This blog covers everything related to self defense including but not limited to training, techniques, principles, martial arts, hand to hand combat systems, weapons, various scenarios, tips, sparring, psychology of combat, the list goes on. It is not restricted to just one fighting art but welcomes every reader regardless of experience to gain knowledge on self defense.
It's conventional wisdom among so many self defense instructors that when there's an attacker, you should always run. In reality, this is bad advice because you won't always have the luxury of running away from a threat. Even if you do, this won't guarantee that you will successfully get away from your attacker. Why is running bad advice for self defense?
First of all, you don't know how fast your attacker can run. If you somehow knew that you could outrun your attacker then running would be the best option but you don't know anything about who your facing. Second, you may not run fast enough to get away. If you don't run or work on cardio then how do you expect to outrun an attacker who's probably in better shape than you? He may have done more exercise from say evading police than you have. If you don't get enough exercise, you can bet that you will get taken down. Last, you may not have the time or distance to run. If your in a small building just a few feet away from an attacker, you won't be able to run to the door and open it so you can escape in time to escape. Let's say your on a moving bus or train when suddenly someone decides to swing at you? Where are you going to run? There's absolutely nowhere to go!
To illustrate my point with an example, just watch what happens when someone tried to outrun his attackers in the video below. From my unfortunate experience, i tried to outrun an attacker (a kid i knew from my neighborhood). Despite my fitness level from all the cardio i did as a child, he still caught up to me and took me down.
The other reason why running away is bad advice is because it's so vague. When self defense instructors say "just run away!", what does that even mean? There's absolutely no specifics as to how you can outrun your attackers. Sometimes the only way you can outrun your attacker is by attacking before you take off or after you win a fight.
If you do plan on outrunning your attackers, the questions you ought to be asking yourself should be - 1) Is there an escape route? 2) Do i have the time and distance needed to run away from danger? 3) What are the risks of running vs. the risks of fighting? 4) Where am i going to run?
The best advice i can give you if running is an option is to familiarize yourself with your environment. Make sure you have an escape route and that you don't give away your intention to your attacker via body language. Make sure that you are able to avoid your attacker by obstructing his vision and slowing him down if possible. If you do parkour, jumping over obstacles and climbing buildings could prove useful in getting away from danger. Finally have a safe zone such as a police station with cops inside or areas with a bunch of people. If there's people, that may discourage your attacker and give you enough time to get help.
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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.
Baseball bats can cause serious damage when used as a blunt weapon. The force of the impact can break bone and cause other injuries especially if delivered to the head. Loss of consciousness or even death can occur. This is why it's important to understand how to defend yourself against an attacker wielding a baseball bat for a weapon:
1) Stay close to your attacker - Keep at a close distance just enough to where the bat can barely reach you. Don't move too far back or you will likely get hit.
2) Use a weapon - Get an improvised weapon such as a chair, a stick, anything that you can use to deflect strikes or deliver strikes to your attacker.
3) Move in and control the weapon - Timing is critical in these situations. The best time to close the gap is before or after an attack is made. Once you move in whether it's through a takedown or by other means, control the weapon. Alternatively, you could also control the arms holding the weapon.
4) Disarm - There's several ways you can disarm an attacker. You could use his own momentum against him by controlling his head and throwing him. You could use the bat as leverage and force it out of his grip. You could use a Judo throw. The overall aim is to disarm your attacker.
Additional tips:
* Don't try to block the bat with your arm - Some self defense instructors teach you should try to block the weapon with some part of your arm. This is a bad idea as the bat could break bone and damage tissue.
* Avoid the tip of the weapon - The most dangerous part of the bat is the tip. Once the bat has passed the centerline, it becomes safer to intercept your attacker.
* Don't hesitate - The only safe zones are outside of striking range or inside the grappling range. If your stuck anywhere between those two ranges, you will get hit. Keep in mind that your attacker can change the direction of the bat. Do not hesitate to close the gap between you and your attacker when the opportunity presents itself.
Practice your these principles especially timing and interceptions with a sparring partner using a foam bat.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. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
If you've read my post on "how to defend yourself against a swordsman" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/defense-against-swordsman.html) then you should have an idea of how to takedown someone armed with a Machete. Here are several tips on how to disarm an attacker wielding a Machete following certain principles.
1) Use a weapon - Use whatever improvised weapon you have at your disposal as an equalizer to the Machete. The aim is to either deflect or deliver vicious attacks of your own.
2) Keep at a close distance - Like a sword, you must stay within a reasonable distance in order to rush in for a disarm. Remember that the goal of staying at a close distance from the blade is to intercept your attacker before he/she makes a strike. If you keep backing up and don't move in, you increase the chances of getting hit. This is a near perfect example of how defense against a Machete ought to be done. The man being attacked keeps at a close distance not straying too far away as he uses a chair to deflect the strikes before he performs a double leg takedown:
2) Close in and control the attacking arm - Once you have the opportunity, rush into your attacker and control the arm wielding the Machete by grabbing it. From there, you could headbutt or elbow strike and do whatever attack you want as a distraction. It's more risky if you try to move to the outside of the opponent's attacking arm as you will likely get hit due to the quickness of the weapon. Your best bet is to get into the attacker's inside first before you move to the outside. Quickly get in a position where you can control the elbow and wrist at once.
3) Disarm - To disarm, you could break the arm or knock your attacker off balance. Whether you do a Judo throw or a kick to the back of the knee and a joint lock, the goal is to ensure that your attacker cannot use the Machete against you. One of the best ways to do this is by knocking your attacker off balance as you force the Machete out of his/her hands.
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Brass knuckles can be a very dangerous weapon in the wrong hands. One hit could mean death. Therefore if you want to defend yourself against an assailant wielding brass knuckles, you must abide by several principles.
1) Strike first - Don't wait until you see your attacker reaches into his/her pocket and pulls out a pair of brass knuckles. Soon as you see someone threatening you and reaching into his or her pockets, close the gap then bring your attacker to the ground.
2) Avoid getting hit with the brass knuckles - Brass knuckles could severely injure vital organs and break bone. Treat it as you would a knife (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-knife.html.) Block and redirect the incoming hits but make sure that your arms do not make direct contact with the weapon.
3) Control the arm and elbow - Grab hold of the wrist or elbow and then trap the entire arm. From there, you can trip your attacker or deliver a stomp kick to the side of one knee or in the back of knee.
4) Disarm - Once you've gotten control of the arm, you can break it by applying force on the elbow joint. Alternatively, you could put your attacker in a wrist lock as you force the brass knuckles out of his/her fingers. You could land a few strikes and make your escape.
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.
Most people (including myself at one point) have a mistaken assumption that to learn self defense, you must practice martial arts. Self defense and martial arts are almost two completely different fields. Here's a list of things that make self defense different from martial arts.
* Self defense is about survival, martial arts is about the art - Not every martial art was created for the purpose of self defense. Tai Chi for example was originally designed for health benefits. Self defense is about survival whereas martial arts is about the preservation of the art whether it's applicable in self defense or not.
* Martial arts has rules, self defense doesn't - Many martial arts practiced today such as Karate, Judo, Jiu Jitsu, Taekwon Do, etc. are being used for purposes other than what was originally intended. Many martial arts are sports based as they have point systems and rules such as no kicks to the groin. Self defense has no rules. That means anything goes such as biting, hitting below the waist, eye gouging, weapons, etc.
* Martial arts has form, self defense is fluid - In martial arts, instructors are concerned about you learning proper structure and technique in sparring. In self defense, you survive by any means necessary whether you perform techniques correctly or not. Many martial arts are bound by the limits of their art. If your martial art specializes in close range fighting but not in other ranges, you cannot go beyond those limits without breaking tradition. Self defense is about taking what works effectively and applying it to real combat.
* Martial arts training is unrealistic, self defense isn't - Many martial artists aren't prepared to deal with all sorts of encounters. They practice katas, drills, forms, and fancy techniques that are unrealistic in actual combat. They don't intensely train for armed robbers, weapons, bullies, rapists, killers, all the situations that our modern world faces. Martial artists use tradition or mysticism to come up with solutions for tradition's sake. For example, much of Kali knife fighting has no real world application but is practiced for the preservation of the art. In self defense, you find practical modern day solutions to real problems.
* Self defense teaches the dynamics of combat, martial arts doesn't - Self defense trains you to deal with many variables of combat such as situational awareness, avoidance of conflict, weapons, multiple attackers, stress, adrenaline, emotions, the environment, and so on. Traditional martial arts doesn't and if they do, it's not as extensive as it would be in a self defense setting.
* Martial arts has ranks, self defense doesn't - Many martial arts have a sash or belt system to identify the rank and skill level of it's practitioners. They also instill awards to those members who are most improved. While this is good for improving self confidence and esteem, it doesn't mean anything in the streets. Self defense is about reaching your uttermost potential with no regard for rank so you can survive.
Can you use martial arts for self defense? Yes but you must ensure that you are training for self defense and may have to modify the martial arts you practice for the streets. 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. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
Despite being a Wing Chun practitioner, i must be honest and admit that there are several ineffective training methods in Wing Chun that will get you hurt or killed in a street fight. They only work for health benefits, sparring with a Wing Chun partner, preserving tradition, etc. They don't transition well to self defense unless you adapt your training methods for that specific purpose. The list is as follows:
* Forms - Wing Chun usually begins with practicing forms. There's nothing wrong with forms except that your doing all sorts of movements and you have no idea how to apply them in combat. You probably won't even use most of the techniques from the Wing Chun forms in a street fight. Why not spar all out with a partner and apply the ones you will need instead? The only useful form that will help you is the Mook Yan Jong Wing Chun wooden dummy form. It will develop your reflexes, arm conditioning, understanding of angles, centerline, positions, power, speed, simultaneous attack and defense, etc.
* Trapping - Wing Chun practitioners teach the concept of trapping usually by getting a neutral stance and sparring with a partner in hand to hand combat. The goal is basically to feel your partner out for certain openings and create them by grabbing the arm or wrist as you attack at once. This training method of Wing Chun trapping only works provided that an opponent isn't exerting any pressure at all but how likely is that to happen in a street fight? If you try trapping an aggressive violent attacker who exerts forward pressure, you will be taken down quickly. Furthermore, the attacker could just pull away with the free hand and throw a haymaker or hook punch at you.
* Chi Sao - The same problem arises in Chi Sao as with trapping. Chi Sao's purpose is to feel your opponent's energy before you strike along with training sensitivity. A street fighter won't instigate a fight and say "here let me do my Chi Sao with you.." Chi Sao only works with a compliant partner not a noncompliant attacker on the street.
* Weapons training - Wing Chun weapons training relies on use of Wing Chun butterfly swords and poles. I suppose these would be effective for developing power and proper alignment but as far as self defense goes, they are useless unless you plan on carrying them wherever you go.
* Wing Chun sparring - This training is more effective than the others but it still has it's flaws. Your only sparring to beat a Wing Chun partner instead of the average street attacker. How likely is it for a Wing Chun practitioner to attack you on the street? Your average or above average person on the street will most likely not be compliant and attack you in the same fashion a Wing Chun practitioner would. Even when i knew almost nothing about martial arts in my teen years, i would not attack someone like Wing Chun practitioners do in a sparring session. I'd go for combos with wild attacks before i try a takedown, use improvised weapons, etc.
Now don't get me wrong, i'm not saying that all of these training methods are completely useless. It just depends on how you train them properly. Wing Chun sifus may argue "well these training methods aren't designed for combat, only for you to understand Wing Chun principles and concepts.." To this i respond, if that's the case then why not apply them in actual sparring? Why invest time practicing traditional training methods before you learn how to apply them in combat? These Wing Chun training methods only work for showing off or preserving tradition. How do you train trapping, chi sao, weapons, and forms for self defense? Through all out no holds barred sparring. Instead of forms, practice proper alignment and efficiency with a sparring partner using certain offensive or defensive techniques from Sil Lum Tao, Chum Kiu, or Biu Jee. Instead of trying to trap both arms, you trap only one from the outside and attack at once. Instead of trying to do Chi Sao and feel your opponent's energy before you go in, learn how to control it in sparring against a punch or grapple. Instead of sparring with just Wing Chun practitioners, practice with a variety of partners using different styles. Instead of learning how to use Wing Chun weapons, learn how to use and disarm modern weapons.
In conclusion, Wing Chun must adapt to the present day in order for it to be effective in self defense.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. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
Let's say you've gotten framed for a crime you didn't commit and are now into one of the absolute worst situations of your life - imprisonment. Many innocent people are imprisoned for crimes they did not commit. This is a harsh reality caused by a corrupt political and judicial system. If you've done everything you could in the court of law to prove your innocence, failed, and are now facing a prison sentence then don't give up hope. Self defense can work even in prison and it has been done before. This guide will you give you the principles in surviving attacks in prison.
* Psychological defenses - To be successful in self defense especially behind bars, you must be psychologically prepared. Prisons were designed to break down your will. They were designed to make you feel hopeless and vulnerable but this is all in your head. You control how you respond to the environment. Prison walls and people cannot make you despair unless your mind allows it. Don't let the prison walls and other inmates intimidate you. How do you accomplish this? Change the way you view yourself and prison walls. Stop thinking of prison walls and confined spaces as barriers that limit the ability to defend yourself. Think of them as improvised weapons to use in self defense. Don't be intimidated by the size of other inmates. Just because they are muscular, doesn't mean they know how to skillfully use strength. Show no emotion such as fear, anger, happiness, pain, sorrow, and so on as prisoners can exploit your weaknesses. Meditation, deep breathing exercises, and positivity will keep you from having a breakdown.
* Learn the inmate code of conduct - In order to survive, you must learn how to interact with prisoners and guards. The golden rule still applies even in prison. Treat others how you want to be treated. Don't stare or smile at anyone as it could be interpreted as a sign of aggression. Don't stare at anyone's cell as inmates could think you are plotting to steal. Stand up for yourself and defend your own race. Failure to do so could result in other inmates beating you since those are dishonorable acts. Do your time quietly and don't reveal anything about yourself to anyone as it could be used against you. By learning how prisoners work, you can avoid many potentially dangerous situations.
* Be aware at all times and adapt - Unlike the streets where you can anticipate attackers, prison inmates are very smart and that's what makes them deadly. They use various strategies to attack such as ganging up on you, ambushes, distractions, etc. They may often start riots just so they can attempt to hurt or kill you. Learn the warning signs of a potential threat and never get close to strangers. Keep as many inmates in your vision as possible. Look for warning signs of a potential attack. Be aware of cameras and prison guards. Keep your guard up at all times.
* Learn how to fight in confined areas - Use walls and confined spaces to your advantage. You could slam or push inmates into walls, bars, fences, tables, concrete, etc. Walls can also be used for protection and a better position to defend against attacks from behind. If you know a martial art or combat system specializing in close quarters fighting such as Wing Chun then you'd be in an ideal environment to use it. Learn how to control space and trap your opponents. If you close the distance and use the walls to prevent your attackers from using kicks or punches, that works well in your favor.
* Train hard - When your locked inside a cell, be productive. Do lots of push ups, solo sparring, hand conditioning by striking hard surfaces, crunches, sit ups, pull ups, martial arts or boxing training, and more exercises. You'll want your reflexes and body to perform at it's uttermost potential.
* Learn how to use weapons and defend against them - Prisoners are extremely skilled in using and making improvised weapons such as shanks, blunt weapons, even guns. In some cases, use of weapons is necessary for survival. You should also know how to defend against them. If you for example come across a prisoner trying to stab you with a shank, disarm him/her (see http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-knife.html to learn how.) Be cautious of the leveraging arm. Inmates may try to grab your shirt with one hand and use the other to stab you. A more dangerous position to be in is pushed up against the wall as inmates stab you. If an inmate is using both hands against you, learn how to control the one closest to you and get to a better position to break the arm or trip him/her.
* Learn how to work around prison rules - Sometimes, you must adapt to the prison rules for your survival. How dangerous of a situation are you in against other inmates after you? If it's too threatening, do something that will get you put in solitary confinement for example such as seriously injuring another inmate bent on killing you. Once in solitary confinement, you are in worse conditions but at least your temporarily safe from other inmates.
These are the basics of self defense in prison. Here are some additional tips to help you.
* Don't join any prison gangs - Resist the urge to turn to prison gangs for protection. Once your initiated, your in for life. Any attempt to desert or disobey orders could result in your death or the deaths of your loved ones.
* Build a reputation for yourself - In order to survive, you must send a powerful message to other inmates be it to inspire fear or respect. Ensure that your actions and verbal or nonverbal communication are consistent at all times. How people perceive you will determine the chances you have of survival.
Practice fighting in confined spaces with a partner and use of weapons in sparring.
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.
Many people talk about fighting a stronger opponent but sometimes, a faster opponent is more dangerous. Here's a few tips on how to defeat an opponent who relies on speed in self defense.
* Look for weaknesses - Just because your attacker is fast, doesn't mean he/she knows how to use speed in a street fight. Speed must be developed but there might be some areas where the attacker has not trained sufficiently. In what ways is the attacker slower? Kicking? Footwork? Controlling distance? Striking? Look for specific weak spots and once you find them, take advantage of them by striking there.
* Keep at a close distance - If you move too far back, you create space for your attacker to strike quickly. If you stay too close, you will get hit. Therefore the best position to be in is close enough to where you can quickly move in. Forget about blocking or dodging because you will get hit since your attacker's faster. It only takes a few inches for you to escape the attacker's striking range so distance is key. All you have to do is move out of the direction of the attacker's fast strikes and into your own range as you launch a counter-attack.
* Control the elbows - One of the best strategies to counter a fast striker is grappling. Wrestling, BJJ, Judo, or any other grappling art would be useful in these types of situations. As soon as the faster attacker finished his/her attacks, move in quickly and grab hold of the elbows to neutralize his/her attacks then slam or throw him/her on the ground. There's a good chance that you will get hit but focus on rendering speed useless by bringing the faster person to the ground. Remember to not go to the ground with him/her as it's more dangerous for you. Stay in a standing position as you finish the fight with kicks, stomps, etc.
* Make your escape - Don't think that once your attacker's on the ground you have to necessarily end the fight. Is there an opportunity to escape? Take it. It's not worth risking your life by staying longer in the fight.
Practice these principles with a partner who's faster than you.
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.
As a Wing Chun practitioner, i sought the way i thought that was ideal for me. I believed that Wing Chun would help me become the ideal warrior that is until i realized it's limitations. Traditional Wing Chun footwork is solid and strong no doubt. Wing Chun sifus teach that as long as your footwork is mobile, you don't need to waste too much time on footwork. Simply step back and close the gap. I soon found that if faced with an attacker who has a more free moving footwork like a wrestler, how can you expect to end the threat quickly in a Wing Chun stance? The traditional Wing Chun fighting footwork would not be able to respond to those types of situations. When i stumbled across Master Wong's Wing Chun teachings on youtube explaining that Wing Chun must evolve in order to face those situations, i soon realized one of the flaws in the way Wing Chun was being taught today. Wing Chun sifus might counter this by saying "when confronted with an opponent seeking to compromise your balance, simply maintain it and close the gap.." but it's hard to do when your opponent moves faster than you and will probably knock you over with their powerful attacks. Wing Chun's systematic weakness is groundfighting so if your on the ground, you would have no way to defend yourself against a BJJ fighter! If the only way to respond effectively to the systematic weaknesses of Wing Chun is being more free in movements, what does that say about traditional Wing Chun?
I soon realized that every style has it's own systematic flaws. Even moreso, many martial arts have strayed from realistic self defense training and more into other uses such as sports or health-related fitness training. It was when i stumbled across Bruce Lee's Jeet Kune Do that i realized this was what i was seeking. Having no way as way and no limitation as limitation. Bruce Lee's guiding thought was absorbing what was useful and discarding what wasn't. Jeet Kune Do's training was rooted in full contact no holds barred sparring to train for combat realism.
Jeet Kune Do is a fighting philosophy not a style but there exists two distinct schools of Jeet Kune Do. The first which seeks to preserve Bruce Lee's fighting style, Jun Fan Gung Fu as a means of teaching Jeet Kune Do. The second school loosely applies Jeet Kune Do concepts to any martial arts and develops the individual fighter. I learned that the term "Jeet Kune Do" is just a name. Some call Jeet Kune Do the original MMA, modified Wing Chun, modified boxing, etc. but in reality, Jeet Kune Do cannot be clearly defined. Bruce Lee intended it to be a personal journey of self discovery. Only when you embark on this journey that you begin to understand the meaning of Jeet Kune Do.
Bruce Lee saw that each style was confined to one particular fighting range (close range, long range, grappling range, trapping range) but no one style had all the answers to each situation. Thus he believed that the ideal martial artist should be proficient in all ranges and borrow from any simple techniques irrespective of style. Jeet Kune Do is about seeing reality from different perspectives and being fluid. The way of the intercepting fist appealed to me because it served as a defense by being a powerful offense unlike Wing Chun sifus training you to deflect with one hand while using the other to attack. What most appealed to me about Jeet Kune Do aside from freedom of expression is it's philosophy of adapting to every situation and evolving as an individual.
It is my personal conviction that the Jeet Kune Do philosophy will help people reach their full potential especially in the field of self defense. As i walk on the path to finding the true meaning of Jeet Kune Do, i hope to discover the essence of my identity and what lies beyond.
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.
There are many people going into self defense wondering "which techniques can i use to beat bigger and badder opponents...what's the most effective punch to beating someone in a street fight.." They go into martial arts schools trying to learn how to deal with many different types of attacks. They want to learn techniques, techniques, and more techniques.
The problem is that you won't ever be able to excel in self defense if you rely only on techniques. There are many martial arts and self defense schools that teach techniques but neglect the strategies of self defense. Strategies, principles, and concepts of self defense are far more important than techniques. If you always rely on techniques, you will never become a proficient fighter in self defense. That's why you'll rarely see me teaching you any techniques in my blog posts. Techniques are just the tools to help you achieve a certain goal but they are not the foundation of self defense. You can learn techniques on how to deal with a hook punch or a headlock but if you don't learn certain principles such as keeping distance, balance, when to attack, efficiency, etc. then techniques are worthless. Not all techniques can be applied to every situation so it's important to understand strategy.
If you must learn techniques, which ones should you learn? The simplest ones. People will try to sell you flashy techniques that look good in demonstration but are impractical in a real street fight. You won't be able to recall everything under high levels of stress. Simplicity and efficiency are what determines whether or not a certain techniques are effective. If you perform a set of fancy techniques, someone can intercept with a simple punch and you'll be knocked out cold. The more simple a technique is, the faster you'll be able to recall it and respond. This applies to boxing, Karate, Wing Chun, Sambo, Krav Maga, Jiu Jitsu, or even basic punches and kicks. This video will help explain more in full detail.
Why are strategies more important than techniques? Because strategies are the plans to accomplish a specific goal. If you fail to plan, you plan to fail. If you have no guidance in dealing with specific situations, you won't know how and when to apply techniques. If you don't know when and how to apply techniques, you won't be able to apply them at all. Learn strategies, concepts, and principles of self defense. Only then will you be truly wise and able to see many different violent situations more clearly.
I hope that this post gave you some insights into how to improve 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.
Coming across a person who's much stronger and bigger than you can be a scary experience but with the right principles, you can learn how to defend yourself against attacker regardless of size. Here are several strategies you can use against a huge attacker. Remember to use quickness to your advantage.
* Psychological defenses - The larger attacker may try to psychologically attack you by making himself look invincible and intimidating. Just think - if he was so powerful, why is he picking a fight with someone smaller than him? It's because he isn't that powerful. People who are truly confident in their abilities would not be looking for someone weaker than them. A stronger opponent can taunt you and make you feel vulnerable but always remember that he's just as vulnerable as you are. Don't let his size fool you. Be a predator.
* Never underestimate your attacker - Just because he's large and your faster, doesn't mean you can underestimate him. You don't know anything about him. You don't know how smart he is, whether or not he's a felon, if he's armed, knows how to wrestle or grapple, etc. He's not some meathead you can afford to play around with. Strength can be equally as dangerous as speed especially if you fail to acknowledge it.
* Strike first - One of the best strategies is to take the initiative and strike first. Learn how pressure points work and how you can use them to your advantage. This video is a perfect example of how a smaller guy knocked out a larger opponent. If you catch your large attacker off guard, you can end him in one punch. Even if he's dazed, that would be an ideal opportunity to make your escape.
* Keep your distance - Ensure that you are not within the large attacker's punching or kicking range. You never want to take it to the ground with a larger attacker unless your a good BJJ fighter. A larger person has longer limbs than a shorter person. Use your low kicks to keep the distance. Evade the larger attacker if needed. Get him exhausted before you launch an attack of your own.
* Strike at vulnerable areas - You can hit your attacker in the groin, eyes, sides of knees, throat, or the fleshy part on the outsides of their upper legs. By kicking on the sides of this part of their legs, you could destroy his ability to walk properly.
* Use his own force against him - The saying "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" rings true especially in these situations. If your good at martial arts or any combat system, you could deflect his attacks. Alternatively, you could simply evade his attacks as you kick or sweep him off balance.
* Escape - Is there an opportunity to escape? Take it. Do not think that you should stand and fight. You'll probably be able to run faster than him so take advantage of any opportunity you can take.
I hope that this post gave you some insights into how to improve 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.
It's often been said in legend that martial artists developed their own styles from observing animals and rightfully so. Pay attention to different styles and you will notice the symbolic resemblance to a specific animal such as the tiger, praying mantis, snake, bear, White Crane, the list goes on. Why should you learn from wild animals? Because animals are the best martial artists. They have used violence well for survival and competition. Animals have many essential attributes for a skilled fighter such as speed, strength, power, deception, etc. By paying close attention to animal behavior and how they handle violent situations, you can integrate that into your self defense based trained.
Take a look at the above picture. The wolf is biting on the bottom wolf's muzzle which prevents the bottom wolf from biting. What's the idea behind this? Disable your attacker so he/she can't attack. I've seen many cats on youtube facing dogs much larger than they are and the dogs almost always end up winning. Why is that? The cats are more aggressive aside from agile and strike at the dog's vital areas. What's the lesson? It's not always the biggest who wins a fight, it's the one who takes the initiative and strikes first. I've seen cats get in a grappling fights and get in a better position to prevent from being struck while striking at vital areas. Some animals like peacocks win on intimidation and deception alone. There's many ideas and movements that you can apply from studying nature.
I hope that this post gave you some insights into how to improve 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. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
Someone asked me how do you defend against a technical truck. A technical truck is basically a truck with a gun mounted on it. Like with any gun, there are several things you need to keep in mind :
*Vision
*Cover and concealment
*Distance
* Accuracy
*Timing
* Focus
1) Situational awareness - Be aware of your surroundings and keep away from the truck. Make sure that the people in the truck don't see you.
2) If spotted, fight and escape - If your spotted, what weapons do you have? A gun? Fire as many shots into the driver as you can. If you have no weapon, make one. You can use a bag, a shirt or sweater, or other objects to impair the driver's vision or focus and hopefully get them into an accident. Run for your life but move in an unpredictable pattern in order to make it harder for the gunner to shoot you. If you don't have a weapon, obstruct the vehicles vision and path. By that i mean you use cover and concealment to evade the vehicle as you would a normal shooter on foot. The only difference is that move into areas that are inaccessible to the vehicle. This picture should illustrate my point:
If i suddenly ran through the narrow spaces between these houses to escape, would the gunner be able to fire accurate shots? If not, what would the technical truck have to do in order to get me? Turn the vehicle around and drive along the road? By the time he does all that, i'm already long gone. The key is to use buildings or other obstacles as cover and concealment. The technical vehicle's driver has to be careful because he has to maneuver around other vehicles, face a road block, a dead end, mud, and other terrain that would potentially immobilize the vehicle.
Here's what happens when a technical driver lacks a good understanding of his environment. In this video, this technical truck is under fire but the driver doesn't see that a car is in front of him probably due to stress or a loss of focus. The technical truck faces a head on collision and gets into a terrible accident. In summary, this is how you deal with a technical truck.
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.
You've probably heard people ask "what's the best weapon to defend myself? Should i use a gun? A knife? A stun gun? A taser?" While salesman and companies offer weapons for self defense. What they don't want you to know is that - there is no best weapon for self defense! They are essentially lying to you by giving you false confidence that you can defend yourself for profits. They don't warn you about the severe drawbacks in each weapon. There are four questions you must ask yourself before you even consider purchasing a weapon 1) Am i able to use it? 2) Do i know how to use it? 3) Am i prepared to use it? 4) Do i have a strategy when i'm using it? I will go over several weapons and explain why each one is ineffective under the wrong circumstances.
* Gun - I've heard alot of people say "i don't need to learn martial arts, a gun will solve everything.." First of all, the laws on self defense are very complex. If you can't build a solid case in which you can legally justify it was self defense then you will get punished under the court of law. There's been several cases where people have used guns Someone can pull out a knife, say "I'm gonna kill you!", and you are still not legally justified in shooting that person. Unless he/she rushes towards you and clearly tries to kill you, you are legally justified in using a gun. By then, it's already too late as you'd have been stabbed many times. There are a bunch of people sitting in jail right now because they illegally used a gun and failed to adhere to the legal laws on self defense.
According to the 21 foot rule outlined for police officers, it takes at least 21 feet for an officer to be safe from a knifeman. If your at a distance from a knifeman and you can shoot then good for you. The problem is not every knifeman will attack that way. Some will have it concealed. Do you realistically expect to draw your gun and stop someone charging at you from a few feet? Another issue with using a gun is that it's very hard to shoot and stop a moving target at vital areas especially under high levels of stress. Adrenaline rushes can greatly increase the chances of people taking 2 and more gunshots as they attack you at full force. The idea that you can just shoot an attacker twice and the attacker's down is Hollywood fiction.
This is one of my favorite videos i love to use as an illustration of what happens when gunmen confront a knifeman. Notice how many times police shot him and he still kept attacking! Do you think the gun was the appropriate weapon of choice in that situation?
* Knife - Just because the gun poses several problems, doesn't mean a knife is any safer. Same problems apply under the court of law. A knife poses the same problems as a gun. Realistically, you won't be able to stop an attacker in an adrenaline rush coming at you head on. You probably wouldn't even have time to draw your weapon if the attacker rushes in before you pull it out. If you do draw a knife, you would need to strike at vital areas in order for a knife to be effective. Against a highly aggressive and violent attacker, you probably wouldn't be able to do it accurately especially if you don't know how to handle stress. Even if you hit a vital area, the attacker may not even feel it and just keep attacking. It takes alot of time for the attacker to bleed out and by the time the attacker does, you'll probably be dead or seriously hurt. There's also the great danger that the attacker may knock the knife out of your hand and take it away from you. What would you do then?
* Stun guns and tasers - More reasonable than a deadly weapon but it still has fatal flaws. You'd have to get very close to an attacker which is what you don't want in order for it to work and many times - it does not work. Many police officers have found that criminals who are under high levels of adrenaline resist the effects of stun guns. If your attacker is wearing thick clothing, it makes the stun gun harder to penetrate. It also takes a few seconds for it to take effect upon contact. Do you realistically expect this weapon to work against a non-compliant attacker or multiple attackers? A taser is more effective as it fires probes into attackers and immobilizes their movements but it still has it's drawbacks. If you miss a violent attacker with a deadly weapon which is highly likely under stress, you don't have enough time to reload the cartridge and fire again as you would with a gun. Even if you land a direct hit, the attacker can STILL resist! If you need proof, just watch this video.
A trained police officer hunts down a perp and uses the taser. Only ONE of the probe actually gets stuck on the perp, reducing it's effectiveness before it gets seemingly torn off due to movement. The police officer gets shot in the leg shortly afterwards. Realistically, would a taser have been appropriate in these types of situations?
* Pepper sprays, mace, and other chemical weapons - These weapons also have the same problems that stun guns have. There's no guarantee that the pepper spray or other chemical based weapons will completely stop your attacker. If you miss, your in deep trouble. Watch what happens when cops use pepper spray on a man high off of PCP and how ineffective it was in subduing him. The wind and other environmental factors can render any spray weapons useless.
Still not convinced? Check this video out. By the time you spray your attacker in the face, he/she would've already landed several attacks before the effects start to kick in.
A gun does not make you a skilled shooter anymore than a guitar makes someone a musician. It's all about how pro-efficient you are in the weapon. In what situations is the weapon useful and what situations will it get you killed? What's your 2nd line of defense in case your primary line of defense fails? You have only your mind to rely on when weapons fail you. If you don't know the strengths and weaknesses of your weapon then my advice to you is don't use it until you do.
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. http://www.paywithapost.de/pay?id=7b715806-c78b-4bfd-badf-4242da2bf8f2
It's conventional wisdom among so many self defense instructors that when there's an attacker, you should always run. In reality, this is bad advice because you won't always have the luxury of running away from a threat. Even if you do, this won't guarantee that you will successfully get away from your attacker. Why is running bad advice for self defense?
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.
