Deluxe Martial Arts Forums - View Single Post - Review of Armor Plated with Mark Hatmaker

Uke · 11-09-2008, 10:27 PM

I'm a a little shocked by this review.

I generally love what you do, Alain. And have told you so in the past.

I don't agree with the video or the review. Hatmaker is probably great at what he does, in a sport setting. I have no doubts about that.

But saying that the boxing and wrestling he teaches is great for street situations is ridiculous. I was shocked a bit that Paladin even produced such videos until it dawned on me that they need to make money too, and NHB is a hot commodity that they're not willing to miss out on.

Saying that wrestling and boxing and NHB prepares someone for the streets is a lot like saying that its OK to go on safari unarmed if you only know brazilian jujitsu and some muay thai. That doesn't make sense, and neither does leading some untrained consumer to believe that a tape like this would make them "Armor Plated". You've got to admit Alain, this is almost as bad as the Gracies stating that Gracie Jujitsu is like a bulletproof shield. In fact, its the exact same type of marketing. The name and the marketing are an immediate red flag and a turn off.

Again, I am not criticizing Hatmaker for what he's good at. And he IS good at what he does. Which is self admittedly boxing and wrestling. And I'm NOT saying that what Hatmaker teaches CANNOT work. Only that you'd have to be in elite physical shape for it to work and be half as effective as Hatmaker claims. That's what I'm saying.

Look at what you teach and practice. You've tweaked it as it sure isn't a traditional approach to Hapkido. And what you do operates off some of the same principles that most self defense systems do. Surprise, shock, attack and control for a finish or arrest. I'm sorry, but that isn't happening with wrestling or boxing. The most knowledgeable man that to ever do what most consider dirty wrestling is Lebell, and even most of what he teaches is only effective once you're already grappling.

So I've got to say that as talented and as able as Hatmaker is, he should at least be honest and let people know that what he's selling is really geared for young, strong men who are in great shape.

Alain, you can and have taught 20 year old women to defend themselves effectively without having them be or become triathletes. True? So don't you agree that when its a requisite to be in that shape to defend effectively using a particular method then something is wrong with the method?

A better example can be found in boxing. Roy Jones was probably the best boxer ever, but his style was largely based on his seemingly inhuman athleticism. However, once he destroyed his body by losing 26lbs in 3 months, his athleticism was never the same. Now because his style was predicated on his athleticism and has significantly diminished, he's losing left and right. Without his elite physical condition, his vulnerability shows in EVERY single fight. Even in the ones he wins.

So even if Jones is hailed as the best ever, would fighters want to be trained by him? The answer would be "no", simply because they realize that they may not always be in or able to maintain or attain Roy's former level of athleticism. They would rather be trained by a Mayweather, who's style is systematic and enhances any boxer's skill and ability. Of course athleticism only helps the cause, but it shouldn't be the make or break point in something like self defense which even old ladies have to learn.

I enjoyed reading what you wrote Alain, however much I disagreed with certain parts of it. And I do look forward to your next review.

Take care

11-09-2008, 10:27 PM	#2 (permalink)
Uke Registered User Join Date: Aug 2003 Location: NY Posts: 1,567 Groans: 0 Groaned at 1 Time in 1 Post	I'm a a little shocked by this review. I generally love what you do, Alain. And have told you so in the past. I don't agree with the video or the review. Hatmaker is probably great at what he does, in a sport setting. I have no doubts about that. But saying that the boxing and wrestling he teaches is great for street situations is ridiculous. I was shocked a bit that Paladin even produced such videos until it dawned on me that they need to make money too, and NHB is a hot commodity that they're not willing to miss out on. Saying that wrestling and boxing and NHB prepares someone for the streets is a lot like saying that its OK to go on safari unarmed if you only know brazilian jujitsu and some muay thai. That doesn't make sense, and neither does leading some untrained consumer to believe that a tape like this would make them "Armor Plated". You've got to admit Alain, this is almost as bad as the Gracies stating that Gracie Jujitsu is like a bulletproof shield. In fact, its the exact same type of marketing. The name and the marketing are an immediate red flag and a turn off. Again, I am not criticizing Hatmaker for what he's good at. And he IS good at what he does. Which is self admittedly boxing and wrestling. And I'm NOT saying that what Hatmaker teaches CANNOT work. Only that you'd have to be in elite physical shape for it to work and be half as effective as Hatmaker claims. That's what I'm saying. Look at what you teach and practice. You've tweaked it as it sure isn't a traditional approach to Hapkido. And what you do operates off some of the same principles that most self defense systems do. Surprise, shock, attack and control for a finish or arrest. I'm sorry, but that isn't happening with wrestling or boxing. The most knowledgeable man that to ever do what most consider dirty wrestling is Lebell, and even most of what he teaches is only effective once you're already grappling. So I've got to say that as talented and as able as Hatmaker is, he should at least be honest and let people know that what he's selling is really geared for young, strong men who are in great shape. Alain, you can and have taught 20 year old women to defend themselves effectively without having them be or become triathletes. True? So don't you agree that when its a requisite to be in that shape to defend effectively using a particular method then something is wrong with the method? A better example can be found in boxing. Roy Jones was probably the best boxer ever, but his style was largely based on his seemingly inhuman athleticism. However, once he destroyed his body by losing 26lbs in 3 months, his athleticism was never the same. Now because his style was predicated on his athleticism and has significantly diminished, he's losing left and right. Without his elite physical condition, his vulnerability shows in EVERY single fight. Even in the ones he wins. So even if Jones is hailed as the best ever, would fighters want to be trained by him? The answer would be "no", simply because they realize that they may not always be in or able to maintain or attain Roy's former level of athleticism. They would rather be trained by a Mayweather, who's style is systematic and enhances any boxer's skill and ability. Of course athleticism only helps the cause, but it shouldn't be the make or break point in something like self defense which even old ladies have to learn. I enjoyed reading what you wrote Alain, however much I disagreed with certain parts of it. And I do look forward to your next review. Take care __________________ A solar panel 100 miles by 100 miles (161x161km) in the Mojave Desert (USA) could replace all the coal now burned to generate electricity in the entire U.S.