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Surviving the Worst Case Scenario – BJJ vs a Gun on the Ground!

November 11, 2019 By Self Defense Tutorials

Surviving the Worst Case Scenario – BJJ vs a Gun on the Ground!

Beware the weapon draw! If you’re on the bottom using your guard in a submission grappling situation then the single worst thing that can happen is that the other guy drops back and locks on a heel hook submission, forcing you to tap out or suffer a potentially serious ankle or knee injury. If you’re using your guard in an MMA situation then the worst thing that can … [Read more...]

How to Spar in Kickboxing for the First Time

October 21, 2019 By Self Defense Tutorials

How to Spar in Kickboxing for the First Time

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...]

Kicking from the Ground – How to Do It Properly!

March 12, 2019 By Self Defense Tutorials

Kicking from the Ground – How to Do It Properly!

Many self defense systems teach that if you get knocked down to the ground you should get into a defensive position on your side. From there you should then lash out at your opponent with sidekicks to keep him away. In this article and video I'll show how staying on your side when you're knocked down is mostly an outmoded technique and that there are much better options … [Read more...]

A Great Ground and Pound Drill

December 29, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

A Great Ground and Pound Drill

Here's a really interesting MMA drill with a TON of applications for self defense... It's features Greg Nelson who has coached 3 different fighters to UFC championships (Dave Menne, Sean Sherk and Brock Lesnar) and has also done a ton of work with law enforcement and the military. Anyway, here's video I think you should watch. The ground and pound section is mostly in … [Read more...]

The Battle to Functionalize Traditional Martial Arts, with Dr Mark Cheng

December 14, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

The Battle to Functionalize Traditional Martial Arts, with Dr Mark Cheng

It was a pleasure to talk with Dr Mark Cheng on my podcast today (The Strenuous Life Podcast). Mark is a lifelong Tai Chi practitioner who was featured in Tim Ferris's 4 Hour Body book and created the Tai Chen warmup and movement awareness training training for the P90X people.  But he's also done a TON of training in reality-based, pressure-tested martial arts, which gives … [Read more...]

Kickboxing Sparring without Brain Damage

December 8, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

Kickboxing Sparring without Brain Damage

There's a fundamental problem with learning kickboxing... On the one hand, to get good at it and know that your techniques will work under pressure you HAVE to spar. On the other hand, it's undeniable now that repeated shots to the head are no good at all for your brain. Everyone has heard of punch drunk boxers and football players with CTE, and we DON'T want to do … [Read more...]

A Great Reaction Time Drill

December 5, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

A Great Reaction Time Drill

Everybody wants faster reaction times. The best fighters in the world make their opponents look like they're in slow motion, and a large part of that is having the ability to choose exactly the right technique at exactly the right time. Those reflexes aren't magic. They can be trained, drilled, improved. Today we're going to cover a great reaction time drill that'll teach … [Read more...]

How to Train Eye Gouges, Throat Grabs and Groin Strikes

October 16, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

How to Train Eye Gouges, Throat Grabs and Groin Strikes

OK, I get it: on the street you don't want to be limited by the rules of a sport. On the street you may need to pull hair, gouge the eyes, kick the groin, grab the throat, and if all that doesn't work then you'll need to start fighting dirty ;) But a martial art is more than just the techniques that you find in that martial art; a martial art also includes methods for … [Read more...]

A Super-Simple 3 Part Formula for Defense in Standup Sparring

July 30, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

A Super-Simple 3 Part Formula for Defense in Standup Sparring

Standup sparring can be really overwhelming sometimes, especially if you're new at it. There are punches and kicks flying at you from every direction and every angle. There's so much to keep track of, and so many things you need to do, that you don't even know where to start. Fortunately there are ways to simplify the situation and cut down on the number of decisions you … [Read more...]

Does Training in Kung Fu Forms and Karate Kata Actually Work?

July 23, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

Does Training in Kung Fu Forms and Karate Kata Actually Work?

I trained in a LOT of traditional systems back in the day, including some forms of Karate and many styles of Kung Fu. (Hung Gar, Northern Shaolin, Wing Chun, Southern Crane, Tai Chi, Hsing I, and Shotokan Karate to name a few.) Kata and Forms were important components of that training, sometimes to the exclusion of nearly everything else. In these pre-arranged … [Read more...]

A 5 Second Self Defense Exercise That Could Save Your Life

April 25, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

A 5 Second Self Defense Exercise That Could Save Your Life

STOP what you're doing and try this SUPER-QUICK mental exercise... Imagine you're exactly where you are now (lying in bed, sitting on the bus, working at your desk, whatever)... But now you know for sure that you're about to be attacked! The guy is bigger than you and possibly armed with a knife...   For whatever reason, you can't run... You have 5 seconds to get … [Read more...]

Critical Weapon Drills: Double Stick Sinawali

March 7, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

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 rounded let's take a look at one of the most important drills from … [Read more...]

For A Smooth, Powerful Punch Relax the Shoulders

February 1, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

For A Smooth, Powerful Punch Relax the Shoulders

A common problem when people learn boxing is that they think they need to be tense through their whole body. They lumber forward, both fists clenched, every muscle clenched like they're bracing for impact.  Or posing at a bodybuilding show. But look at someone like Anderson Silva, who, in his prime, was considered the best striker who had ever set foot inside the … [Read more...]

Shadowboxing Tips

December 10, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

Shadowboxing Tips

Muhammad Ali, Lomanchenko, Saenchai, Georges St Pierre and just about every other great boxer, kickboxer and MMA fighter used or uses shadowboxing to refine his skills. These fighters depend on their combat skills to earn a living and keep them safe, so if it wasn't important then they probably wouldn't do it. Conversely, if they all do it then you probably should do it … [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...]

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Recent Articles

BJJ vs Boxing

BJJ vs Boxing

A question came up on a recent Instagram Live Q&A I did about a streetfight video in which a ‘boxer’ beat up a ‘jiu-jitsu guy’. This was a great entry point into a really interesting discussion about the street applicability of BJJ, the importance of cross training in today’s martial arts environment, and specific drills […]

Surviving the Worst Case Scenario – BJJ vs a Gun on the Ground!

Surviving the Worst Case Scenario – BJJ vs a Gun on the Ground!

If you’re on the bottom using your guard in a submission grappling situation then the single worst thing that can happen is that the other guy drops back and locks on a heel hook submission, forcing you to tap out or suffer a potentially serious ankle or knee injury. If you’re using your guard in […]

How to Spar in Kickboxing for the First Time

How to Spar in Kickboxing for the First Time

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 […]

An Easy, High Amplitude Throw from MMA

An Easy, High Amplitude Throw from MMA

There’s no way to sugar coat it – an opponent who is resisting you full force is HARD to take down to the ground! Most throws involve some combination of off balancing someone, level changing, penetrating under his center of gravity, and then forcing him off his feet before finishing him off by hitting him […]

Recent Articles

  • BJJ vs Boxing
  • Surviving the Worst Case Scenario – BJJ vs a Gun on the Ground!
  • How to Spar in Kickboxing for the First Time
  • An Easy, High Amplitude Throw from MMA
  • 5 Mistakes Grapplers Make When Striking

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