The answer to the question, "What's the best move?" is of course, totally subjective. It all depends on who, what, where, etc.
But what about for us? Should we have a go-to move? While Jason might favor some grappling move, Mark might favor a strike. Chris might favor some crazy kick, Reed might favor a tackle. So is there a "best" move?
I have watched hundreds of hours of fighting footage in my life. Everything from Pride, to UFC, to Jr. High Wrestling clubs. If I had to pick a "most effective" move, it would have to be "The soccer kick".
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=diHYAa65Hzs
Why do I think this?
1. You are on your feet, the guy is down. As we always teach, this is how you want to be. Never go the ground with someone if you can stay on your feet.
2. You are using the most massive, powerful muscles in your body on the most sensitive target. Butt, thighs, calves, all team up to deliver the maximum amount of force.
3. Armor. In many tests, the knee strike has been considered to be the most powerful strike possible. However, there is one thing that I have never seen tested: A soccer kick from a armored foot. In all of the tests, they use a naked foot to a standing target. The leg loses a lot of power just getting up to the head, and the striking surface is fairly soft. If you were wearing a work boot or even a athletic shoe, I would imagine you could deliver a more powerful blow.
4. You can do it on the run. Rather than holding still and delivering some goofy kung fu strike, a soccer kick is easily done on the run. Don't believe me? Just turn on Univision and watch those athletes kick the ball at full stride. Amazing power, amazing mobility. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BaR_NjxFVYI
Although you need SERIOUS justification to kick someone in the head, it's the most "go-to" move I can think of....
Bonus Lesson: Watch people who get kicked in the face on the MMA videos. Pay close attention to where their hips are, and what they are doing when they get kicked and when they evade the kick.
Wednesday, January 9, 2013
Tuesday, January 8, 2013
Outstanding Example of Position Control Video
Our training has returned to some well-needed ground work once again. I found a video while looking at some other stuff that really stood out and I think is worth our review. It particularly drives home a lessons which should be thoroughly understood.
Control and movement of your own hips is crucial in a fight, regardless of the range: striking, midrange, or grappling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slPCq_jq8Is
This video is of Rener Gracie grappling with his hands tied against a purple belt. Although this is not a full on street fight, I cannot help but be impressed with Rener's master level skill at movement of his hips in response to his opponent's attempts at control and position.
Seeing what is possible at the top levels has always helped me improve, and hopefully it will do the same for you.
Incidentally, I came across this video after finding the Gracie method for dealing with multiple attackers. Such a claim piqued my interest and I was dying to hear their answer to this problem. I'll let you look that one up for yourself. :-)
Control and movement of your own hips is crucial in a fight, regardless of the range: striking, midrange, or grappling.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=slPCq_jq8Is
This video is of Rener Gracie grappling with his hands tied against a purple belt. Although this is not a full on street fight, I cannot help but be impressed with Rener's master level skill at movement of his hips in response to his opponent's attempts at control and position.
Seeing what is possible at the top levels has always helped me improve, and hopefully it will do the same for you.
Incidentally, I came across this video after finding the Gracie method for dealing with multiple attackers. Such a claim piqued my interest and I was dying to hear their answer to this problem. I'll let you look that one up for yourself. :-)
Monday, December 17, 2012
Road Rage Beatdown
Here is a segment containing a fight during a road rage incident. The original video, minus the somewhat lengthy commentary, is age restricted (which can be a PIA to view) so here is the news piece.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhmOzhPRxQs
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uhmOzhPRxQs
While the commentary is long and only mildly interesting at best, there are a few pieces of information which are worth getting. Mainly, the 'victim' has a documented history of road rage incidents. This seems important to what happens first in the video. In particular, he seems eager to escalate hostility.
So much so, he doesn't consider the fact that he is outnumbered by two cars and at least four guys - perhaps more, but we never get to see how many guys are in the car with the camera.
In the video, his opponent has two of his buddies standing right there which, it turns out, are more than needed to make his situation turn south. Go ahead and study the details yourself, I'm sure by now you can identify the technical aspects and mistakes. No need for a blow by blow analysis, but consider what this guy did not.
He chose to escalate a situation which he was outnumbered, and invite a duel. It seemed more than just puffing and bravado, he really seemed to want to fight. I say duel because he made clear signals he was wanted a gentlemanly fist fight to resolve the situation. He probably didn't consider that once Bald Guy started losing, his buddies would jump in to help. It didn't even take that long. His buddy jumped in at the first opportunity to give his friend the upper hand.
He chose to escalate a situation which he was outnumbered, and invite a duel. It seemed more than just puffing and bravado, he really seemed to want to fight. I say duel because he made clear signals he was wanted a gentlemanly fist fight to resolve the situation. He probably didn't consider that once Bald Guy started losing, his buddies would jump in to help. It didn't even take that long. His buddy jumped in at the first opportunity to give his friend the upper hand.
While Red Shirt probably thought himself a capable fighter, he was poorly prepared to be dealing with two guys and didn't have any idea what to do from the ground. Then it turns ugly. He finally gets knocked out, and his two opponents repeatedly kick him in the head as he is passed out.
Given the viciousness of the street, the guy seems LUCKY to have survived fairly intact (i.e. no lasting brain injury, disfigurement, or worse). You antagonize animals and get them worked into a frenzy, then hand them easy prey, you are a special kind of idiot and probably not long for this world.
Take note though of what the video doesn't show very well. These two cars pursued Red Shirt and cornered him, so he wasn't going anywhere. It's hard to say at that point whether it was a good move to get out of the car or not, but clearly Red Shirt made some bad choices which resulted in a beat down.
Tuesday, November 27, 2012
Kar-azy!
A great video that will amuse and entertain, in a big way!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PXQF9PJE3J8#!
I had to watch this three times just to purge the laughter. The repo woman is just too funny.
After full appreciation of the hilarity of the whole thing, I could fully appreciate just how effective the ambush shin kick was for this guy. Notice his shoes too, they were soft soled lounge shoes. They were still able to have the big guy holding his leg in pain well after the kick landed.
Notice the leg sweep take down. He went up the middle (not the best), but the small guy uprooted and dropped a guy probably twice his weight.
The shin kick followed by the head kick on the second guy was an impressive display of effective technique, although I would personally not choose that follow up. He is younger and more athletic than I am, but look at the opening the shin kick gave him. Impressive.
That said, the guy made some big mistakes.
1) Starting a fight in the first place. Why go physical at all? Not really the point of the discussion, but it is a mistake. Someone is repo-ing your car, work out that they have the wrong car or let them take it. They have it hooked up and you are not going to get it back.
2) The display. Dude is jumping all over the parking lot. Why on earth would you make a dramatic display when you are outnumbered? If you determine you have a job to do, just get it done. No displays, taunting, or showboating. Just get to it.
3) Don't count on the partner not coming to help. Don't know if the guy thought that because she was a woman he wouldn't have to keep an eye on her. He admired his handiwork far too long and didn't keep looking around. She had a wrench and put a quick stop to his performance.
Kinda back to point #1. Did he really expect to beat up these two repo partners and either get them to unhook his car and leave, or he would unhook his car himself and they would depart?
Still, hilarious video. Loved the kar-azy quote!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=PXQF9PJE3J8#!
I had to watch this three times just to purge the laughter. The repo woman is just too funny.
After full appreciation of the hilarity of the whole thing, I could fully appreciate just how effective the ambush shin kick was for this guy. Notice his shoes too, they were soft soled lounge shoes. They were still able to have the big guy holding his leg in pain well after the kick landed.
Notice the leg sweep take down. He went up the middle (not the best), but the small guy uprooted and dropped a guy probably twice his weight.
The shin kick followed by the head kick on the second guy was an impressive display of effective technique, although I would personally not choose that follow up. He is younger and more athletic than I am, but look at the opening the shin kick gave him. Impressive.
That said, the guy made some big mistakes.
1) Starting a fight in the first place. Why go physical at all? Not really the point of the discussion, but it is a mistake. Someone is repo-ing your car, work out that they have the wrong car or let them take it. They have it hooked up and you are not going to get it back.
2) The display. Dude is jumping all over the parking lot. Why on earth would you make a dramatic display when you are outnumbered? If you determine you have a job to do, just get it done. No displays, taunting, or showboating. Just get to it.
3) Don't count on the partner not coming to help. Don't know if the guy thought that because she was a woman he wouldn't have to keep an eye on her. He admired his handiwork far too long and didn't keep looking around. She had a wrench and put a quick stop to his performance.
Kinda back to point #1. Did he really expect to beat up these two repo partners and either get them to unhook his car and leave, or he would unhook his car himself and they would depart?
Still, hilarious video. Loved the kar-azy quote!
Saturday, November 10, 2012
Just Wow.
Wow. There is so much in this video (on many topics) I don't even know where to start. If I were to include my own observations on the many concepts too tasty not to comment on, this post would be longer than my leg.
http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/video-police-allow-mutual-combat-on-streets-of-seattle/
This video has it all: punks, trash-talking, cops, super heroes, and one of the most civilized street fights probably ever put to video. Enjoy!
http://thelibertarianrepublic.com/video-police-allow-mutual-combat-on-streets-of-seattle/
This video has it all: punks, trash-talking, cops, super heroes, and one of the most civilized street fights probably ever put to video. Enjoy!
Friday, October 19, 2012
Is violent crime going up?
We live in a remarkably peaceful society. Over the course of human history, no period has seen less death, famine, war, and plague than we have right now.
Of course, this is no reason to get complacent.
Real violent people are living in our world right now. Due to the prosperity of the 80's and 90's, our world has actually gotten drastically safer. Through the new millennium, these trends continued.
But things appear to be changing.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/18/violent-crime-jumps-18-percent-in-2011-first-rise-in-nearly-20-years/#ixzz29eYuO9Mi
It's very important that you use your best weapon: Your brain.
Chances are that if you say no to drugs, pick your friends carefully, and live in low crime areas, you will not encounter much violence. We can't avoid crime at all times no mater what we do. At some point, a dirt-bag will find you.
It's up to you to train yourself for the potential violence you may encounter. Learn what skills work for your body type. Add some fitness to the mix and you should be able to survive an ugly encounter!
Of course, this is no reason to get complacent.
Real violent people are living in our world right now. Due to the prosperity of the 80's and 90's, our world has actually gotten drastically safer. Through the new millennium, these trends continued.
But things appear to be changing.
http://www.foxnews.com/us/2012/10/18/violent-crime-jumps-18-percent-in-2011-first-rise-in-nearly-20-years/#ixzz29eYuO9Mi
It's very important that you use your best weapon: Your brain.
Chances are that if you say no to drugs, pick your friends carefully, and live in low crime areas, you will not encounter much violence. We can't avoid crime at all times no mater what we do. At some point, a dirt-bag will find you.
It's up to you to train yourself for the potential violence you may encounter. Learn what skills work for your body type. Add some fitness to the mix and you should be able to survive an ugly encounter!
Thursday, October 11, 2012
Knockout Games
http://www.wnd.com/2012/10/black-mob-knockout-games-now-spreading/
The text of the article covers a growing race war in America. That's politics. What we train for is how to deal with violence, and being ambushed. Watch the video there and see a real life ambush.
How many times have you walked by a group of teenagers or young people? You probably had as much concern about a potential ambush as this poor guy did. Note these kids showed little, if any, indication of an attack. One step and BOOM. Knockout.
We talked at length at a recent class about keeping safe space and adjusting when that space in encroached. Admittedly, it is pretty much impossible to role-play scenarios like this but we can learn a lot by watching videos like this to get a handle on how important that safe space is to keep and never to assume you are safe when strangers are close by.
Think what you will about the cultural or racial makeup of our society, or what statistics seem to indicate. When it comes to navigating in public, keep your eyes open and your close space guarded. Assume nothing and be careful.
The text of the article covers a growing race war in America. That's politics. What we train for is how to deal with violence, and being ambushed. Watch the video there and see a real life ambush.
How many times have you walked by a group of teenagers or young people? You probably had as much concern about a potential ambush as this poor guy did. Note these kids showed little, if any, indication of an attack. One step and BOOM. Knockout.
We talked at length at a recent class about keeping safe space and adjusting when that space in encroached. Admittedly, it is pretty much impossible to role-play scenarios like this but we can learn a lot by watching videos like this to get a handle on how important that safe space is to keep and never to assume you are safe when strangers are close by.
Think what you will about the cultural or racial makeup of our society, or what statistics seem to indicate. When it comes to navigating in public, keep your eyes open and your close space guarded. Assume nothing and be careful.
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