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Too Deadly for Boxing, MMA and BJJ: Illegal but Effective Combat Sport Techniques

June 22, 2022 By Stephan Kesting

Illegal but Effective Combat Sports Techniques

Many people learn martial arts to learn how to handle themselves in a real fight. But many martial arts are sports and sports have rules while street fights don't. That means many things happen in fights that aren't allowed in certain martial arts. Although it started out as "no-holds-barred", mixed martial arts has rules today. Headbutts, groin strikes, eye pokes, biting … [Read more...]

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

December 14, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

Functional 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...]

How to Train Eye Gouges, Throat Grabs and Groin Strikes

October 16, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

biting and other dirty fighting moves

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y5b98N_VzgQ 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 … [Read more...]

Can Karate Kata Be Applied On The Street?

September 30, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

Podcast about karate kata application with Iain Abernathy

I've been pretty vocal about the uselessness of kata and forms, especially when they're not combined with partner drills, pressure training and actual sparring. And this has created a LOT of hurt feelings and pushback! In fact the video I put on Youtube called "Why Kung Fu Forms and Karate Kata are (Mostly) Pretty Useless!" has about one dislike for every 3 likes, which … [Read more...]

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

July 30, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

a simple strategy for kickboxing

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 Stephan Kesting

kung fu form and application - Tiger Claw

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...]

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...]

New Release: The Self Defense Guard with Elliott Bayev and Stephan Kesting

May 26, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

Self Defense Guard Trapsheet with Elliott Bayev

I've been working on it for a LONG time, but the 'Self Defense Guard' is finally live at Self Defense Tutorials! This is a really in-depth instructional about how to use the guard in a self defense situation. In a real fight there is always the chance that you're going to end up on the bottom.  And if that happens the guard could save your life. But fighting off your … [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 5 Second Self Defense Exercise That Could Save Your Life

April 25, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

a self defense exercise

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...]

Should You Stretch Before or After Martial Arts Training?

February 8, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

Stephan Kesting

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...]

5 Basics of Martial Arts Nutrition

January 16, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

Martial Arts Nutrition - 5 Tips

You know what's funny? If I told someone - anyone - that they could only drive one car for the rest of their life then they would take amazing care of that car. No cheap waterlogged Tijuana gas would ever go into that fuel tank, and only the highest grade synthetic lubricants would be used for oil changes. If you can never replace that vehicle then you would do … [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...]

Self Defense Against a Stick Attack

September 26, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Full Commitment stick defense

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

September 20, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

The most important martial arts attribute

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...]

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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

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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)

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