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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...]

5 Mistakes Grapplers Make When Striking

September 16, 2019 By Self Defense Tutorials

5 Mistakes Grapplers Make When Striking

If you’re a grapplers that wants to learn boxing or kickboxing then there are several very common mistakes that you’re probably going to make. This is because each style of fighting (grappling vs striking) trains you to use your body slightly differently which can set you up for failure in the other art Here's a video showing 5 common mistakes for grapplers when they start … [Read more...]

What’s In the Precision Kickboxing Masterclass?

December 5, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

What’s In the Precision Kickboxing Masterclass?

As you may know, I've just released The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass. It's an 8 hour long deep dive into the techniques, combinations, defenses, counters, drills, training methods and fight strategies of modern kickboxing. It's a surgical approach to taking your opponent apart in the striking realm, delivered by Coach Ritchie Yip who has been teaching kickboxing for … [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...]

Martial Art Ranges for Fighting

November 23, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

Martial Art Ranges for Fighting

There are many different ways to classify martial arts ranges, but one relatively simple method way to divide all combat up into 5 distances... Projectile range (guns, javelins, arrows, thrown rocks, etc.) Handheld weapons range (sticks, swords, handheld spears, knives, clubs, etc.) Striking range (punches, kicks, elbows, knees, headbutts, etc.) Clinching range … [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...]

The Power of the Front Kick!

July 3, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

The Power of the Front Kick!

The front kick is one of the very first kicks most people learn in the martial arts. And that’s for good reason: it’s effective but also not that tough to learn - it’s the low hanging fruit of the kicking world. But it can also be a very, very sophisticated technique; just look at how professional Thai boxers use it to gauge distance, control distance, set up attacks, … [Read more...]

How Different Martial Arts Exhale While Striking

April 8, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

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). And if you’ve watched or trained a lot of … [Read more...]

Should You Stretch Before or After Martial Arts Training?

February 8, 2018 By Self Defense Tutorials

Should You Stretch Before or After Martial Arts Training?

You wouldn't think that something like stretching before a martial arts class could be controversial, but it is (I blame the running community for muddying the waters)! Some evidence and experts suggest that you should only do it after your workout, whereas most traditions say that you should do it before. Who's right and what should you do? Well, in the following … [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...]

How to Get Behind Enemy Lines in a Streetfight

June 6, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

How to Get Behind Enemy Lines in a Streetfight

If you and your opponent are squaring off face-to-face then it's sort of an equal situation. From here he can swing at you and you can swing at him... He can try to tackle you, and you can try to clinch him. To paraphrase the old song, at this point anything he can do, hopefully you can do better! But we don't want it to be a fair fight.  Ideally you should set up a … [Read more...]

The Myth of the Deadly Groin Attack

May 4, 2017 By Eva S

The Myth of the Deadly Groin Attack

There's a persistent myth in self defense training about the groin strike that goes something like this: "Kick the guy in the balls and the fight is over. "It's the one kick wonder. Women especially are often directed to aim for this target as though it's a magic fight ender.  It's not, and you are actually putting yourself at risk if you don't realise … [Read more...]

How to Knock Someone Out

February 27, 2017 By Self Defense Tutorials

How to Knock Someone Out

Knocking someone out is an art, not a science.  You have to get just the right combination of strike, angle, target and timing for it to work. Plus some people are just a lot tougher than others... You might clip one person with a glancing blow and have them go down instantaneously, lights out. But then, another time, you might hit someone else square on the jaw with … [Read more...]

Death After the Knockout (or Beware the Second Hit)

February 27, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Death After the Knockout (or Beware the Second Hit)

In other articles and videos I've talked about the best ways to knock somebody out. And there’s an old tough guy saying that goes something like this… “If we fight there are only going to be three hits: I hit you, you hit the ground, and the ambulance hits 60.” While that’s a funny thing to growl out in a droll John Wayne accent it also brings up a deadly serious … [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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