How to fight bigger, stronger, and tougher opponents

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.

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Learn martial arts from watching animals

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.

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How to defend against a technical truck

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.

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Why relying on weapons will get you killed

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.

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How to avoid getting kidnapped

There are many children in the U.S who are kidnapped and the number of adults kidnapped is unknown as those over 21 are disregarded by the Uniform crime report. Therefore, you should know how to defend yourself kidnappers just to be on the safe side.

1) Have situational awareness - Think critically - Why would a car or van pull up at high speed in front of you? Definitely not to park or do any other normal activity. Trust your gut instinct. You can hide, run away, or fight when the situation calls for it. Don't just stay still and wait until the car doors fly open for you to respond, act quickly. If you have nowhere to go, pay close attention to what they look like and what they're armed with. 

2) Fight - Are there multiple attackers? Take out the closest one before you make your escape. Don't stay there trying to beat all of them or you will be overwhelmed. See my other post "how to fight multiple attackers" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-to-fight-multiple-opponents.html) for reference. Are there gunmen? Perform a quick disarm (see "self defense against a gunman" http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-gunman.html) on one and open fire on the others as you make your escape. It doesn't even have to be an accurate shot. It just has to scare them into either fleeing or taking cover creating distance between you and them.

3) Escape - The best course of action would be to escape as soon as the opportunity presents itself. Move into an area where there are likely more people and more chances of scaring off the attackers. Draw as much attention to yourself as possible. If your locked inside a trunk, you should at the very least figure out how to get yourself free if bound. Once your hands are free, look for an improvised weapon. Once they open the trunk, surprise attack them at full force. If you can, fall out of the trunk and get as far away from it as possible. This will draw even more attention to yourself especially if your on a highway. If your bound inside the car, try to free yourself and jump out of the car at the right moment. If at the back seat on the highway, you could attack the driver and create an accident which causes the car to stop completely. You may get seriously injured or killed but in the hands of kidnappers, that's probably going to happen anyway. The aim is to escape by any means necessary.

Here's more advice to help you escape your kidnappers. I will be giving more advice on how to escape kidnappers in the future so keep a watchful eye.

* Learn how to get out of restraints and fight - This may look like something out of Hollywood but it's been done before. Don't believe me? Just look at this example of a man who escaped an execution at the hands of armed men despite being bound and using one of their weapons against them. As long as you can freely move your body, you can apply kicks, headbutts, biting, chokes, elbows, punches, and any training in martial arts or other combat systems. By developing the skills and using the right tools, you can break free from restraints thus giving you the ideal opportunity to attack then escape.

* Seize the opportunity to take action - The key in doing this is to by having a very alert mind and proactive mindset. Take a look at this video where a man gets kidnapped at gunpoint and forced to sit in the passengers seat. He doesn't sit there thinking "well i got kidnapped, there's nothing more i can do so i might as well give it up..." He waits until the right moment and makes his move.

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How to defend against a taser

Tasers could potentially immobilize you completely and put you at the mercy of your attacker. Here are a few tips to avoid getting tased in self defense.

1) Identify the type of taser and disarm - Is the taser designed for close range or long range? If close range, treat it as you would a knife and avoid getting shocked (see http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-knife.html). Knock your opponent off balance before you disarm. If long range, treat it similar to a gun (see http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/11/self-defense-against-gunman.html). The only difference is that a long range tasers is less deadly. Use other obstacles, objects, or even thick layers of clothing to shield yourself from the probes of a long range taser.

2) If tased, fight through the electrical currents and disarm - The reason why close range tasers are no longer used by police is because many criminals still managed to attack despite the pain. Tasers that rely on pain compliance rather than immobilization of the muscles and other vital components of the body will not take down a relentless criminal. Don't believe me? Here's one example. In this video, a man at McDonald's gets tased several times and still manages to flee. You can do your own research and see for yourself. With proper pain tolerance, you could still disarm your attacker. Because of this, a more advanced taser was made. This model could immobilize someone from a distance by firing probes and activating upon contact. This model however still has it's flaws.

There is a video of a man who managed to resist the taser and remove the probes off his body. The key? Willpower and intense concentration. If you could focus on getting the probes off of you, the taser is briefly rendered ineffective and gives you the opportunity to close the distance as you take your attacker down or escape.

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How to use the environment as a weapon

While using various melee weapons such as your fists or knives in self defense are good, the use of the environment will greatly improve your skills as a fighter. The reason why the military and other great war strategists were so successful was because they realized the importance of using the environment to their advantage. Here are several key principles you should know to become a better warrior whether facing one opponent or multiple opponents.

* Don't restrict yourself to close quarters combat - Don't assume that you always have to fight your opponent face to face. You can fight from a distance with various tools and weapons from many different positions. It is not an act of cowardice, only resourcefulness. 

* Use improvised weapons - Are there cars nearby? Use them as obstacles. Slam or push your opponent into them. Do you have a ball point pen? Stab your opponent in vital areas with it. Is there a window nearby? Break it and use the broken glass to stab your opponent. Bright lights? Flash them in your opponent's eyes as a distraction. Are you in a confined area? Push your opponent into the walls and restrict his/her movements. When faced with projectiles, you could find cover or concealment. There's many different ways you can use weapons to improve your chances of survival. Learn to see everything around you as a weapon. 

* Camouflage - Soldiers and snipers are skilled in blending in with the environment to ambush their enemies. You can also use it applying your knowledge of nature to strategically defeat say a group of armed attackers. Blend in with your surroundings until you become virtually invisible. 

* Confuse your enemies - Attack at unpredictable patterns from various positions and conceal yourself in fog, water, buildings, trees, etc. Don't be confined to one predictable method of attack as the enemy can quickly figure you out. The more you stress and frustrate your enemies, the more chances you have of throwing them off guard.  

* Use traps - There's many ways you can use booby traps or other means of defeating your enemies such as luring them into dangerous animals or into hidden explosives. Drawing them out in the open, ambushing, and bating them are just some ways you could attack your enemy. 

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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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How to beat a boxer in Wing Chun

If you've seen the movie IP Man 2 or IP Man 3 then you may be inspired to know whether or not Wing Chun beats boxing in a fight or vice versa. Truthfully, neither would. It all depends on how good the fighter is in the style. As a Wing Chun practitioner, I have a few ideas in defending against a boxer who may unfortunately try to harm you. These tips should only be used for self defense, not to show off who's the better fighter or which style is superior.

* Use proper structure - the mistake I've seen many Wing Chun fighters make is lack of proper fighting structure. Your arms should not be elevated all the way up at head level as it leaves your lower body exposed. You also should maintain your back structure when fighting.

* Use your elbows - What's the key in beating a boxer? Hint - it's in the elbows and their alignment. When getting in proper fighting structure, make sure that your elbows are slightly bent downwards so you can protect your lower body. When a boxer throws a punch, your elbow should be a block but also a strike to keep in line with Wing Chun principle of simultaneous attack/defense. If your opponent has no gloves on then his/her fists will break on impact. Practice putting power into your Bong Saos and elbow strikes. Make sure to also keep your eyes on the opponent's elbows. No matter how fast they hit, you will always be able to use your elbows to attack and defend at once due to distance along with eye coordination. Be sure to practice downward elbow strikes to counter uppercuts.

* Keep the pressure on the boxer - One of the most common mistakes i've seen Wing Chun fighters on youtube make is failing to keep the pressure on the boxer. Wing Chun fighters linger back and try to find angles of attack or patiently wait for the boxer to come. Don't wait. Wing Chun is about aggression and eliminating the threat at close range. Get close to the boxer and strike with a flurry of attacks. If he retreats, you keep following him until you back him into a corner. Don't let him breathe for a moment.

* Keep your distance - Another problem is failure to keep your distance. Control the distance with kicks between you and the boxer rather than punches. If your too close to a boxer, you will get hit. If your too far, you won't be able to hit. Aim for the knees or sides of the knees to throw the boxer off balance before you close the gap and get into striking range.

* Use different angles of attacks and blocks - Another common mistake i've noticed Wing Chun fighters make is only training to block attacks coming straight forward. Boxers train to strike at many different angles such as throwing an uppercut punch so you must learn not only how to respond but how to counter at different angles as well. It may come as a surprise to Wing Chun fighters that Wing Chun also has uppercut punches in some Wing Chun forms. What's the difference? The Wing Chun uppercut is delivered without compromising the Wing Chun body structure.

* Know when to strike and where - As soon as there's an opportunity to attack such as after a boxer finishes a punch, close the gap and strike hard at the boxer. Strike at his center of mass, temples, legs, sternum, throat, sides of the neck, the eyes, groin, nose, etc. The shortest distance between two points is a straight line. It takes more time for an attack in a curved line to reach it's target than a straight one. Therefore, when a boxer throws a hook punch, it would be a great opportunity to simultaneously deflect and strike at the centerline as you close the gap.

* Control the elbows - once you close the gap, immediately control elbows preferably from behind the boxer. From there, knock the boxer off balance and finish him quickly.

Some additional tips to consider:

* Beware of the bob and weave - If the boxer is good, he/she will bob and weave before attacking you from a different position. The key is to focus on the boxer's lower body such as the knees and waist for areas of attack.

* Training - Practice your simultaneous elbow strikes and defenses. The key to drawing power is using your hips and turning your whole body as you strike. Practice your turning stance as you strike, your combinations, eye-hand coordination, quick reflexes, sticking to Wing Chun principles, mobile footwork, and sparring with a boxer if possible.

Hopefully you've learned from this guide and are better equipped at dealing with a boxer. 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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Question your self defense instructor

If you question what your self defense instructor is teaching, it does not make you a bad student. On the contrary, it makes you an excellent student because you are thinking critically. It's true that having no techniques in self defense can get you killed but having the wrong set of techniques can also get you killed. Self defense instructors can be misguided. Even the content i write could also be misguided. How would you figure it out?

There are consequences of accepting everything your self defense instructor says on the basis that he/she is a certified teacher. I was reading on Reddit a story of a Muay Thai student who was assaulted by two men and did a clinch on one of them. Too late did he realize that the attacker had a knife and stabbed him twice. Outraged, he went to his teacher and blamed him for not warning him that the clinch was impractical in a street fight. His teacher told him he wasn't supposed to until after the fact it happened. As a result, the Muay Thai student lost one of his lungs and could never practice martial arts or any self defense again.

Self defense is a science. It involves testing and principles. Credentials don't mean much especially when the instructor has been teaching impractical techniques that don't simulate real life combat. Regardless of what martial art or combat system you practice whether it's Krav Maga, Mauy Thai, Karate, Wing Chun, or Silat; you should ultimately ask yourself - Is what i'm learning realistic and effective? What are the pitfalls? How can i properly test the techniques on a sparring partner whos not cooperative and get the same results? Is there a more effective way to get the job done? By thinking critically and gaining wisdom, you won't be able to fooled so easily. In conclusion, i hope that you take the time to search for the truth and remember...don't take everything i write at face value because you never know if i'm mistaken.

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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Don't wait for an opportunity to attack, create one

You've probably seen many fighters in Hollywood and street fights dance around trying to find the right moment to attack. In fact, one video of a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu fighter and a Jeet Kune Do fighter show the two simply standing there for almost the whole duration. This is one of the biggest Amateur mistakes you could make.

It looks good on camera in movies and in sports but it's not practical. If you want to become a better fighter especially in the field of self defense, learn to create opportunities to strike. An attacker cannot attack without leaving him or herself exposed to some degree. Just look at the above pic as an example. The aggressor is closing the distance to the guy in a defensive position backed against the wall. Where can the defender strike at the aggressor? How can the defender turn the situation around in his favor? 

Creating opportunities of attack through distractions, controlling distance, deflections, deception, and other ways as opposed to just looking for openings is where the real skill lies. You can dance around looking for an opportunity to attack from a safe distance but you also give that luxury to your opponent. Use the element of surprise and putting the pressure on your opponent are also crucial. Don't give your opponent the luxury of time to figure you out or a safe distance. Learn how to impose your will on your attackers with confidence. 

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 fight multiple opponents

How to fight multiple opponents: 

Fighting multiple opponents is a very dangerous situation as your attackers may have weapons and various skills aside from a numbers disadvantage. Hopefully this guide will help in dealing with multiple attackers.

1) Try to diffuse the situation - Are you given the option to leave? Best well take it. Talking your way out should be your 1st option or avoidance. If they are clearly out to hurt you then proceed to the next step.

2) Move strategically - Never let multiple attackers surround you. Once surrounded, you will be overwhelmed. Instead, move around your attackers in circles. The goal is to get at least 2 attackers or more depending on their numbers lined up while attacking the one closest to you.

3) Fight quickly and efficiently - Don't spend too much time spending too much energy on one opponent that you become too exhausted to fight the others. It's therefore crucial that you change your attack strategy. Focus on incapacitating your attackers and taking them out with one hit. Break their arms, knees, knock them off balance, and other techniques such as Dim Mak would work well. Joint locks, Muay Thai clinches, other submissions would not work well as your opponent could be armed or break the hold, making you vulnerable. Instead, grapple one opponent and use him as a shield as you push him/her against the others or into a brick wall.

4) Prioritize - Is there someone who's armed or more skilled than the rest? Take that person out first. If you can disarm or knock that person out, you can hopefully discourage the others and maybe get a knife in self defense. The important thing is to prioritize which attackers to take out first, second, and last.

5) Use Psychological attacks - Getting to your opponents heads is critical in surviving against multiple attackers. Is there a leader? Take him out 1st. The leader is usually the one taking the initiative to attack. Once the leader is down, that will discourage and break the morale of the rest. Be ruthless. The more visible the damages you create, the more your attackers will be discouraged. The sight of an arm break will likely send a powerful message that may scare off your attackers. Are there psychologically weaker guys? They usually are reluctant to attack unless the more dominant attackers are bringing you down. Perhaps you could firmly exclaim "i'm going to get you!" as you fight your way through in an attempt to scare them off.

6) Escape - If you are able to, escape. You don't have to keep fighting until everyone is down. The longer the fight goes on, the greater chances of injury or death.

Some more important tips:

* Pay attention to allies - If you have friends who know how to fight or are armed then you ought to use them to your advantage. Be sure that you protect them at all costs.

* Use of weapons - Don't hesitate to use any weapons at your disposal such as knives, guns, sticks, pipes, glass, sand, dirt, cars, walls, doors, rocks, bikes, and other deadly objects. Weapons will be a great equalizer to deal with multiple opponents and may scare them off. If you disarm someone, pick up the weapon as soon as possible and start using it. Don't let it fall into another attacker's hands.

* Use of the environment - Use your environment to your advantage. Trees, cars, walls, doors, pools, and other areas can be used as obstacles to separate attackers from you.

* Be wary of who your fighting - A group of hooligans will behave much differently from a well organized gang. A street gang will be far more dangerous, aggressive, and violent than a bunch of punks who want to feel powerful by beating those weaker than they are. Even if you survive a gang attack, they may put a price on your head.

* Training tip - Practice with a group of friends in unscripted sparring sessions and different scenarios. Learn what realistic combat looks like. Every group of multiple attackers are distinct. Some may ambush you. Some may try to sneak up from behind. Some may come at you all at once or some may move strategically. You will have to learn how to adapt to each kind of attack by keeping basic principles in mind - fighting one at a time by strategic movement, finishing each opponent quickly, prioritizing, etc.  Practice good, quick, and mobile footwork in coordination with your attacks/blocks.

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 defend against a sniper

How to defend against a sniper:

There have been several cases of ex-snipers or Marines who have committed homicides. You will probably get killed by a sniper especially a skilled one. Hopefully you will be able to survive with these tips. If you are the only one under attack by a sniper then your safest bet is to escape and get help. Trying to take out the sniper yourself especially when you have no gun is going on a suicide mission. Before we begin, remember to keep in mind the following factors that influence a sniper's killshot:

* Patience

* Accuracy

* Environment

* Stealth

* Focus

* Timing

* Cover and concealment

1) Avoid a sniper in the first place - If by some small chance you hear on the news that a sniper has killed some people in your area then avoid going there. There's not much that can be done when an unexpected sniper shoots you from afar so be observant to potential danger.

2) Learn to spot a sniper - Snipers are very good at hiding so the more you know about a sniper, the better. Signs of a sniper includes camouflage, lasers pointed at you, light reflected from the sniper's scope, seeing the rifle, and so on. The sooner you can identify the sniper before a shot is fired, the quicker you can react.

3) When a shot's fired, drop down and find cover - You will often see a sniper bullet before you hear it so as soon as you sense a sniper, get down low and find cover. The most common and fatal mistake is standing or crouching out in an open field. You will be an easy target for the sniper. Your instinct should be to get down as low as you can to make yourself harder to hit then quickly move into cover or concealment. Be sure that it doesn't give away your location via shadows, reflections, etc. It's very important that you distinguish between cover and concealment especially when facing a sniper. Depending on the sniper rifle, it can generate enough power to go through brick walls and hit you. Call 911 as quickly as possible.

4) Locate the sniper - Once the sniper has fired, you must find out where the shots are coming from. The trajectory of the bullet, the sound, the objects or people hit, supersonic shockwaves will give clues to the sniper's position. Keep track of as much information as you can to asses where the sniper could potentially be. You may need to get the sniper to continually fire so he could reveal more about his position. Be mindful of multiple snipers and their transitions in firing which is critical to your escape.

5) Locate the safest escape route - Once you've located the sniper, find the escape route closest to you. Make sure that it provides obstacles useful for cover and concealment. The most important thing to remember is to get out of the sniper's field of vision and range of fire.

5) Divert the sniper's attention - A sniper especially when using a scope is susceptible to all sorts of distractions. A smoke grenade or smoke bomb could conceal your movements as you make your escape. Explosives, glass, mirror reflections, gas, oil, dirt, and other objects can serve to blind or divert the sniper's attention allowing you time to escape.

6) Run in unpredictable patterns - Running in a straight line will most surely make you an easier target to kill. Moving in an unpredictable motion at different speeds and angles will make you a harder target to hit.

Additional tips to remember:

* The longer the sniper stays trying to find you, the more fatigue it causes the eyes. This is important in creating opportunities of escape.

* Use the environment to your advantage - Wind gusts can significantly divert the bullet's path away from hitting you so be mindful of changes to the environment.

Hopefully this will help you in your self defense against a sniper. 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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