Fighting for Fitness, Fitness for Fighting, and Training To Toughen Up!
This post is an installment in the Defend Yourself Against Multiple Attackers series. Fighting multiple assailants is NOT the same as fighting a single opponent. Things that work fine in a one-on-one encounter can backfire big time when more than one opponent is involved. Misinformation often comes from theoretical solutions that are never tested and do not account for the realities of human … [Read more...]
This post is an installment in the Defend Yourself Against Multiple Attackers series. What are the factors that determine the outcome of a street fight? A street fight is an ugly, violent, chaotic and unpredictable situation. Performing effectively in the street will demand all of your physical, mental and emotional resources. Like most things in life, there are no short cuts or quick fixes … [Read more...]
As a life-long martial artist, a self-defense instructor and a police subject control trainer, I long ago grew tired the whole debate about what style, method, system or self-defense technique was better than the other. People debate for hours about the differences between techniques used in training, in particular punching with a clenched fist, and self-defense techniques which often rely more … [Read more...]
As a self-defense instructor, I am often asked for my top recommendations about personal protection. In this post, I’ve identified eight things you should know that can have a dramatic impact on your personal safety. 1. Establish Personal Safety HABITS. You already know that there are many proactive things that you can do to improve your personal safety. You probably also know … [Read more...]
Question: There seems to be a perpetual argument in RBSD (Reality Based Self-Defense) circles versus kickboxing/traditional martial arts as to whether punching is safe for self-defense. My Jujitsu instructor in fact broke his knuckles while working as a bouncer. Many argue that there are biological proclivities to clenching your fist and, if it is instinctive, we may as well train for … [Read more...]
Below is a question from a reader that I thought would benefit everyone: From reading your blog, I see that you have settled into kettlebell training (Enter The Kettlebell) as your primary conditioning method but also promote the book “Convict Conditioning.” I have read both books and have done some workouts with the content. I have decided to make bodyweight conditioning my main focus … [Read more...]
As I've written many times before, the Toughen Up Philosophy consists of three components: 1. Using combative training methods, such as focus pad and heavy bag training, combative drills and fight-related activities as a form of exercise. 2. Incorporating functional fitness methods that will directly improve your performance in a street fight or self-defense situation and... 3. To … [Read more...]
Guest Post by Philip Kouse, Seatte, Washington Footwork is a critical element of combative training because it transports the body into range to attack, and gets the body out of range to avoid being injured by an attack. Footwork is an important component of timing and key to successful combat. Mobility also is the first line of defense. As Bruce Lee wrote, it is better to avoid getting … [Read more...]
“Enter The Kettlebell – Strength Secret Of The Soviet Supermen" by Pavel Tsatsouline If you’ve been reading my blog for a while you know that kettlebells are a big part of my approach to self-defense training. Unlike more “mainstream” exercise programs, kettlebell training transfers over quite well to the qualities that you need in a fight. They provide an awesome full-body … [Read more...]
In my last post, I wrote about eight things to consider when deciding whether or not to carry a self-defense weapon for your protection. I’d like to follow up that post, by applying those criteria to a common device called the self-defense keychain. It’s also called the “Kubaton,” “Yawara,” “Persuader,” “Ninja Stick” and a host of other … [Read more...]
