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Escaping One of the Worst Positions for Ground and Pound

March 17, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

Escaping One of the Worst Positions for Ground and Pound

The ground and pound strategy in MMA is one that relies on getting on top, staying on top, and then beating your opponent into unconsciousness with your fists, forearms and elbows. In other words, it's a slightly more sophisticated version of your basic street fighter's approach to groundfighting... One of the worst ground and pound positions is the so-called 'giftwrap' … [Read more...]

The Dreaded Double Ear Slap

February 15, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

The Dreaded Double Ear Slap

The double ear slap has long been a staple of combatives training. The official story, related by many self defense experts, is that if you slap both of your opponent's ears at the same time then, no matter his size, his eardrums will explode and he'll drop to the ground in a shrivelled heap. Sounds too good to be true, doesn't it? Let's take a look at the best data we … [Read more...]

Leg Kicks, the Forgotten Tool

November 26, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Leg Kicks, the Forgotten Tool

The leg kick isn't as sexy a technique as a superman punch or a spinning heel kick to the head, but that doesn't mean you can ignore it! It's been proven in countless Muay Thai kickboxing and MMA matches, and definitely has it's applications in the street as well. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z0qkY4oKmRg Low kicks have one HUGE advantage over kicks to the body or … [Read more...]

Improvised Weapons Found in the Street

November 10, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Improvised Weapons Found in the Street

Wherever you are right now as you're reading this, look up and try to spot three different improvised weapons you could grab if an attack was imminent. Seriously: if you're at home pretend that you've got 5 seconds to get your hands on something because someone's breaking in. What exactly are you going to grab?  And if you can't get your hands on that object, what's your … [Read more...]

Standing Armlocks in Self Defense

November 4, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Standing Armlocks in Self Defense

Standing armlocks are a staple in the martial arts, including Aikido, classical ju-jujutsu, and many modern self defense systems. They're usually practised something like this: your partner comes in with a lunging punch, you block and sidestep, control the arm, step in, and then apply pressure to the arm until he taps out. Here's what some of those standing armbars from … [Read more...]

A Guide to Elbow Strikes for Self Defense

October 20, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

A Guide to Elbow Strikes for Self Defense

Getting punched in the face is bad enough, but the prospect of getting an elbow to the head is downright scary. Depending on how exactly you land an elbow, it can knock someone out cold, or cut them open like a razor blade. And unlike hitting someone with your fist, where your technique needs to be perfect to avoid breaking the small bones in your hand, your elbow is … [Read more...]

Self Defense Against a Stick Attack

September 26, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Self Defense Against a Stick Attack

Let's talk about self defense against a stick attack. And keep in mind that this information also applies to bats, saps, batons, clubs, tactical flashlights, or pieces of 2x4 lumber.  We're just using the word 'stick' as shorthand, because the principles and techniques are the same for dealing with all blunt weapons. First I'll give you the information in video form (this … [Read more...]

5 Steps to Defend against the Sucker Punch

August 20, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

5 Steps to Defend against the Sucker Punch

In your regular training you may practice all kinds of cool blocks and counters to punches, but what about defending against the punch that you don't see coming? The sucker punch! That's a really tricky, and very scary situation. But there are certain precautions and techniques you can use to minimise the danger from this cowardly ambush scenario. In fact, here are 5 … [Read more...]

Submissions for Self Defense

June 17, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Submissions for Self Defense

In self defense you need at least some submissions in your arsenal.  Breaking someone's arm or putting them to sleep with a choke is often a much more effective (and safer) strategy than standing in front of the guy and trading haymakers. Now when it comes to submissions you have thousands of options: armlocks, chokes, wrist locks, neck cranks, face crushes etc. But … [Read more...]

What Knuckles Should You Punch with Barehanded?

April 28, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

What Knuckles Should You Punch with Barehanded?

Want to start an argument between two martial artists?  Ask them which knuckles you should punch with? The fundamental issues here are generating power and mitigating the risk of breaking your hand if you hit a hard bony part of your opponent. I shot a video on this exact topic, so give it a watch and then scroll down where I've included additional … [Read more...]

Two Methods to Make a Really Strong Fist

March 26, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Two Methods to Make a Really Strong Fist

Boxing when your hand is shielded by wraps and gloves is one thing.  All that protection on your hands distributes the force across your entire hand, stabilises your wrist and safeguards the small bones of your hands. But hitting someone in the head with your bare fist in the street is quite another matter... When your unprotected fist meets an unpadded skull there's … [Read more...]

Self Defense Against a Lapel Grab

January 27, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Self Defense Against a Lapel Grab

  Today we're going to talk about self defense vs a lapel grab, a classic problem that every martial arts student needs several solutions to. Notice I said 'several solutions', and that's because any one technique can never be equally applicable to all situations. If a crazed serial killer is coming after you with a hatchet then morally (and, in most places, … [Read more...]

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SELF DEFENSE TUTORIALS

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Recent Articles

Self Defense Guard Volume 1-1

Self Defense Guard, with  Stephan Kesting Self Defense Guard Volume 1-1 Volume 1 Self Defense Guard Volume 1-1 – YOU ARE HERE Self Defense Guard Volume 1-2 Self Defense Guard Volume 1-3 Self Defense Guard Volume 1-4 Volume 2 Introduction: Self Defense Philosophy and Training Shin Shield Distance Control to Standing in Base Guillotine Choke vs Grab […]

How Different Martial Arts Exhale While Striking

How Different Martial Arts Exhale While Striking

It’s amazing how many different martial arts use a grunt/yell when they strike. Of course many systems of karate has their Kiai, which is expressed as a ‘Heeaht’, ‘Hyah’ or ‘Aiight!’ Very similar vocalisations are used in traditional Japanese ju-jutsu (like in the first 12 seconds of this Armbar vs a Knife video on Youtube). […]

Escaping One of the Worst Positions for Ground and Pound

Escaping One of the Worst Positions for Ground and Pound

The ground and pound strategy in MMA is one that relies on getting on top, staying on top, and then beating your opponent into unconsciousness with your fists, forearms and elbows. In other words, it’s a slightly more sophisticated version of your basic street fighter’s approach to groundfighting… One of the worst ground and pound […]

Critical Weapon Drills: Double Stick Sinawali

Critical Weapon Drills: Double Stick Sinawali

To be a complete martial artist you need to be semi-familiar with how to handle weapons, including sticks, knives, flexible weapons, firearms, etc. After all, if you end up in a serious confrontation and there’s a tool handy then you’d be a fool to duke it out empty handed. To help you with becoming better […]

Recent Articles

  • Self Defense Guard Volume 1-1
  • How Different Martial Arts Exhale While Striking
  • Escaping One of the Worst Positions for Ground and Pound
  • Critical Weapon Drills: Double Stick Sinawali
  • Karate Myth: Can You Kill a Man by Driving his Nasal Cartilage into his Brain!

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