Maurice Smith - Vol 2 Pad Work
Online at many places for abour $20 bucks or as part of a four video set in the $50 range.

Maurice starts with the focus mitts and the proper placement for the holder. This is great, the number of times I have tried to get a workout with someone new to pad holding only to be frustrated is immeasurable. Maurice talks about a rythm that develops between a pad holder and the fighter, never were truer words spoke. "The pad man...my friend."

Next up on the menu is working a dynamic drill with the padman using the basics just covered but adding some movement by both parties and some strikes by the pad holder. This is a good solis bit of footage with a lot of Maurice's knowledge coming through. This carries through to the next segment; hitting the pads 'realtime'.

Whereas the first 10 minutes were based on getting the holder working properly and done slow, this section shows the jab, cross, left hook, body hook and uppercuts at speed and in combination. Essentially applying what was earned earlier.

On to the Thai pads, Maurice shows us how he likes to have the pads held. Front kick and round kick tehniques from Volume 1 is reiterated and expanded on. For the low kicks Maurice has the padholder put his arm down with the pad by the thigh.

This goes against everything I have ever seen for practicing these kicks. I was always told the pad holder is learning too and this will only develop the bad habit of putting the arm down to defend the leg kick. To be fair Maurice says to be sure to not go too hard. However my opinion would be just kicking the thigh 'not too hard' to learn the technique would be better.

After a few examples of punch/kick drills we get to the knee section. Again Maurice shows clearly the basic straight knee technique from both in and out of the clinch. However he keeps saying not to do a lot as they are tiring. True they are tiring but they score more in the organizations I have competed in, we always do a lot of knees, enough to make us dry heave in training.

The video finishes up with combos combining all the weapons including elbows. Maurice comes through with great tips and advice for the application in a fight. Overall I think this is a solid volume. I'd certainly like anyone who needs to hold pads to watch it. The message comes through clear on how important it is to be a good holder. The video production is great and Maurice of course is a knowledgeable instructor. The only thing I can find fault in is; as with the first video, this isn't really Thaiboxing, though all the weapons are used it just has a more kickboxing feel.

See also Volume 1