Company: International Shootfighting Association
Tape Name: Volume 8: Ultimate Movements of Shootfighting
Tape Cost: $49.95
Length of Tape: 46 min.
Number of Moves/Techniques: 21 plus variations
Return Policy: Unknown
Experiences in dealing with this company: Excellent
The Instructor: Bart Vale
Company’s Address: 6469 SW 8th St. Miami, Florida 33144 USA
Company’s Phone Number: (305)266-1601
Web Page: http://www.shootfighting.com
E-mail: isfa@2shoot.com

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Primary Grading Criteria:

1. Production/Tape Quality: 8
2. Instructors demonstrated skill level: 9
3. Comprehension Score/Immediate Understanding: 9
4. Degree to which this will make someone a better Martial Artist: 8
5. Score on delivery vs. Hype: 8
6. Degree to which we would recommend this product: 8
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: 8
10. Overall grade based on cost vs. Value: 8

Grand Total: 84% (Poor = 1 star)

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Secondary Grading Criteria:

1. Beginners benefit: Fair
2. Intermediate benefit: Fair
3. Advanced benefit: Poor
4. Time to benefit: Some Immediate, greatest benefit with practice
5. The need to buy additional tapes to understand this one: None

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Written Summary:

This video tape by Shootfighter Bart Vale deals mainly with various submissions and some self defense techniques from the art of Shootfighting. The tape is entitled Ultimate Movements of Shootfighting however falls short of being anything close to the ultimate. The tape starts off with some clips of various Shootfighting matches which reminded me of a WWF/WCW type of bout. These were obviously worked matches. (Note: Bart Vale has also competed in non worked No Holds Barred matches). The video then moves into some basic conditioning exercises which were okay but contained little that most average Martial Artists would not already know. These include stretching exercises, situps, crunches, push ups (several variations), breakfalls and body weight squats. I really think that Mr. Vale could of left these exercises out of this video and concentrated more on techniques. A separate tapes of just warm ups/conditioning exercises and drills would of been much better.

The next section deals with submissions some of which include armlocks, keylocks, neck cranks and various leg locks. Some of these I thought were okay although the techniques weren’t shown in any particular order and were only shown in isolation. There were no set ups shown for these techniques. Most of them are just demonstrated when the opponent gets into the required position and the technique is applied. This would be a good way to explain the mechanics of the submission but without the set ups being shown and unless your opponent just lies there waiting for you to apply the technique, your chances of attaining submission are greatly reduced. There were a few Takedowns (throws) shown for some of the techniques however they were only briefly demonstrated and poorly performed. Some of the techniques demonstrated had several technical errors ie. the armbar was shown with the opponents palm facing up instead of the thumb. This makes it much easier for your opponent to escape. When Mr. Vale performed the keylock he also makes another error by putting only four fingers to the outside of the opponents arm instead of all five. Again this makes it easier for your opponent to escape. There were some submissions that I did like namely the section on neck cranks.

The last section deals with various self defense techniques. The techniques looked like something out of a Karate movie. Nothing new here. Overall I would pass on this tape. This tape market is so competitive now that video’s like this just do not cut it.

M.O.