How NOT to Blast: From Vunak’s R.A.T.
I learned Paul Vunak’s Rapid Assault Tactics (R.A.T.) directly from him in 2000, during two days of semi-private classes after a seminar of his in Long Beach. Precisely due to that experience, I’m surprised to see this video of him performing the “blast” portion of R.A.T. in such an ineffective way:
The “theory” behind R.A.T is solid, and has three phases:
- Entry/Inflict Pain
- Pressure/Blast - to keep the pressure on
- Terminate/Headbutts, Knees, and Elbows
The problem with the above video is that Vunak ignored the first phase. Attacking any decent boxer after he throws a couple of jabs with a wing chun style straight blast is a great way to get knocked out. A decent boxer with slip and hit, drop and hit, etc., etc. If Vunak would have followed his own past advice, and kicked the opponent in the balls or finger jabed him in the eye before beginning his blast, fine. But to go straight to the “pressure” phase without an entry that puts your opponent a step behind the curve is not a good idea…if you’re idea of pressure is a wing chun style straight blast.