suggests to go against traditional martial arts teachings, not only does he give a good reason for justifying each, but how can you fault a guy when everything he does seems to be working for him.

What did I not like? Although this is one of the best videos I've seen so far on how to throw a hook punch and uppercut, it didn't get as detailed on how to do that as I've been hoping someone would. Next, the series is labeled, in the Panther catalog, as "No-Holds-Barred Streetfighting". Personally, I felt that some of the things Rutten was showing came more from a NHB or Pancrase tournament mindset instead of the streetfighting mindset that the title suggests. Neither of these 2 concerns of mine were major, but I felt I should mention them.

Overall, I found this tape to very interesting and informative. It didn't put me to sleep like some of Panther's other very short, and highly repetitive titles. In fact, this video left me wanting to see more of Bas Rutten. In my opinion a very good video by the folks at Panther. Hopefully they will make all their upcoming titles as good as this one, and maybe think about editing and re-doing some of their older ones.

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