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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...]

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

November 11, 2019 By Stephan Kesting

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 an MMA situation then the worst thing that can happen is that you get hit with … [Read more...]

BJJ in a Streetfight, the Merciful Option

January 13, 2019 By Stephan Kesting

BJJ being Used in a Streetfight

Adam Nadow is a Machado jiu-jitsu black belt and he was recently attacked in the street by a mentally unstable individual.  He used his BJJ training to defend himself and control his attacker until the police arrived. He used a rear naked choke and a bow and arrow lapel choke to control his opponent (and there are people who say that gi-based grappling is irrelevant for self … [Read more...]

Which Martial Art is Best? Why Context Is Everything…

September 5, 2018 By Stephan Kesting

martial arts context

"Which martial art is best?"  Ah, the old argument that never dies... I really like what Dan Inosanto told me once. Back when he was a paratrooper with the 101st Airborne there was a lot of rivalry between the soldiers who trained in the martial arts. Some thought that boxing was the best, others argued for the supremacy of karate, others for judo, others for … [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...]

Get Your Hands Out of Your Pockets!!!

December 2, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Today's message is short and really simple, but it's important.  And it's a mistake that I see people make all the time... The mistake is walking around with your hands buried in your pocket.  If someone decides to attack you when you're like this, with your best weapons sheathed and out of commission, then you're a sitting duck. It's already tough enough to defend … [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...]

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...]

Avoiding the Street Ambush

July 20, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Ambush in progress

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...]

How to Spot a Knife Attack Before It Happens

May 18, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

hidden knives and knife awareness

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...]

How Understanding ‘Woofing’ Kept Me Out of A Mexican Prison

April 5, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Dogs Woofing

There's a concept about human confrontation that I learned many years ago from a book by Marc 'Animal' McYoung. He talked about something called 'woofing', and understanding this has kept me out of quite a few fights (including one that I'll tell you about later in this email). The idea of woofing goes like this... If two dogs are having a dispute then they don't … [Read more...]

The Pre-Emptive Strike in Self Defense

March 7, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

The Pre-Emptive Punch in Self Defense

Let’s say you’re in a situation where some big dude is in your face, yelling, screaming, and getting angrier by the second. If things keep on going the way that they’re going then it looks like you’re going to be in a serious fight any second… Here’s the question: should you launch a pre-emptive Pearl Harbor style attack on this guy, taking him out before he actually … [Read more...]

Death After the Knockout (or Beware the Second Hit)

February 27, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

The dangers of the head hitting the pavement

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...]

A Killer Car and a Horrifying Lack of Awareness

February 1, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Killer Porsche SUV

Here's a real-life situation that I came across in my newsfeed recently. A Porshe and a BMW collide on the street, and the male driver of the Porshe storms out of his car. He circles the BMW while yelling at the female driver... He bangs on her hood with his hands... Then he tries to force open her doors open... Threatening behaviours all round. Next he goes to check … [Read more...]

Awareness – the Single Most Important Factor in Self Defense

January 23, 2017 By Stephan Kesting

Awareness in self defense

  There are many different aspects of self defense, including everything from weapons, to striking, to clinching, to wrestling on the ground. But there's one particular aspect to protecting yourself that's hands down more important than all the rest combined... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6yR2iVwkCfM It's not your striking. You might have a killer … [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.

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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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