Whether you’re a serious student of combative arts or just a casual fan of the combat sports, you’ve probably heard the term “clinch.” There seems to be an endless stream of variations, most named for the part of the world they come from (e.g., the Thai clinch or the Greco-Roman clinch) or the way they […]
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PRIDE AND GLORY, LIFE AND LIMB, PART II: BRIDGING THE GAP BETWEEN COMPETITION AND COMBAT
In Part I of this series, we discussed some of the differences between training for sport MMA and training for real-world violence. Now that the differences, including some of the advantages and disadvantages of each, have been dealt with, let’s look at how to bridge the gap between the two sides. Here are some suggestions on how […]
PRIDE AND GLORY, LIFE AND LIMB PART I: DIFFERENCES BETWEEN COMPETITION AND COMBAT
Opinions on training for competition, such as sport Jujitsu or Mixed Martial Arts, versus training for real-world conflict fall over a wide spectrum. On one end is a crowd that advocates “If it won’t work in the cage, it won’t work anywhere,” and at the other extreme is an equally large group insisting “There are […]
EVALUATING NEW TECHNIQUES
One of the more popular, though misguided, sayings in combatives training refers to a new technique as “just another tool for your toolbox.” It’s one of those comforting industry truisms that makes a good soundbite without actually explaining anything. As teaching goes, it’s really no different than “because I say so.” The problem with the […]
BARE-KNUCKLE STRIKING: THE ISSUE OF FORM
Throwing a good punch is a complex process that employs the entire body from the soles of the feet to the surface of the knuckles. From the earth to the “boom,” so to speak. All these pieces of the process are important to effective striking; they are the fundamentals. Here I’ll address the jab, cross […]
Laws and The Samaritan
Laws and the Samaritan Have you ever wondered if helping someone in an emergency could get you into trouble? Could rendering aid to a stranger get you sued? Given the litigious nature of our culture, it’s a valid concern. Luckily, there are some laws to protect you if you choose to help your fellow man. […]
Lessons from a 911 Call
Lessons From A 911 Call I was sitting by the window in a tiny exam room with my wife, waiting for the pediatrician to come check out some irritation in my 9-month-old daughter’s eye. The street below, 6 stories down, was just a standard crawl of cars and pedestrians, sliding past in the sticky heat […]
While We Lie At Ease, They Prepare.
While We Lie Here At Ease… Back when I fought in MMA my coach had a speech he would give. Later, when I was coaching my own team, I would make a similar declaration as my fighters sparred, grappled or labored over the heavy bags during conditioning. It was the speech we gave when a […]
A $1 Worth of Awareness
A Dollar’s Worth of Awareness I was in the middle of my strength & conditioning class, jogging through the parking lot with a 20lb medicine ball on my shoulder, when I saw him. He had that look, almost stereotypical in how he popped up on my radar as a threat. Scraggly physique shrouded in layers […]
What is “Muscle Memory”?
What is “Muscle Memory?” If you have any involvement with self-defense training, athletics or the development of any type of physical skill, you’ve probably heard the term “Muscle Memory” used before. It’s the term most commonly used to express the idea of developing refined motor-skill, efficiency and repeatability in a defined physical skill. Want to […]
