• HOME
  • ONLINE TRAINING
  • JOIN US
  • CONTACT US

Self Defense Tutorials

Learn self-defense quickly and efficiently

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Pinterest
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Is This Good Pain or Bad Pain?

October 5, 2022 By Self Defense Tutorials

Stephan Kesting vs Chris Leben

Pain is subjective and contextual. Awakening to chest pain in the middle of the night is terrifying — a possible sign of a heart attack. But the very same stabbing pain after a hard workout is experienced completely differently: maybe it’s your pectoral muscles shrieking from too many pushups, or your lungs burning from hard interval training. It’s the same sensation … [Read more...]

Pressure Testing Knife, Stick and Gun Defenses with Burton Richardson

December 16, 2021 By Self Defense Tutorials

Burton Richardson is BJJ black belt and has an incredible lineage in the Filipino Martial Arts as well, having trained with many of the top instructors in the world.  I was thrilled to have him on the podcast to talk about pressure tested self defense in the real world. If you prefer, here's our whole conversation in video format... And here's the streaming … [Read more...]

Move the Fight to Win the Fight

July 10, 2021 By Self Defense Tutorials

move the fight to win the fight

I was once involved in restraining a crackhead thief until the police arrived. He'd been caught red-handed with a bunch of stolen stereo equipment and women's purses. Now I had him cornered in an alley, carefully watching his hands in case he pulled out a knife, but otherwise not too worried about my physical danger. (I was a lot bigger and stronger than him, plus had decades … [Read more...]

Two is One and One is None

April 8, 2021 By Self Defense Tutorials

Broken Paddle on the 1000 Mile Solo Trip

There’s a military saying that goes, “Two is one, and one is none.” The idea is that if you have a mission-critical item then it will inevitably malfunction, get misplaced or get smashed into a million pieces.  So you need a backup. This is really a corollary of Murphy’s Law, namely “Whatever can go wrong will go wrong”.  Once you involve Murphy you can’t have a single … [Read more...]

How Martial Sports Were Used to Train One of the Deadliest Army in History

January 16, 2021 By Self Defense Tutorials

War Games of the Steppe Warriors

I listened to a really good podcast episode recently about how sports and games helped create one of the deadliest armies in history. And the amazing thing is that close to a thousand years later many of these same sports are still being practiced today! I learned about this on the Villains and Virgins podcast and the specific episode was called 'Wargames of the Steppe' … [Read more...]

MMA Fighter Fights for His Life in Home Invasion

April 9, 2020 By Stephan Kesting

MMA Fighter Anthony Smith Home Invasion

On Sunday April 5th, 2020, at 4 am in the morning, MMA fighter Anthony Smith found himself in the fight of his life to protect his wife and kids. He went from being sound asleep to fighting an intruder a few seconds later who just wouldn't quit no matter what was thrown at him. What might sound strange is that he 6' 4", 230 lb, highly athletic, super conditioned fighter … [Read more...]

How to Spar in Kickboxing for the First Time

October 21, 2019 By Stephan Kesting

first time kickboxing sparring

I've watched a lot of beginners spar for the first time. Usually it takes only about 30 seconds for all thoughts of defense or strategy or finesse vanish and the exercise quickly devolves into two people trading giant haymakers. This is totally understandable - sparring is stressful especially if you're not used to it. But throwing heavy leather on your first time in the … [Read more...]

Fighting in the UFC and Inside Your Head, with Eliot Marshall

February 5, 2019 By Stephan Kesting

Eliot Marshal on The Strenuous Life Podcast

Eliot Marshall is BJJ black belt and a former professional mixed MMA fighter who also appeared in Season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter show. In today's episode of my podcast (The Strenuous Life Podcast) we talk about how to run a successful BJJ school, the financial incentive structures in MMA fight teams, the physical and mental attributes you need to be a good fighter, and … [Read more...]

Beating the Adrenaline Dump in a Fight

June 28, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

beating the adrenaline dump

Adrenaline is a hell of a drug. On the one hand adrenaline makes you stronger, faster, and hugely increases your pain tolerance... On the other hand it destroys fine motor function, gives you tunnel vision, or even makes your mind go blank. Adrenaline is a powerful horse to ride, but you need to control it so it takes you where you want to go!https://t.co/9ywxoUuuts — … [Read more...]

Training Martial Arts As You Get Older

May 23, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

training martial arts as you get older

For me, like for many people, martial arts is a lifetime endeavour. But as I approach my 50th year I don't (or can't) do the same things I used to do in my teens or twenties. I used to feel guilty about this, but then I heard Dan Inosanto talk about how your game needs to change every 10 years to adapt to the changes in your body.  He started training at age 11 and is … [Read more...]

A Case for Simplifying Your Self Defense Techniques

January 21, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

Simplify sign at Apple

Supposedly there is a sign at Apple HQ that reads "Simplify. Simplify. Simplify." with the second two "simplifies" crossed out. I think that's a really elegant (and funny) way to get a point across when it comes to design, but it's also really important for training in the martial arts for self defense purposes. Training in class, as we get better over time we also tend … [Read more...]

Improvised Weapons Found in the Street

November 10, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Improvised street weapons

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...]

3 Great Examples of Verbal De-Escalation

September 12, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Tim Tackett 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

August 20, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

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

August 19, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

tales from the door - what we can learn from a 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...]

Next Page »

Sign Up For Our Newsletter

5 Most Important Self Defense Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu

5 Most Important Self Defense Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu

This free downloadable PDF reveals the 5 most important self-defense lessons from Jiu-Jitsu that will keep you safe in real-life street confrontations.

SELF DEFENSE TUTORIALS

Detailed Self Defense Tutorials coming soon - click here for more info

Recent Articles

The jab, the most important punch in boxing

How to Throw the Jab, The Most Important Punch in Boxing

In the video below Ritchie Yip, head instructor of Infighting Martial Arts, delivers an absolute masterclass on the jab, the most important punch in boxing. The jab can be used offensively and defensively. The jab allows you to dictate the range and pace of a fight. It can be used to cut someone, tire them […]

Knee Ride for Self Defense

How to Control Your Attacker with the Knee Ride Position

The knee ride is the most soul-crushing position in all of jiu-jitsu and is one of the most important tools in your self defense toolbox! This position – also known as a knee mount or knee on belly – puts HUGE pressure on your opponent, which gives you tons of submission opportunities because of all […]

How to Pass the Guard When Your Opponent Can Kick You

How to Pass the Guard When Your Opponent Can Kick You

If you’re approaching someone who is flat on their back with their knees pulled in to their chest be very, very careful.  It’s a sign that the other guy could have some training and might be planning to kick your teeth down your throat as soon as you close the distance. This is a legit […]

I accidentally followed the advice of a mini-mall ninja master

I’m limping around right now because of a torn groin.  It’s not serious; it’ll heal up, but it’s my own damn fault. You see, I had just walked into the dojo when someone asked me how much distance you can cover with a jumping front kick. “Show, don’t tell,” I responded and launched myself across […]

Recent Articles

  • How to Throw the Jab, The Most Important Punch in Boxing
  • How to Control Your Attacker with the Knee Ride Position
  • How to Pass the Guard When Your Opponent Can Kick You
  • I accidentally followed the advice of a mini-mall ninja master
  • Kicking from the Ground – How to Do It Properly!

ARTICLE INDEX

  • Advanced Tutorials (2)
  • Conditioning (13)
  • Featured (125)
  • Firearms (3)
  • Grappling (46)
  • Lethal Force (7)
  • Martial Arts Mythbusting (8)
  • Mindset (23)
  • Product Reviews (2)
  • Self Defense Basics (96)
  • Self Defense Tutorials (7)
  • Striking (55)
  • Weapons (19)

Go Shopping

Self Defense Products on Amazon

Other Great Sites

Grapplearts

Resources

Striking
Grappling
Weapons
Mindset
About Us
Privacy Policy
Contact Us
©Stephan Kesting, All Rights Reserved