Vulnerable body parts for self-defense

Targeting vulnerable body parts in self-defense is critical to ending the threat as quickly as possible. In order to end the threat efficiently, you need to understand the body and it's weak spots. If you don't, you'll attack blindly. You'll waste time and energy fighting your attacker. You can end a fight by targeting vulnerable body parts in one or two moves but don't think you can do it automatically. Training hand-to-hand combat is a must. I'll explain the science of each vulnerable body part, the effects it has on a person when struck, and advantages/drawbacks in striking those areas. I divide them into two groups - Primary targets and secondary targets. I define primary targets as vulnerable body parts (ex. the head) that incapacitate an attacker instantly. Secondary targets are vulnerable areas that cause extreme pain and/or loss of bodily function but don't necessarily take an attacker out of the fight.  

* The neck - A blow to the carotid artery, namely the carotid sinus, in the neck is perhaps the most effective move in rendering an attacker unconscious. Why? The carotid artery is divided into two branches - internal and external. The internal artery is located under the skull. It brings blood to vital areas such as the brain, eyes, and larynx. The external branch is made of even thinner branches. It supports areas such as facial and neck muscles. The carotid sinus lies in between those two branches. The carotid sinus contains baroreceptors which control the blood flow into your carotid arteries and send information to the brain. When you strike this area, the baroceptors signal to the brain that there's too much blood pressure and it needs to be lowered. The brain signals to the heart to lower the blood pressure which results in bradycardia or heart rate that's below normal. This can result in fainting, a heart attack, and maybe even death.

You can use a knife-hand chop to the neck and affect the carotid sinus to knock your opponent out. Targeting the neck reduces the risk of breaking your fists from punching solid bone such as the jaw. This demonstration shows what happens when someone takes a hit to the neck.

* The jaw - A powerful blow to the jaw can cause the head to rotate suddenly, causing a concussion and loss of consciousness. While striking the jaw usually works, there's times when it doesn't. It's going to be harder to do against someone who absorbs punches to the head. By stopping the rotation of the head through say rolling with the punches, it's not going to do much damage. That's why the element of surprise is important. A straight or hook punch to the jaw should cause a knock out.

* The eyes - Striking the eyes can lead to temporary or permanent blindness and quite painful as shown in these MMA fights. A quick finger jab to them or eye gouge should take away your opponent's vision. The downside to targeting the eyes is they won't always take out your attacker. Some people will continue to fight even with gouged eyes. The other downside is your opponent can reflexively close their eyes before any damage can be done. Targeting the eyes (in my opinion) should be used as a set up for another attack such as a knife-hand chop to the neck.

* The temple - Hitting the temples (ex. punches) can result in shock, brain compression, hemorrhage, a concussion, and death.

* The top of head - A powerful strike to the top of the head can cause a concussion, hemorrhage, unconsciousness, and possibly death. An elbow strike would probably be suitable for this area.

* Under the chin - An uppercut from under the chin can cause the head to violently rotate and create a brain concussion.

* The armpits - The armpits have a large bundle of nerves. If you land a powerful blow to them, it can cause a knock out or kill your attacker. This video explains in detail the science behind why it works.

Now we move onto secondary targets:

* Nerve strikes - Striking the radial, ulnar, femoral, or any major nerves will cause temporary loss of sensation in the limbs. Generally any strike should get the job with perfect timing, speed, and precision.

* The groin - The groin is a very vulnerable area with many sensitive nerve endings. If hit, it can cause vomiting, a loss of breath, black out, dizziness, etc. You can see it's effects in some UFC fights below. In extreme cases, it can cause one or both testicles to rupture and maybe death. The downside to striking the groin is your attacker can avoid it by moving back or blocking. Even if you land a hit, it may have little effect on an attacker who is either intoxicated or in an adrenaline rush. That's why it should be used as a set up for another attack such as a punch to the jaw.

* The solar plexus - There's a bundle of nerves in this area. When struck, the diaphragm spasms and often leads to someone getting the wind knocked out of him or her. It's worse if the person is very muscular as there's no fat protecting that area.

* The sternum - A direct hit to the sternum could lead to a heart contusion, internal injuries, loss of breath, fatigue, and other incapacitating effects.

* The ribs - A hit to the ribs can cause shortness of breath, painful breathing, and damage internal organs.

* The collar bones - The collar bones are thin bones connecting the breastbone to the shoulder blades. Break your attacker's collar bones and it will be difficult for him/her to move the arms.

 * The base of the spine - If you hit this area hard enough, you can either briefly or permanently paralyze an attacker.

Practice safely with a partner or a punching dummy and work on accuracy. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

   
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Is grappling effective in self defense?

I've often heard people talk about grappling's use in self defense. Some say it's a bad idea and others say it's a good idea. Is grappling effective in self defense? I will give my stance on the subject.

It all depends on many factors. I can't give you a resounding "yes! It's effective!" or a "no you should never grapple in self defense.." It's what you make of it as a practitioner that determines whether or not it's effective for self defense. What i can say is that much of what is taught in grappling arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Judo, Combat Sambo, etc. will most likely not work in self defense.

You've probably seen or underwent some training involving stand up grappling as shown in this video. You take your opponent down and apply grappling maneuvers in order to apply a firm grappling hold. In addition, you will probably be given rules that forbid you from striking or be expected to primarily focus on grappling. The problem with this is that 1) There's no soft mat in the street to break your fall. There might be solid concrete or glass that could cause injury or knock you out if your head makes full contact with it. 2) Your training with grapplers, not strikers. Your attacker is probably not going to move around trying to "feel you out" (at least not in America.) Most likely, your attacker will either attack by striking or with a deadly weapon. If your attacker does use grappling and goes for a takedown, it's probably going to be so he or she can continue striking you!    

Will that type of training prepare you for self defense? Most likely not. This does not mean that grappling is completely useless in self defense. Sure you might be able to apply an armbar every now and then but not against every attacker. The effectiveness of grappling depends on several things and more

1) The purpose of grappling
2) How you use it to end the threat quickly
3) Controlling the range between you and your attacker
4) Controlling your attacker.

For example, if someone tries to apply a rear naked chokehold then i'd use a Jiu Jitsu throw. It'd take too much time to figure out how to escape using some fancy grappling techniques then apply a chokehold of my own to make my opponent pass out until a few seconds. It's alot more effective for me at least to throw my attacker to the ground and go into my kicking or striking range (ex. stomp kick to the head.) If you want to learn more, read my post "grappling for self defense vs. grappling for UFC" ( http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2017/01/grappling-for-self-defense-vs-grappling.html)

In conclusion, grappling's effectiveness depends on how you use it. There's no martial art style that is guaranteed to make grappling 100% effective for you in self defense. Once you understand the basic principles of grappling and combat, you can understand how to make grappling work for you.

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Tips on improving self defense grappling

In my previous post "grappling for self defense vs. grappling for UFC" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2017/01/grappling-for-self-defense-vs-grappling.html), i outlined the differences between grappling for self defense and grappling for sport. In this self defense guide, i will explain in further detail how to apply grappling in the streets.

* Know when grappling is applicable and when it isn't - Sometimes, you cannot win a street fight with grappling alone. You will need striking and kicking skills. There's many fights on youtube where the grappler tries to take it to the ground. While the grappler wins, he is still hit in the process and struggles to apply grappling holds well. You don't want to take a fight to the ground where your vision is limited and you are very vulnerable. This is an example of such a case where grappling failed. Understanding when grappling is useful and when it isn't is key in self defense.

* Embrace dirty fighting - Learn about all the illegal moves in grappling arts and use them to your advantage. Headbutts, biting, eye gouging, groin strikes, elbow strikes, throat grabs, bashing someone's head repeatedly against the concrete, weapons, etc. are all legal in a street fight. Use your environment to your advantage. Simplify your grappling techniques by incorporating these dirty fight tactics in your grappling skills. Raw Combat International gives useful grappling moves for self defense.

* Throw away unessentials - In order to effectively use grappling in self defense, forget about the sports mindset and making your opponent tap out. Discard grappling rules and anything that hinders you from learning grappling for self defense. Self defense is a matter of survival, not of competition.  

* Control your opponent - Controlling your opponent is very important in grappling. You will want to target certain areas such as the arms, legs, and the head to establish a firm hold on your opponent. Once your opponent is under control, you can choke or strike and do whatever you want. Make sure that the grappling holds you choose prevent your opponent from attacking you effectively.

* Use your opponent's momentum against him/her - Don't fight force against force. Absorb your opponent's force and use it against him or her. Let's suppose you are on the ground and your opponent is on a high mount trying to strike you. Feel the energy, redirect it, and allow it to carry your opponent over out of balance. If someone tries to choke you from behind, you could also use momentum to carry your opponent over and break free from the hold.

* Protect your balance - Balance is very important to avoid being taken to the ground. Lower your center of gravity, use momentum, sprawl and brawl, strike, etc. to keep your opponent from executing a successful takedown. Make sure that you have quick and mobile footwork to stay outside of someone trying to grapple with you.

* Set up a takedown - In order to be skilled at setting up a takedown, you need to trick your opponent and understand the range to do it. You will also want to use a takedown useful for self defense. You don't want to go to the ground with your attacker but you'll want to take your attacker down. For example, i like to grapple my opponent from a side position before i sweep him or her down. Rather than go down with my opponent as seen in sports, i release my hold the moment my attacker is falling over. I find these takedown techniques also useful for self defense.

* Be fully aware of your surroundings - Generally, you will want to learn grappling techniques that don't limit your vision. You will also want to scan your surroundings if you are on the ground to make sure there are no multiple attackers. For example, applying a rear naked chokehold works well in choking someone out but my vision is limited. I cannot check to see if my attacker is reaching for a weapon in his or her pockets. I am also vulnerable to strikes to the face. Applying a full nelson is a better grappling hold because 1) My attacker's arms are within my control and vision 2) It establishes full control over my attacker.

* Grapple from a dominant position - The best position to grapple an attacker is when he or she is in the prone position as shown in the picture below. This is where your attacker is at his or her most vulnerable and it's very difficult to resist. Grappling holds such as the boston crab prevent your attacker from reaching for a weapon and escaping. Attacking from a side position where your free to strike and grapple is effective because you only have to deal with his or her arms than the legs.  

* Have a strategy - If you are to use grappling effectively for self defense, you need a strategy. Perhaps you know your opponent is a superior striker so grappling would be useful in neutralizing his or her striking ability. Perhaps you need a human shield against multiple attackers so applying a grappling hold on one as you move around is effective. Grappling can be used to escape from an opponent mounting you on the ground.

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How to fight in restraints

Let's assume that you've been abducted or kidnapped and find yourself in handcuffs. If you want to escape and survive then you must learn how to fight in restraints be it zip ties, duct tape, rope, or any other types. If your legs are restrained then there's not much you can do but if it's just your hands that are bound, this guide will teach you how to fight in self defense. Helpful videos are also included.

1) Identify the position you are restrained in - Are your hands bound in front of you or behind you? Are you seated in a chair or standing? Learn as much as you can about how your kidnappers or abductors restrained you and the types of restraints used. The more you know, the better you will be able to act accordingly.

2) Calculate the best opportunity to strike - In order to fight in restraints and escape your kidnappers successfully, you must learn when the best time to attack is. If your hands are the only limbs bound then you need to keep it that way. As soon as your kidnappers bind your legs too, it's over and you will lose almost all of your fighting ability. You also cannot allow yourself to be seated on a chair because then it will be much harder for you to gain an advantageous fighting position. If you are in between two kidnappers with each one holding your arms, you are at a disadvantage. As soon as you try to attack one, both will feel your resistance and you may get the beating of a lifetime. The best time to strike is when you are at a position of advantage and your attacker has minimal to no contact with you.

3) Attack and escape - As long as you can move your arms, legs, and other areas of your body then you can still attack. Use headbutts, shirt grabs, double backfists, hammerfists, elbow strikes, finger jabs, sraight punches, uppercuts, deflections, kicks, knee kicks, bites, grappling holds, shoulder hits, etc. It's very important that you have your hands in synch with each other and strike in one swift motion. You can't fight effectively with both hands working in opposite directions. Since your movements are limited, you should attack in a straight line. Be careful not to lose your balance or your kidnappers will seize the opportunity to restrain you again on the ground and you may not get another chance to fight back again. Some knowledge on ground-fighting will be useful in recovering from falling over (see "grappling in self defense vs. grappling in UFC http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2017/01/grappling-for-self-defense-vs-grappling.html ) If an opportunity of escape arises, take it by all means as it is more dangerous to stay and fight.

4) Break free from the restraints - You will need to buy time and break free from your restraints quickly at some point. Having knowledge of how to break free from zip ties, rope, handcuffs, wire, and other kinds of restraints quickly will be useful to you in a kidnapping situation. You also need to be aware of your surroundings and somehow get the proper tools needed to release yourself from the restraint.

Practice with a partner using toy or training handcuffs. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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Grappling for self defense vs. grappling for UFC

Earlier, i made a post on whether or not you should groundfight in self defense (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2017/01/should-you-groundfight-in-self-defense.html). In this post, i will address how to make grappling work in self defense. In order for you to understand how to make it work for self defense, you must understand the differences between grappling in sports and grappling in self defense. I will outline the differences here. Before i go further, i will note that some critics of grappling argue that you should never take it to the ground in self defense. This is true but it's easier said than done especially when your opponent is trying to take you off balance or grapple you. It's not as simple as not going to the ground and getting up. If you try to get up, your opponent will seize that opportunity to close the distance and attack you. I won't tell you "you should never ground-fight or grapple". I simply ask you "can you make it work in self defense?" Without further notice, i present the differences between grappling for self defense and grappling in sport.

* Ground-fighting in UFC is for subduing opponents or K.O, ground-fighting for self defense is to recover your original position - The aim of grappling in MMA especially in the sports world is an offensive measure taken to make your opponent submit or knock him or her out. In order to use ground-fighting for self defense, you must only use it as a defensive measure to gain a more dominant position. You don't want to throw a few punches and immediately go for a flying armbar. That makes no sense as grappling is unnecessary not to mention dangerous in that case. You'll want to end the fight in a standing position but if you get taken to the ground, you will want to create an opportunity to get back on your feet. For example, if your attacker is trying to ground and pound you - block and buck. From there, you can get in a position where you can get back to striking your opponent. This video illustrates my point.

* Ground-fighting in UFC has rules, ground-fighting in self defense doesn't - One objection critics bring is "ground-fighting is dangerous for you because your attacker could use a weapon." Well you could use a weapon too. Whether you train in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu or Judo, you need to free yourself from point systems and the sports mindset. There's nothing stopping you from gouging your attacker's eyes out, biting his/her ears off or throat, biting the calf to escape an armbar, striking the groin, stabbing or shooting him/her from the ground, breaking limbs, bashing his/her head on the concrete, etc. To top if off, you could reposition yourself to control your opponent from reaching for a weapon.

* Ground-fighting in UFC is complex, ground-fighting in self defense is simple and efficient - Because UFC limits many attacks, people who use grappling have to work their way around that in order to make grappling effective. This results in complicated movements that don't do well in self defense. In order to make grappling work in self defense, you must free yourself from the way typical people train in grappling. I find many of Master Wong's teachings on ground-fighting to be efficient and simple. Rather than the standard double leg takedown used in sports grappling that exposes your body and compromises balance, you could use more of a single leg sweep takedown method.

* Ground-fighting in UFC is for engagement, ground-fighting in self defense is for disengagement - As i mentioned in my 1st point, UFC's aim of grappling is to submit your opponent or cause a knock out. The strategy is to "go all in" so to speak and in gain a dominant position on the ground. Grappling namely ground-fighting in self defense should be used to disengage your opponent and create an opportunity to get back on your feet. If for example you get knocked down, you still could keep your opponent at bay with kicks or knock him/her over which gives you the chance to get up quickly. Alternatively, you could carry your opponent with his/her momentum to the ground. If you are attacked by a wrestler or Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter, your goal should be to escape the lying position rather than outgrapple him or her on the ground.

As you can see, it all boils down to the training and how skilled you are in using grappling for self defense. If you don't want to go to the ground, what measures will you take to prevent that from happening? Anti-grappling? Sprawls? When using grappling or ground-fighting in self defense, you have to ask yourself "what's the strategy behind your usage of those areas of combat? How will you apply them to self defense as opposed to sport?" If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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The differences between MMA and Jeet Kune Do

There seems to be a misconception as to what MMA is and what Jeet Kune Do (JKD) is as taught by Bruce Lee. What Bruce did was NOT mixed martial arts. He developed a fighting philosophy that incorporated certain aspects of martial arts he found useful and scientific. While MMA and Jeet Kune Do share some similarities, they are not one in the same. Hopefully, this guide will help you get a better insight on how to adapt your training and mindset in the self defense setting. Here's a list highlighting the key differences:

MMA is made of styles, JKD is a liberation from them - MMA fighters typically train under traditional martial arts for ring fighting in the areas of striking, kicking, ground-fighting, and grappling. Jeet Kune Do is a non-traditional approach to martial arts or combat sport. Jeet Kune Do is only about taking certain efficient or useful tools or ideas of a martial art and discarding the rest of the style. Your focus is on creating your own fighting system and being proficient with what you skillfully use in combat. Jeet Kune Do focuses primarily on striking, kicking, trapping, grappling, possibly some groundfighting but practitioners don't necessarily have to train extensively in all of these ranges.

MMA is for sport, JKD is for combat - Another difference between MMA and Jeet Kune Do is that MMA typically suited for sport while Jeet Kune Do is for combat. Jeet Kune Do trains full contact no holds barred sparring with equipment and gear for safety. MMA training is typically suited for sports fighting rather than the streets.

MMA has rules, JKD doesn't - According to UFC rules, you are forbidden from doing certain moves and thus will not be trained to do them in an MMA environment. Jeet Kune Do has a no holds barred mentality and fighting dirty is allowed. That means you could headbutt, eye gouge, use weapons, elbow strike, bite, throw low blows, have help, pull hair, hit the eyes, the throat, use the environment to your advantage, brutal moves to vital areas, joint breaks, the list goes on.

MMA and JKD have different strategies - The purpose of MMA is to ultimately lead to submissions or knock out. The cross training in various martial arts is to counter their opponent's strengths. The strategies used in MMA may include sprawl and brawl, clinching, ground and pound, the list goes on. Jeet Kune Do on the other hand has a list of principles that the user can freely use or discard. In Jeet Kune Do, your goal is to simply end the fight through interception or other ways of attack in JKD concepts. There's no wasted movement or much thought involved. Rather than learn the best martial art to counter an opponent's ground-fighting ability for example, you either avoid a takedown or execute a counter-attack in the striking and/or other ranges.

MMA has structure, JKD is fluid - In MMA, you have time to study your opponent before a fight and devise a strategy. For example, you might note that your opponent is a superb striker so you work on your long range attacks and stick to the attack plan. In Jeet Kune Do, you simply adapt to every situation whether you have time to devise a strategy or not. MMA has a set standard for using techniques or principles whether in the ring or outside of the ring. Jeet Kune Do doesn't. In Jeet Kune Do, it's about making your ideas work in combat. For example, conventional wisdom says "you should NEVER fight on the ground in a street fight as your enemy could have a weapon..." Jeet Kune Do's question is "can you make it work in training?" If you can, this saying doesn't apply to you under the right circumstances.

 MMA is about competition, JKD is about evolution - In MMA, you learn mixed martial arts to compete - that's it. While you could indeed apply MMA to self defense, you are limited by what the styles have to offer. Jeet Kune Do is about evolution of the self and the knowledge of the past through improvement. In Jeet Kune Do, you bring new insights into the art of combat and go beyond your limits or the ones placed upon you. One of the reasons why Bruce Lee did not compete in sports fighting was because he could not transcend as a martial artist in that environment. Jeet Kune Do is about constant refinement not just in martial arts, but in daily life.

In conclusion, these are several defining characteristics that ultimately separate Jeet Kune Do and MMA from each other. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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How to beat a more skilled opponent in self defense

While many self defense instructors give their students instructions on how to beat the average attacker in the streets, you may on rare occasion run into an attacker who is more skilled than you. First of all, i would like to dispel the myth that a trained fighter would not want to fight you. Just look in the news and you'll see reports of UFC fighters beating their own spouses. You will find cases where martial artists have used their training to bully and intimidate other people such as in this video. Therefore someone who is more skilled than you has a reason to bully you especially when that person is misusing his or her skills for evil. I won't avoid the subject and rationalize it like others have by saying "just run away..." or "just don't get into a fight..." because those aren't effective self defense solutions when you are forced to respond to an attacking and arrogant boxer. Instead, i provide you with some principles and guidelines in surviving against an attacker who is better trained than you are.

The problem with calling someone a "skilled" fighter is that it's too vague of a term to be defined accurately. What criteria are we using to define skill? What exactly is a skill? According to the dictionary's definition, it's the ability to do something well. In the fighting context, skill is a very broad term. Someone could be skilled in striking quickly at close range but do poorly when attacking long range. Another person could be skilled in keeping distance with kicks but less skilled than someone else who excels at breaking through defenses. Someone could be great at packing power in their punches but lack proper timing and speed. Can someone be highly skilled in absolutely every aspect of fighting? No! Why? Because it would take too much time and energy to devote yourself to fighting with weapons, hand to hand combat, awareness, balance, speed, strength, grappling, groundfighting, timing, striking, kicking, evading, the list goes on at the uttermost level. Skilled does not equal invincible.

Let's assume that you've had some experience in hand to hand combat and face someone who is a better striker than you while the fight lasts longer than usual. You keep getting hit no matter what kinds of attacks you execute. How do you fight someone who is more skilled than you in that area? I give a two-fold response.

1) Avoid your opponent's strengths and exploit weaknesses - I'll take the infamous fight between Ronda Rousey vs. Holly Holm. If you followed Ronda's career, notice how she utterly dominated her opponents in close quarters combat. When she faced Holly Holm, she faced a formidable opponent. Why is that? Holly Holm attacked her from a long range. What led to Ronda's defeat? She couldn't adapt. This is a perfect example of where Ronda was skilled at close range fighting but Holly Holm had superior skill at long range attacks. Now you may object and say "well that's sport fighting, not self defense.." but that's besides the point. You apply the same principles in self defense. If your opponent is better than you at close range, you go long range. If your opponent strikes high, you strike low. If your opponent is stronger, you yield to his or her force and use it against him or her. If your opponent is more skilled than you in hand to hand combat, you use weapons. You may even choose to attack from the shadows. If your opponent is impatient, be patient and make him or her get frustrated. If your opponent gets angry too easily, anger him or her. By exploiting your opponent's weaknesses, he or she is bound to make a costly mistake.

2) Recognize patterns and break them - How do you beat a more experienced and skilled attacker? You go against your training. You learn to break patterns and use improper techniques when the time is right. Before you say "are you crazy?!? That's ridiculous!", bear with me. I've read an excellent article on beating a highly skilled opponent using anti-technique and looking for patterns in fighting (see link below.) After pondering this concept, it makes sense. When facing a more skilled opponent in striking, look for patterns and break them. If you were taught to punch in a specific structured and disciplined manner, you use an awkward structure of attack to deceive or confuse your opponent as it hits him or her. If your opponent has a habit of counter-attacking your attacks, you fake a punch then move to the side to evade the counter-attack and deliver a kick to the groin. If your opponent expects you to do that because you've been conditioning him or her to see a pattern in your moves, you change the pattern again then strike from a different angle and strategy.

Why does this work? In psychology, our minds tend to see patterns in random data. That's just the way we humans work. When we encounter something random that goes against our perceptions and beliefs, we are thrown off guard. Think about it. If someone spends countless hours practicing proper techniques in drills and sparring against opponents using the same or similar structure, do you think he or she would be prepared to attack someone who strikes with extraordinary form? I highly doubt it.

Bruce Lee explained this concept exceptionally well "empty your mind...be formless..shapeless..like water...you put water in a cup, it becomes the cup..you put it into a bottle, it becomes the bottle...you put it into a teapot..now water can flow or it can crash...be water my friend.." If you always confine yourself to rigid techniques and structure, your movements along with your thinking become mechanical. Liberate yourself from styles and techniques. Become like water. Be fluid and rigid when the time is right. Do the unexpected and adapt to your opponent's movements. Become one with chaos and order.

In conclusion, i leave you to ponder on these principles in your training. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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http://www.expertboxing.com/boxing-strategy/boxing-styles/how-to-beat-a-better-fighter

Should you groundfight in self defense?

Since the rise of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and MMA, groundfighting has become increasingly popular especially in the area of self defense. A very important question that people have asked is "should you take a fight to the ground?" Many self defense instructors bring up legitimate reasons why this is a bad idea such as the possibility of weapons, limited vision, vulnerability to attack, and multiple attackers. I can't give you a solid answer. All i can tell you is generally, you should not groundfight in self defense but that does not mean there are no exceptions. Here's some considerations you ought to take into account before you end up groundfighting:

1. Are there weapons involved? If so, don't go to the ground.

2. Are there multiple attackers? If so, don't go to the ground.

3. Are you running out of options in defeating a difficult opponent? Ground fighting may be a measure of last resort.

This does not mean that you can use any techniques or strategies found in BJJ or other grappling arts. Groundfighting in UFC and groundfighting in self defense should have two completely different objectives. If your going to make groundfighting in self defense then you must have certain objectives. For one you should not go for a takedown against an intensely difficult opponent as it exposes your head, neck, and back to attack. Instead wait until your opponent takes you down. Second, your objective should be to immediately seize the opportunity to immobilize your attacker primarily through a chokehold or using armbars for armbreaks. Remember the goal is not to make your opponent submit. It's a desperate measure to cut off the flow of oxygen so he/she can stop attacking you. You don't want to apply an armbar or a leglock for a submission to make your attacker tap out only to risk getting hit after you release the locks. You'll want to break limbs and move into a better position for attack. Forget about point systems and treating groundfighting like a sport. Focus on ending the fight as quickly as possible on the ground with a self defense mindset and then get up.

This is just my opinion. If you've tried striking and kicking with no success then groundfighting may be a measure of last resort but i don't recommend it as your first priority. What do you think? Should groundfighting be apart of self defense? Why or why not? Let me know in the comments below.If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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How to do effective solo sparring

Whether you have access to a local self defense school or you don't, you must spar in your own time if you want to dramatically improve your performance. Why is solo sparring important? Helps you see where you need to improve in hand to hand combat. If you don't spar alone, you won't be able to excel in fighting as well as those who do. This is also be known as shadow boxing except for self defense, you don't solo spar to win a fight. You solo spar to be proficient for survival in self defense. Here's a step-by-step guide on how to effectively shadow box for self defense.

1) Have the proper mindset - Remember you are solo sparring for self defense. You are not sparring for a boxing match. You are not sparring for a UFC or a martial arts fight. You are not sparring to win a street fight. You are sparring for survival. Your mindset should be to eliminate the threat as quickly and effectively as possible then prepare yourself for the next threat if it exists. You are sparring to survive by any means necessary against every possible situation even the unexpected. Practice fighting dirty. Once you have the proper mindset then you will understand how to excel in self defense training. 

2) Have a goal - What are you trying to improve? Techniques? Footwork? Kicking? Speed? Power? Punching? Coordination? Dealing with weapons? Strategy? Don't try to do everything at once as it can be overwhelming. Focus on improving one at a time with a set schedule. Make sure that you assimilated what you've learned well in muscle memory during drills before you begin to solo spar. 

3) Have a set schedule - You should have a schedule to spar in many different situations for your solo sparring regimen. If you've read my other posts then you can apply the principles in solo sparring. These are the following situations you ought to spar with: 

* Hand to hand combat - Spar to be proficient against various types of attackers (faster, stronger, more resilient, more aggressive, more experienced, etc.) and learn how to adapt to each one.

* Multiple attackers - Practice your strategy against multiple attackers. Prioritize which attackers are most important first and eliminating them before the rest. Make sure that you are moving to positions where you can fight only one at a time. 

* Weapons - Practice disarming weapons and skillfully using them as well. Recognize when they are useful and when they aren't in certain situations. Learn when to avoid and when to engage certain armed attackers. 

* Use of the environment - Remember to use the environment as a weapon and be mindful that it can be used against you. Use dirt, sand, clothing, lights, and other objects as distractions. Practice sparring in many different types of environments such as uneven ground, in the dark or light, in confined spaces or wide open areas. Use whatever weapons you can improvise against your attackers when applicable. Use vehicles, trees, and other obstacles as shields against your attackers. 

4) Practice mental rehearsals - Part of stress inoculation are mental rehearsals which are used by the military and other professionals. The first step is to remain calm and relaxed. Clear your mind of all distractions. The next step is to imagine being in a dangerous stressful situation. Recreate the visuals, the sounds, and feelings as much as possible. Imagine yourself being attacked in various heated scenarios. How would you respond? Visualize yourself performing proper techniques, strategies, and movements. Resist the urge to lose focus and rationalize it by thinking "let's hope that never happens.." or you won't effectively train for self defense. From a psychological level, mental rehearsals strengthen neural pathways required to perform a certain set of skills under high stress. 

5) Gain feedback - Look in the mirror and make sure that you are performing everything correctly (good posture, footwork, proper techniques, movements, etc.) You can also film yourself and ask others for advice. By looking for improvement, you can hone your skills and correct your weaknesses. 

Finally practice warm ups and warm downs. Continue sparring by yourself and combining mental rehearsals with your physical movements then you will see dramatic increase in performance.If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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How to beat an MMA fighter in Wing Chun

Unfortunately there are some MMA fighters who go around bullying those weaker than them out of self-centered entitlement. If you find yourself with an MMA fighter who is a bully, handle the situation without provoking him to fight. Report him to the police if need be and defend those around you. If things spiral out of control and you have no choice but to fight him, here are several tips on beating an MMA fighter.

There's no telling which styles an MMA fighter uses but generally, they train to be pro-efficient in these set of skills 1) Striking 2) Grappling 3) Ground-fighting. By being familiar with each one, you can devise the proper strategy to counter them all.

* Counter-attack the takedown - The takedown is one of the most crucial moves in ending the fight. If you get caught in the takedown, it's over. The MMA fighter can do what he/she wants once you are on the ground. To avoid it, simply widen your stance, lean your body forward, and stop the fighter with an attack to their upper body. You could palm strike the fighter in the neck as you hold it in place and grab the arm or elbow strike to the back of the head. From there, you could do all sorts of strikes. Ideally, you'd want to push the fighter to the ground and control his movements. If the fighter tries to grab your legs, you could trap his/her arms by bending your legs and lowering your stance. Once trapped, the MMA fighter is completely defenseless.

* Control the distance - The MMA fighter will usually have grappling skills in their arsenal of moves. Be cautious not to get grappled as he/she could easily go for an armbar or other submission hold. Use long ranged attacks and anti-grappling as you keep the distance.

* Counter-attack the Muay Thai clinch - Another attack that the MMA fighter may use is the Muay Thai clinch which would also be crucial in ending the fight. One knee to the ribs and it will result in a broken bone possibly organ damage. You could counter by chain punches to the centerline or preferably, sweep the fighter off balance as you attack him/her down to the ground then make your escape.

* Counter-attack high kicks - Another crucial attack in ending the fight are high kicks. If your opponent delivers a head kick, you could block or use tan sao to catch the leg as you kick the other leg (side of the knee) to get your opponent off balance. If the fighter's leg breaks, the fight is over.

* Counter-attack the running knee kick - Yet another attack that could potentially knock you off balance and end the fight is the running knee kick. When you see your opponent running towards you, it's likely he/she is setting up the kick. Move to the side and take advantage of the situation by kicking your opponent off balance or waiting until he/she lands before closing the gap to attack.

* Use your elbows - If you've read my other post "how to beat a boxer in Wing Chun" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-to-beat-boxer-in-wing-chun.html) then you know the use of your elbows to block and counter-attack would come in handy when facing an MMA fighter. If the MMA fighter uses elbow strikes on you, that's an ideal opportunity to quickly take control of fighter's elbows and end the fight by disrupting his/her balance.

* Counter-attack ground-fighting - Whatever you do, NEVER end up on the ground. Once you end up on the ground, you are put in a very dangerous position. If you ever find yourself on the ground due to a mistake, DO NOT let your guard down. Some Wing Chun teachers instruct that if your on the ground, you should simply get up quickly. This is bad advice especially when facing an MMA fighter. Soon as you try to get up, the MMA fighter will seize that opportunity and attack. Often overlooked, Wing Chun ground-fighting would increase your chances of recovering after being knocked down. You should learn some ground-fighting and how to counter-attack certain holds. What makes Wing Chun ground-fighting different from say Brazilian Jiu Jitsu? There's little to no grappling. You essentially apply the same principles and techniques as if you were standing up. If someone were to ground and pound you for instance, you still could simultaneously attack + defend. You also could knock your opponent off balance as well before quickly getting up and ending the fight.

* Fight dirty - The MMA fighter will likely see a street fight from a ring fighting sport mentality. In the UFC, there are several moves that are illegal in the Octagon but legal outside of it. This gives you an advantage. You could break his/her limbs, bite, hit the groin, use weapons, etc.

I hope this guide was helpful. Be sure to practice these techniques with a partner. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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How to train for combat realism

You or someone else has probably been training hard to get in the best possible shape, practicing all the techniques taught in class, and sparring alot. After extensive training, it feels like the student is ready to defend him or herself in the street. When the situation presents itself however, the student may end up getting beaten to a pulp. This is the case for many martial artists and instructors. The reason? Improper training.

You can know all the right moves and have many quick reflexes but if you don't train realistically for combat, what you've learned won't be applicable. If you've been sparring with a Karate fighter, how likely is it for a skilled Karate fighter to attack you? If you've been practicing techniques with a cooperative partner, how likely are you to apply those techniques correctly on a violent person who's not cooperative? If you practice drills, what good will they do in actual combat?

It's unlikely that you will face a skilled fighter training in the same style as you and more likely that you will face an attacker who's reckless. Worse, you may freeze up despite all the training that you did and lose instantly as others have. Learn all the martial arts and techniques you want but they can't save you when you don't train for the streets. Why? Failure to manage stress and other psychological factors such as intimidation. Many street fights don't even begin with attacks, they begin with intimidation and threats on your wellbeing. To illustrate my point, watch the following video taken from "Beyond Scared Straight" and pay close attention to your reactions to the bald large inmate.

How did you feel? Do you think you could confront someone like him face to face? What if suddenly, he started swinging at you with aggressive and relentless brute force? If you can't manage stress in training, your performance suffers when you enter the real world of self defense.

According to Dave Grossman, professor of psychology, high levels of stress impair your ability to perform complex motor skills. In other words, you wouldn't be able to recall what you've learned in class under high levels of stress. How can you train to be combat ready?

1) Get rid of bad habits - Before anything, you must change your perspective on how you view self defense. Stop thinking of it as UFC ring fight because there are no rules in the streets or winning. There won't be time for you to both jump around and figure each other out before you get said person into a submission hold then make him/her tap. This is a fight for survival. You don't know if the other person is armed, has friends, is on drugs, so on. Be sure to also not look at combat from a point of techniques. Principles are far more important. Techniques are just tools to help you accomplish your goals rather than being the foundation of self defense. Practice effective and simple techniques. Flashy techniques look good but are often impractical and too complicated to perform under stress.

2) Simulate real combat - Combat systems such as Krav Maga and other military forces simulate as much of the real world combat as possible. According to Gestalt principles in psychology, we tend to see patterns in similar objects. The more you intensely train under stress in training as if your life was at stake, the more you'll retain what you've learned and perform at your full potential. If you've mastered sparring with a partner using the same style as you, try someone of a different style. Try sparring with people of different sizes, of different levels of violence, etc. Spar with multiple attackers. Do mock scenarios where you will be ambushed suddenly with seemingly real weapons or unarmed attackers. Keep it as free as possible making sure your practicing good form, following principles, and proper techniques.

3) Practice stress management - During training, you would want to also practice managing your stress. Have a partner or several try as hard as they can to intimidate you as you keep your cool under pressure. In Dave Grossman's book on combat, a study was done on three groups of rats put under stress. The first was dropped in a tub of water and it took 60 hours for them to drown. The second group was only held upside down above the water to create stress. After they were done freaking out, they slowly calmed themselves. They lasted 20 minutes before drowning. The last group was put under the same treatment except they were put back into their cages to recuperate. This was repeated several times until the rats got accustomed to it. Stress inoculation therapy is a great method in changing the way you view yourself and help manage your levels of stress under intense situations. Use a method called tactical breathing which involves taking one deep breath and holding it for 4 seconds before exhaling then repeating the same process three times. This technique is used by snipers in order to improve accuracy and focus.

Above all, have a strong willpower to endure everything you go through. Fight with everything you have because your life is at stake. If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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Is MMA effective in self defense?

Is MMA effective in self defense?

MMA has a growing popularity and fanbase in this generation since the UFC made it's impact. MMA itself has transcended from the Octagon into your local school, appealing to many young adults. There are many teens using MMA in street fights which begs the question - is MMA effective as self defense?

In my opinion, MMA can be effective in self defense provided that a certain mindset and techniques are adapted to the streets. It is unrealistic for fighters to use BJJ or any other submission holds as self defense as you are unaware of your opponents. For all you know, your opponents could have weapons or friends. Taking the fight to the ground is the utter worst move you could make as your vision is limited and you are in a vulnerable position.

The other reason why MMA isn't as effective in the streets is that fighters are not taught to use many different kinds of "dirty" attacks prohibited in the UFC. In the link below, here are a list of fouls and requirements for a UFC fight:

http://www.ufc.com/discover/sport/rules-and-regulations

That being said, MMA is suited for sport more than it is for self defense. In the Octagon, your goal is to score points and ideally, a KO. In the street, your goal is to survive. Now does that mean MMA will get you killed in a street situation? No as shown in this video. There are some instances where some MMA techniques would be suitable where violence is prohibited or unnecessary such as applying a chokehold to restrain an attacker. There are also other cases where it would be beneficial to learn several martial arts to complement your primary one of choice. For example, Aikido throws are meant to discourage attackers from attacking you without the use of violence. This would be more efficient than having to resort to strikes and possibly facing a charge.

All techniques in martial arts are useful in their appropriate settings. How will you use MMA without compromising your safety and wellbeing?If you enjoyed this post, subscribe to my blog for updates, more advice, and exclusive content in the near future. I'm proud and excited to offer a FREE sample chapter of my E-book "Jeet Kune Do: How to build your own fighting system for self defense!" It's essentially a step-by-step guide on how to make your own self defense system suited to fit your own needs using Jeet Kune Do. If you would love to receive your FREE chapter of my e-book, click on the link below and share a post via. social media then it's yours for FREE! Be sure to also fill out the survey on the right and provide feedback on my blog. Leave questions, comments, and suggestions below.

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