Has anyone used this kick shield?

[kumite]

http://www.combatsports.com/detail.aspx?ID=22096

I was thinking about getting one but was hoping someone could give me a review on it.
Thanks,
Cheyenne.

[Gordon Nore]

http://www.combatsports.com/detail.aspx?ID=22096

I was thinking about getting one but was hoping someone could give me a review on it.
Thanks,
Cheyenne.
It looks virtually identical to my Century Blast Master (http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&productId=64560&langId=-1&product_parentId=13520&crumb=13501&categoryId=13520&parent_category_rn=13515), which I've used for six years. The prices and dimmensions are comparable. The site you linked to says, "Made of tough synthetic leather with 4 nylon straps." Century calls it "nylon reinforced vinyl." The only difference I can see is that the straps on your air shield are nylon. Mine has vinyl straps.
http://www.centuryfitness.com/wcsstore/century/IMAGES/LARGE/1037-LG.JPG
I like mine alot. I prefer it over standard shields when taking kicks from the seniors at my club. Even when knocked hard, I don't get that lose-your-lunch feeling.
http://www.eyhkc.com/images/sloane28.jpg
The only thing I've noticed is that I have to be careful when holding the side strap -- see above. I've been tapped on my hand a couple of times. I wish it were longer, so I could just tug around behind the shield. The extra foam and air-filled inner-tube take the sting of hard kicks, and I can beat the crap out of it with out undue punishment on hands and feet.

[Cliff Hargrave]

I hate air shields.

They have this shield at the school I train at, and I like it much better:

http://www.combatsports.com/IMAGES/PAD-1.JPG

[Gordon Nore]

I hate air shields...
Mind you, I also like goose down punching bags when I really want to pamper myself.

[kumite]

I hate air shields.

They have this shield at the school I train at, and I like it much better:

http://www.combatsports.com/IMAGES/PAD-1.JPG


Cliff, what's the difference on the impact? Or what makes you like the one you posted over the one I originally posted.

[AllanJGAnderson]

Just out of curiosity Gordon,what type if kick is the man executing in your picture. Looks powerful.

[Gordon Nore]

Just out of curiosity Gordon,what type if kick is the man executing in your picture. Looks powerful.

I'm trying to recall. The finish looks sort of like a roundhouse, but I think John set it up with a spin. (I may have had my eyes closed at the time!) He normally doesn't kick that way, but I know he and his brother learned some big spinning kicks where you put your hand on the ground when they were young. Will email him for a description. Yes, it was powerful. You can see how my son Tucker bounced right off me.

[Cliff Hargrave]

Cliff, what's the difference on the impact? Or what makes you like the one you posted over the one I originally posted.

I just don't prefer air shields, to spongy.

The one I posted is more solid, like a big Thai pad.

[jjaje]

I've been wanting to make a kick shield out of that memory foam used in beds and stuff. I think that would work fairly well.

[kumite]

I just don't prefer air shields, to spongy.

The one I posted is more solid, like a big Thai pad.


ok, I was just curious. Is the durablilty good? We got several big guys that are wearing out all the kick shields we've got. That's why I was looking at the one I posted because it's a large thick shield.

[poetic misjustice]

i think the memory foam would probaly work well, thats a pretty good idea.

[Brian R. VanCise]

It looks virtually identical to my Century Blast Master (http://www.centuryfitness.com/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/ProductDisplay?catalogId=10051&storeId=10051&productId=64560&langId=-1&product_parentId=13520&crumb=13501&categoryId=13520&parent_category_rn=13515), which I've used for six years. The prices and dimmensions are comparable. The site you linked to says, "Made of tough synthetic leather with 4 nylon straps." Century calls it "nylon reinforced vinyl." The only difference I can see is that the straps on your air shield are nylon. Mine has vinyl straps.
http://www.centuryfitness.com/wcsstore/century/IMAGES/LARGE/1037-LG.JPG
I like mine alot. I prefer it over standard shields when taking kicks from the seniors at my club. Even when knocked hard, I don't get that lose-your-lunch feeling.
http://www.eyhkc.com/images/sloane28.jpg
The only thing I've noticed is that I have to be careful when holding the side strap -- see above. I've been tapped on my hand a couple of times. I wish it were longer, so I could just tug around behind the shield. The extra foam and air-filled inner-tube take the sting of hard kicks, and I can beat the crap out of it with out undue punishment on hands and feet.


Hey Gordon,

I have a couple of those and it is a pretty good shield. Just one of the many that I use but it is a good one. I tend to like variety, so I use a wide assortment of different pads from Century ones to Fairtex, etc. Sometimes ones that do not absorb as much are great as well. Those ones really make the guy holding them exhale properly and get used to contact as well. :D

Brian R. VanCise
www.instinctiveresponsetraining.com

[Gordon Nore]

I hate air shields.

Cliff,
I was going through old pictures on the club website from years ago. The only other shield I ever used before I bought air shield was this one. It was old and bent, not like the sturdy one you have. Observe...

Canada Day, 1997. Sensei John kicks his brother Sensei Tony. That's me wincing in the lower-right-hand corner, pics 1 and 3.
http://www.eyhkc.com/images/can13.jpg
http://www.eyhkc.com/images/can8.jpg
http://www.eyhkc.com/images/can15.jpg
...and Tony kicks back.
http://www.eyhkc.com/images/can9.jpg

So it occurs to me I've never practised holding or kicking the type of shield you have. I just went from beat-up bottom-on-the-line to the air shield. Back in those days, as a relative beginner, holding the crappy shield for these guys just killed me. Will have to try one like yours.

[Gordon Nore]

Just out of curiosity Gordon,what type if kick is the man executing in your picture. Looks powerful.
Allan,
Just got John's email back. As best as he can recall...

I don't recall, I think it was a low level jumping roundhouse kick that I really threw my body into.*Great for demonstrations but not that practical because even when you connect with something it can still throw you off balance.
This was for a demonstration my after-school martial arts class put on.

[Cliff Hargrave]

Cliff,
I was going through old pictures on the club website from years ago. The only other shield I ever used before I bought air shield was this one. It was old and bent, not like the sturdy one you have. Observe...



Those shields are terrible. I remember trying to hold two or three together for someone to kick. Those should only be used for kids classes. Look how easy they folded up. Just looking at those pics makes my ribs hurt.

[CosimoTe]

I think the thick blockers take away from the striker. I dont particularly like to strike them I dont get the feel of damaging my opponent as much. BTW nice tag line jjaje.

[doubleouch]

The air shields are a bit of a safety problem. They aren't great on the knees because of the bouunce back effect from the inner tube. They work OK if you don't fill them too much. Otherwise you could really dammage your knees on one of those. Not a big problem with roundhouse kicks, but with front kicks and sidekicks it can be an issue. I'd stear clear. I really love thai pads. Much more versatile and can be used for hands or feet.

[FunSPE]

Another vote for what Cliff suggested. Those Thai "suitcase" bags rule. I too dont like air shields. They just feel too flimsy.

Robert Soliz

[beungood]

I like the Thai Pads and suitcase bags. They are more versatile than the airshields and you can move around a lot better and feed counter strikes to your students to make sure they keep thier hands up.

[Cliff Hargrave]

Ha Ha, guess what? I am training some guys in my garage and one of them said he was going to bring me some equipment he had laying around. He brought me some cool mitts and gloves and...................a BLASTMASTER!

My 7 year old likes hitting on it :)