Announcement

Collapse
No announcement yet.

Opinions on the straight blast

Collapse
X
 
  • Filter
  • Time
  • Show
Clear All
new posts

  • Opinions on the straight blast


    I have never really posted this before, but I figured I'd like to do it even though it might be kind of weird for me (having trained with Paul Vunak) to say it.

    I am looking for opinions, experiences, and such on the straight blast. I used to regularly train the straight blast years ago, and constantly tried sparring with it, the use of motorcycle helmets, etc. After about 3-4 years using it, I stopped. I threw it out of my arsenal, or at least to not spend much time on it now as I do with just clinching, headbutts, boxing, and of course grappling. The reason I stopped was because I did not like the effectiveness of the blast (for myself). I was okay at entering, okay at throwing it, and had power behind it, but did not get the wonderful reactions that I was looking for when I used it. Some people simply ran backwards with their arms pinned to their chest trying to escape. This was perfect, and made it easy to throw...but I realized that NOT a lot of people do this. There is, in my opinion, a lot of people who do not run back, even after an interception, and put up their arms while trying to move forward. When this happens sometimes you tend to be "running in place" trying to blast only forearms. To me this did not seem effective, and seemed to be more "sloppy" than a good clinch with headbutt, takedown, etc. (or just boxing combination)
    Remember that I actually trained this thing regularly for about 3-4 years. So I put in the flight time. However, my personal way didn't seem to like it as an effective technique for me. I cannot perform it like Vitor Belfor, obviously, though I did have the same kind of power and speed...perhaps I was just subconsciously holding back with sparring partners, but whatever the cause, I kind of threw it out of my gameplan.
    Has anyone else felt this way about the technique? Or have you just had good results? I'm not saying it never worked for me, but I am saying that I wanted more from it, and didn't get it.

    What are your thoughts? (this in no way claims that it is not an effective technique)

    Ryu

  • #2
    I think if done well...it can be very effective..

    if you use it like Vunak teaches it in the RAT system tape...the blast is your Entry phase into those HKE's you like to use so much...the blast doesn't have to last long...can be up to only 3 punches!just enough to have your opponent surprised..then grab the back of the neck and HKE away!!

    I think the key to a succesful straight blast IS the element of surprise...

    you were probably holding back in your sparring...

    A REAL straight blast is very intense and hard to defend..

    As Vitor has showed us all...

    Comment


    • #3
      I've posted In a thread long ago that I was skeptical about SB having sparred hard with a JKD guy. The times he tried to blast me I ducked under the bycicling arms and double legged him: One time he was running so hard after me that when I lowered my level he get throwed just by the penetration step. However it's my guess that maybe this guy was sloppy. I've tried the blast myself and I have had great success with traditional style guys. They tend to overextend their arms with "kime", offering a great reference point for pak sao and then chaining punches.
      You'll never do that to a boxer, he will not parry the blast, he will dodge and slip, making more difficult to get the knee-head-elbows range.

      Comment


      • #4
        I think the Straight Blast is excellent, but you have to get that first good shot in. Without it it's ineffective. Vitor got that first stright left in against Silvia and it was over. The problem with training it is you have to really rock the person for it to work. How many training partners really want to get hit like that? So it is still a "in theory" technique.

        Comment


        • #5
          This is going to sound esoteric and stupid but please with hold judgement until after you read this. It's a matter of perception.

          Maybe when your blast failed-when your sparring partner covered high-it served its purpose. I know its sounds like the pseudo philosophical crap that any real fighter despises, but here goes. The point of the straight blast is many times merely to get a reaction of some sort. Sometimes this means making them back up or uncover a different target. If your sparring partner's hands were hell bent on covering your blast, didn't that lead him wide open for a shoot/tackle? Was removing the obstruction an option? Obviously I wasn't there and can only speculate, but what do you think? The blast doesn't work 100% of the time, but I think that it is very useful at the right time. For me, this is when the center line is open and I've already jacked them with something-although I've had some success throwing it cold.

          just my $0.02

          Comment


          • #6
            I've had some good use of a SB in sparring. But, there are people that it didn't "work" on, probably because of their attributes, but more so probably because of my not doing it well enough. For the guys that it doesn't work on, it sets up a nice double or single leg take down for me.

            We train it with the Macho headgear with cage. I think timing is the most important factor, than the strength and mechanics of your punching for it to be effective.

            Comment


            • #7
              Straight Blast

              I think used properly it can be effective (like Bau13 said) for using HKE's.

              I also think that best counter to it is a double leg (as Underdog said). Looks as if someone could indeed go straight over after the penetration step.

              Awareness of what's going on is the key. You know that if you blast to enter to a clinch (HKE range), just be prepared for a shot.

              Remember when Royce Gracie fought Sak? He used something very similar to close and clinch with him. Maybe if Royce's clinching skill had been better, he could've wrestled him down into superior position.

              I see what you're saying though Ryu. I think that (as I'm sure you do as well) to expect a response (the opponent going backward) invites disaster.

              I HAVE seen people get run over by it though. Although, I think that if you do it to skilled grapplers you're not going to get that response.

              Ya just have to continually test it in the gym. Those guys should be MUCH tougher than anyone in a street fight--and that's ultimately what we're thinking of. If a guy in the street doesn't have a lot of room to maneuver (in a crowed bar), it'll screw him big time! Certainly they'd get run over.........though who's to say.....

              (wishy-washy enough for ya?)

              John

              Comment


              • #8
                Most of the time when the blast doesn't work for me it is because my opponent knew it was coming. Either I did it too often or I just telegraphed it. It's a great tactic, but it has its limitations like everything else.

                Ryu, do you do a lot of Judo? What throws do you find work well in combination?

                Comment


                • #9


                  Thank you, everyone for your responses. I am getting some good ideas here.

                  Gungfu hero,
                  I love judo, but sadly my throwing is the worst part of my arsenal. However I am trying to train it as much as possible. I enjoy getting close, so if someone steps in for any hip throw I can pull them backwards, grab them up for either ushiro goshi, or ura nage. (which are similar to just suplexes) As far as combinations, well to be honest I don't consider my throwing that good But I like to try to move the person off balance and get them to think I will step in for ippon seoi nage when in reality I want to just sweep their legs out, or use a driver technique of some sort. But again, modestly speaking, I'm not half as knowledgable about judo as say Judo Guy, etc.
                  (haha give credit where it's deserved I guess)

                  Ryu

                  Comment


                  • #10
                    just my 2cents on this one,

                    I observed that Sb (as thought in WT or JKD) is good against an untrained and naive opponent if you attack him while he's starting his attack. The main problem is that his flinch response often causes him to bend and you'll hit his head in its harder parts... So you should then immediately switch to knees/elbows.
                    Experienced WT fighters I've seen almost always use a flurry of open hand strikes, like "faak-sau" or palm strikes or eye-jabs instead of chain-punches.
                    I think the Sb can be useful in a streetfight if you manage to use it off a "fence" after a verbal distraction, but also then, you should flow into Headbutt-Knees-Elbows as soon as you can clinch.

                    In a match-fight, you can use it ONLY if you penetrate the guard of a forward-going opponent, using then momentum to finish him off (look at Vitor Belfort against Wanderley Silva). Don't try to use it as an opener, as the other can just side-step and take you to the ground...

                    Comment


                    • #11
                      Well as a former JKD guy turned pure BJJ'er...here's my 2 cents.

                      My whole intro to BJJ was that I was actually teaching (just regurgitating Vunak) the whole bit about how if you keep centerline and blast correctly, you'll never get taken to the ground. Well there was a BJJ bluebelt there that day and we decided to try it full out. He wouldn't wear the helmet and I thought I was going to really hurt him...NOPE.

                      Down I went..Over and over and over and over and over and over again.

                      Pretty much been training armbars and chokes since then.

                      Comment


                      • #12
                        Hermosa did the JKD school you went too not teach you grappling? That is the problem with many JKD schools nowadays they basically teach modified wing chun. The few places I have seen where good was Straight Blast Gym and this school in Russia. I have never checked out Vunak though.

                        Comment


                        • #13
                          I really have to give credit to Vunak..he started grappling with BJJ guys LONG before anyone else. Yes, larry Hartsel was there, but larry's stuff was mostly Judo and wrestling. Paul was one of the guys who actually went to Rickson as a private student for years. So no flies on Paul...But the PFS system as I learned it, placed 90% emphasis on the "hub of the wheel" ..what Paul now calls his RAT--rapid assault tactics, program. And there was no grappling in that..It was almost presented as a sort of Anti-grappling system.

                          The JKD "school" that I came from, did have grappling, but hadn't really switched over to good BJJ yet..they were still doing, Hartsel stuff and Mande Muda Silat for their ground work. So I wasn't too impressed with the grappling range at the time..The skill and energy of that BJJ bluebelt was SO far superior to any grappling that I had thus far experienced..I was literally Blown Away.

                          Comment


                          • #14
                            There is, in my opinion, a lot of people who do not run back, even after an interception, and put up their arms while trying to move forward. When this happens sometimes you tend to be "running in place" trying to blast only forearms. To me this did not seem effective, and seemed to be more "sloppy" than a good clinch with headbutt, takedown, etc.
                            The blast is your entry. If you are close enough to clinch then clinch!

                            The timing for the blast is crucial. You don't just start running at someone with your fists flying. Think Pain + Pressure + Finish.

                            Pain: Interception. Throw them off balance, even if its only for a split second. Elbow spike their right cross, knee spike their round kick, Give them a good Teep (push kick) and while they are recovering move into the next phase.

                            Pressure: This is where the straight blast is utilized. Mow them down as you cross the range. Drop the straight blast as soon as you can enter into clinch.

                            Finish (or more pain): HKE and anything else you need to finish it and get the h*ll out.

                            If you're timing is off then it will be easy for your opponent to counter your straight blast with their own strikes, by jamming your straight blast, or yes even a take down. However, just because your throwing your fists in the air doesn't mean you've executed the ultimate technique that will make you invincible to all of the puny mortals who dare confront you. Its a technique, just one. A tool that is only as good as the person that wields it.

                            Personally, I have only been able to use the straight blast, in a hard-core sparring situation, a couple of times. I just have very long arms and my initial "lunge" (the initial forward movement after the interception) is relatively quick so I get to clinch range in typically one step. Sso there's no time to straight blast, and it would be a waste of energy if I did try it (not to mention the fact that at that range it would open me up to counter-attack).

                            The straight blast doesn't fit every situation, just like a helicopter sweep to an armbar doesn't fit every situation in BJJ. It has a limited range of applicability.

                            -------------------------------------------------------

                            Hermosa, Hermosa, Hermosa,

                            *sighs and rolls eyes skyward before taking deep breath *

                            If you hadn't tapped me the one time we rolled then I would be dropping some serious smack right now.

                            Comment


                            • #15
                              It's a technique not religion as my WC sifu said. We had guys that loooved the SB. Sifu had two of them spar a TKD BB who was in the class. Spinning back kick got one and a leaning side kick got the other when they tried it. Sifu had set them up and we learned a good lesson about focusing on any technique too much.

                              Comment

                              Working...
                              X