Century BOB or Spar-Pro

Baggio...

Hi y'all,

I know I've already asked this in the "Combatives thread", but I'd thought I'd widen the search by starting a new topic (Hope that's cool?).

I was wondering if any of you guys know if there is any where I can get either a B.O.B or a Spar-Pro here in Ireland? Alas, the one I currently have is not too well at the mo', and was originally bought while I was living in the U.K. Now that I'm back home I don't really want to by a new one from England with the exchange rate and all. Any one got any ideas?

Appreciate the help,

Baggio.

Andrew_M

Just buy a heavy bag! A good 3 foot fairtex leather one will last you years

Baggio...

Hey there,

Cheers for the quick reply, I have a great heavy bag at the mo', which I use all the time. But for "Combatives" BOB's are an essential piece of kit for targeting ones pre-emptive strikes (without damaging your fingers etc).

Cheers,

Baggio.

paddyc

pls excuse my ignorance ....... but whats a BOB? any pics?

Baggio...

Hi Paddyc,

Check out this link:
http://www.onlinesports.com/images/cen-10169-817.jpg

"Century's Body Opponent Bag, is a lifelike mannequin that fits on a sand or water filled base. BOB's skin is made of high strength plastisol and the inner cavity is filled with durable urethane foam. BOB is adjustable from approx. 5'10" to 6'2". BOB comes with a one year limited warranty. Base included."

Cheers,

R.

Im2Lazy

Basically it's a free staning life like punch bag.

celt2005

Seen them in Arnotts .....

padraic mchale

i rang mullen sports in town and they do not stock them. The guy i was talking to reckons you can't get them in Ireland that you have to purchase from UK.

Any more on the arnotts link?

Baggio...

Hey celt2005,

Did you see the exact same Dummy as in the pics above? I.E. anotomically correct with fake brown skin etc.? As I went into Arnotts not so long ago, and all they had were those black ones that look like well built "grey" Aliens or summit. But if you saw a Century BOB I'll give 'em a call again. Thanks for your help.

Cheers bro',

Bagg.

PS - I tried J.P. Mullen sports also, and they said the same thing, that you gotta get one from the U.K.

Scramble

Why don't you just order one off the web? Postage for something that big will be expensive, but it will probably still work out cheaper than getting somewhere like Arnotts to special order one in for you.

I've hit BOBs and similar in the past but never fully understood the appeal. They're far more expensive than a heavy bag, less durable, and prone to falling over when hit squarely. The fact that they're more anatomically correct is nice, but a cheaper alternative is obviously just to join a gym full of people, and have someone to train with, whether its sparring or just holding pads to practice the type of thing you might with a BOB.

MaxBax

Make your own!

Baggio...

Hey MaxBax,

Great idea!!..... actually, I'm too lazy how about u make me one instead?

Hurry up lad, I need it ASAP!

Bagg.

Baggio...

Hey Scramble,

I know a lot of people don't really dig BOBs (tha'ts fair enough). But they are an essential piece of kit for any one into “Combatives”. It would take me too long to go into the, “ins and outs”, but for practicing pre-emptive striking, and targeting there is simply nothing better in my opinion (plus you wont break any fingers when u start gouging techs). It's also essential for practicing strikes such as the Edge of Hand Blow, Face Smashe and the Chin Jabs etc. (These strikes are not to be confused with TMA strikes, as they are quite different). For example it's near impossible to practice a chin jab on a normal punch bag, especially with any real force.

I've been checking out the shipping costs on the web, and some of the quotes that I have been given are astronomical. Especially from the U.S. So if I saw one in Arnotts I'd grab it for the convenience.

As for the gym side of things, I'm in a Kenpo club so we usually get the chance to punch each other 3 times a week. Alas, I still have not found any one that will let me practice a full force Face Smash on them...... sigh, what can you do?:D

Cheers,

Baggio.

fianna.5u.com

Beware practicing this sort of thing!

I remember in the bat man cartoon, an evil ninja was practicing special target strikes, when batman examined the bag he found weak spots where it had been hit alot. Thus, allowing batman to protect himself in those spots, rendering the attacks useless.

Just a warning.

I've definately seen a century BOB in dublin but I cant remember where, either arnotts or elveries I think.

Peace

MaeveD

Yep, saw Bob in Arnotts about two weeks ago. I'd give them a call, but I'd say they don't keep stock and only bring them in to order.

If you're on for it.....maybe take the chance and ask if they'll sell you the one on display... it's marked from everyone smacking it, but you could get a good discount.

Baggio...

Hey Y'all,

Just had a call back from Arnotts, and unfortunately they don't stock Century BOBs at all (maybe they did at some point). All they seem to have are those “Body Sculpture” ones – ya' know the ones that look like weird black light bulbs. So it's back to the Web for me. I'll let you know if I find any decent deals. I remember seeing some really cheap ones on e bay but those dudes wont ship over here to Ireland from the U.S. I'll let you know how the search goes, and I'll post any decent links I find.

Cheers for all the input,

Later,

Baggio.

Colm_OReilly

I remember that Batman, I was really worried the next day in Kenpo in case I'd inadvertedly kill my sparring partner.

Then I woke up from The Matrix

MaeveD

That's really odd Baggio.... It even had a sign on its chest asking people not to hit it...

If you see a good deal on ebay, send the seller a mail asking them to post it here.... That's worked for me before, though expensive.

Also one of the sites we use sells them for deffo http://www.bytomic.com/ but it's not Irish

Baggio... wrote:

Hey Y'all,

Just had a call back from Arnotts, and unfortunately they don't stock Century BOBs at all (maybe they did at some point). All they seem to have are those “Body Sculpture” ones – ya' know the ones that look like weird black light bulbs. So it's back to the Web for me. I'll let you know if I find any decent deals. I remember seeing some really cheap ones on e bay but those dudes wont ship over here to Ireland from the U.S. I'll let you know how the search goes, and I'll post any decent links I find.

Cheers for all the input,

Later,

Baggio.

celt2005

Jaysus,


Tha price of them things !!!!!!!, can ya not go downtown and start slaggin burberry !!!!!


can ya not fix the one you have, google this, as I know some glues/ Kits can do this....

Scramble

they are an essential piece of kit for any one into “Combatives”. It would take me too long to go into the, “ins and outs”, but for practicing pre-emptive striking, and targeting there is simply nothing better in my opinion (plus you wont break any fingers when u start gouging techs). It's also essential for practicing strikes such as the Edge of Hand Blow, Face Smashe and the Chin Jabs etc.

Hi Baggio-

As I said, I've actually had the chance to use a BOB in the past, and I am familliar with the approach taken by combatives enthusiasts. At the time I was curious and I had (and still have) DVD footage of people who are well-regarded in combatives circles such as Carl Cestari and Kelly McCann making use of BOBs and Spar-pros to practice edge of hand blows and chin jabs.

My criticisms remain the same, really.

The first problem is that if you hit the BOB hard then it will may simply fall over. Even if the base is filled with sand then a good striker shouldn't have a problem knocking it over. That's an obvious drawback in that it rules out combinations. On the Cestari DVDs I have they get around this by having someone hold the base. But this defeats the purprose of having a BOB as a way of solo-training.

As far as practicing 'deadly' hand to hand blows on the BOB goes: I don't think the following will convince someone who buys into the ideas behind combatives, but I'd say it anyway: I believe that training to hit a static plastic dummy has little or no relationship to the skills you need to land a blow on a moving, thinking, reacting intelligent opponent. If you are determined to practice chin jabs or whatnot then you'd be better off with a moving opponent who will hold angled thai pads for you to strike. At least you're getting some footwork going and learning about distance and timing as opposed to going down the road of battering a plastic dummy in your bedroom.

My few cents, for what its worth.

If anyone on the board is interesting in combatives and would like to relieve me of the DVDs I accumulated, I would be happy to pass them at a reasonable price (I don't have any use for them).

Baggio...

Hi Scramble,

Good talking to you again.

Just one thing about a BOB or a Spar-Pro if you hit them really hard they wont fall over. They will get knocked back however. I'm thinking the DVD you may have seen this on is one of the Castari seminars. And as he said at one point in one of his other vids – “we could not carry fully loaded BOBs around as they are too damn heavy to lift “. Remember the base in one of those bad boys is 11st. So you probably saw a string of unloaded BOBs being struck by students at the seminar, which had to be held. Other guys I have seen strike strike BOBs really hard and in multiple combos, are Kelly Mc Cann, Lee Morrison and Damien Ross (and all those dudes are very powerful). So for me BOB is perfect for solo training.

Your right though, hitting a static dummy is one thing, a real fight is a struggle and dynamic, but it's a great way of perfecting a tech with full power before you go into the sparring side of things (not that you can really use a chin jab in sparring any how) only on a bullet man etc. Most people know that any type of striking equipment one uses (which I use all types BTW) can only replicate the real thing in a small way. Also, I do practice those methods of training you have already mentioned with non static partners, move pads ect. it's only way to get one moving and thinking as you said. I just see a BOB as another string to my bow if you will.

I can appreciate Combatives is not your thing, but I'm sticking with it, as I have used it in the past (unfortunately, after having no other choice) and it's has worked for me.

By the way what DVDs are u trying to sell?

Cheers,

Baggio.

Baggio...

Hi MaeveD,

That is strange alright, I guess those sales dudes 'aint got a clue at times. Might pop in again just incase. Cheers for the link and advise by the way, I'll let you know what happens.

All the best,

Bagg.

fianna.5u.com

Man,I just had a great idea. They should make these things go "ouch! My eyes!" and "ahh broken nose - 10 points" etc

that would be gas

Peace

Roper

You could make them foul mouthed too. Like Krusty the Clown Operation.

"Ow! You pr1ck I just got lazer eye surgery!"

Musashi

I'd also like to know what vids. or DVDs Scramble is looking to offload?

Scramble

The DVDs are sold, thanks guys.