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
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...]
Countering Made Easy, with Examples from the Filipino Martial Arts and Kickboxing
There's a Filipino martial arts demonstration I saw once which really impressed me. A teacher and his student stood facing each other, and the student, armed with stick in hand, was swinging the stick in fast, powerful figure 8's in the air ahead of him. The teacher stood just out of range and waiting impassively. Then slowly - almost leisurely - he walked towards his … [Read more...]
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...]
The Most Important Physical Attribute for Self Defense
There are many different physical attributes that help with your martial arts training and self defense skills: strength, power, explosiveness, endurance, coordination, sensitivity, speed, and flexibility, to name just a few. But what's the most important one? There are various martial artists who build their game around a few special attributes, but if you were going to … [Read more...]
3 Great Examples of Verbal De-Escalation
Here's a great video that I found of Dan Inosanto's earliest students, Tim Tackett, talking about 'verbal jiu-jitsu' at Erik Paulson's gym in California. That might sound boring but it's super-crazy important stuff!! He starts out by telling the story of how an acquaintance of his spent 6 years in jail for throwing a single punch. That punch knocked his opponent out, who … [Read more...]
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...]
Self Defense Tips from a Long Time Bouncer
Doormen and bouncers deal with potential violent confrontations every night they're working, and that makes their experiences and insights super-valuable to the rest of us. In this first instalment of 'Tales from the Door' I pick the brain of my friend, training partner and long-time bouncer Chad Skands. Some of the topics we cover include... Specific strategies to … [Read more...]
Avoiding the Street Ambush
You're walking down the street towards your car and some dude gets gets in your face and starts talking to you. Maybe he's asking for change, wants to know what time it is, or is actually being aggressive. Anyway, if he's in your personal space start trying to figure out if this guy is an actual threat or just an annoyance. And if you think that this could go south then … [Read more...]
The Mount Position in the Street and How to Survive It
If you’re flat on your back in a streetfight with someone sitting on your chest - a position called the mount - then you’re in one of the very worst situations you can ever be in. The guy on top has all the advantages - reach, gravity, targeting and mobility - and can drop devastating bombs on your face at will. From the mount he has close to absolute dominance. Even … [Read more...]
How to Deal with Fear in the Street
Fear is the mind killer. Well, it certainly can be, if you don’t know how to control it. Many people worry about how they would react if they suddenly had to use their martial arts skills in a real life situation. Even if you train regularly, there is a huge difference between practicing in the safety of a dojo with a partner, and dealing with the wildly unpredictable … [Read more...]
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...]
How to Make Sure Your Martial Art Will Work in the Street
You may train in a martial art, but will your techniques really work in the street against a real attacker? This is a question a lot of martial artists wrestle with... No matter what martial art you are learning, there are countless techniques you will be trying to master and then combine to serve various purposes. It can be overwhelming, and even once you feel you know … [Read more...]
How to Spot a Knife Attack Before It Happens
Some dude gets in your face. You're bigger, stronger, and (probably) better trained than your opponent. No problem, you think to yourself. I can take this guy. You parry his first strike, close the distance, and move in ready to drop him. He lands a couple of blows to your ribs, but they aren’t terribly hard. You knee him and he drops, which is when you notice the blood … [Read more...]
Why the Mount is So Devastating in a Streetfight
It's absolutely devastating to be on the bottom of mount in a street fight. First of all the guy on top has the power of gravity behind the strikes, making them much more powerful. This can turn just a regular punch to your face into an absolute BOMB! Secondly, the guy on top can rotate his upper body to increase the power of the strikes. Just like hip rotation is the key … [Read more...]