Vader | Sports University

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VADER.

When executed correctly, the Vader is a highly effective skill move that creates distance between you and your opponent allowing you to READ them, as well as, the play, as it develops, without requiring you to prematurely commit in either direction off of the block, jam, and or press.

Even better, it’s as effective for receivers fighting off the line, and creating separation as it is for defensive personnel.

VADER 1:3 + SLASH.

Break step forward right and with your left hand, explode, punch, and grab the right shoulder of your opponent (your perspective).
Extend and lock out your left arm. This will open the door to the right while keeping your opponent to your left thus preventing them from working back 2:2 on you (shoulder mechanics). This also creates an arms-length distance of separation between you and them.
As you push through the door, pull your opponent to you. Essentially, this action closes the door behind you as you blow by them.
If needed, punch with your right hand, across the body, striking your opponent on the right side of the shoulder, in order to, push them left, open the door a bit more, and blow by.
Depending on the situation, and only after clearing your side, if you determine that you need to pursue the play away, use the separation created by the Vader to slash, with your right arm, down and back across your body to cut underneath the defender, shed the block, and pursue away.

SIDE NOTE FOR RECEIVERS.

For receivers, the Vader is a great way of:

Keeping a DB with an outside shade to your outside for vertical and or inside breaking routes.
Keeping a DB with an inside shade to your inside for vertical and or out-breaking routes.
Creating separation in either direction base to root and into the stem of your route.
Baiting your opponent into overplaying through the Vader, then, slashing back in the opposite direction.

!You’ll know it’s time to slash when you feel your Vader arm moving back across your body. This means your opponent is attempting to force his way through you at an angle opposite the slash direction.

VADER 3:1 + SLASH.

Break step forward left and with your right hand, explode, punch, and grab the left shoulder of your opponent (your perspective).
Extend and lock out your right arm. This will open the door to the left while keeping your opponent to your right thus preventing them from working back 2:2 on you (shoulder mechanics). This also creates an arms-length distance of separation between you and them.
As you push through the door, pull your opponent to you. Essentially, this action closes the door behind you as you blow by them.
If needed, punch with your left hand, across the body, striking your opponent on the left side of the shoulder, in order to, push them right, open the door a bit more, and blow by.
Depending on the situation, and only after clearing your side, if you determine that you need to pursue the play away, use the separation created by the Vader to slash, with your left arm, down and back across your body to cut underneath the defender, shed the block, and pursue away.

SIDE NOTE FOR RECEIVERS.

For receivers, the Vader is a great way of:

Keeping a DB with an outside shade to your outside for vertical and or inside breaking routes.
Keeping a DB with an inside shade to your inside for vertical and or out-breaking routes.
Creating separation in either direction base to root and into the stem of your route.
Baiting your opponent into overplaying through the Vader, then, slashing back in the opposite direction.

WHY IT’S EFFECTIVE.

The Vader works because:

It allows you to control the trunk (upper body) of your opponent.
By controlling the trunk, you can exploit a weakness in the kinetic chain that isolates your opponent’s core muscles against the strength of every muscle recruited in your standing bench (FSP). And, their core alone is no match for this group of muscles.