Street Fight Academy

Alex Lorenzo
Street Fight Academy
Copyright 2010 Street Fight Academy http://www.HowtoFight.net
Alex Lorenzo
Disclaimer
Please note that this book and it's contents are for
Personal Use Only. No part of this book may be used
or reproduced in any manner whatsoever without
written permission.
Do not attempt to resell, distribute, or copy this
book or it's contents in any fashion.
Attention: The contents of this guide are provided for informational and
entertainment purposes only. We do not guarantee the results of any fight and
do not take legal responsibility for any damage or injury that results.
By purchasing, you agree that you use this information at your own risk,
please be smart. The information provided is for self defense only.
Alex Lorenzo
Table of Contents
Introduction
An introduction to street fighting
Street Fighting vs Martial Arts

The differences between sport fighting and real fighting
Self Defense vs Life or Death

Learn when and where to use your most lethal attacks
Street Fighting Scenarios

Learn what to expect in a real street fight, step by step
High Value Targets

Learn where the high value targets are and when to use them
Stand Up Combat
Hand to hand striking, stand-up combat, and grappling
Ground Combat
Ground combat, grappling, and submissions
Dirty Fighting
Devastating illegal moves for life threatening scenarios
Weapons
Learn how to use common objects as deadly weapons
Training
Learn what to expect in a real street fight, step by step
Conclusion
Final conclusions and tips
4
5
9
12
23
30
64
72
76
80
87
Alex Lorenzo
Introduction
If you're reading this book it's probably because you'd like to learn how to
defend yourself on the street in every day life. The world is a ruthless
place and no matter how hard you try to avoid it, you're probably going to
get into a physical confrontation at some point. While most people will tell
you that avoiding a fight is best way to go, it's not always possible. There
will be times that fighting is your only option, and you'll want to be ready
when that happens.
While traditional martial arts disciplines are great exercise and can teach
you to fight in a controlled environment, many of them are nothing like a
real life fight. The vast majority of martial arts are performed more as a
sport and dance than real fight training. Most people who practice martial
arts will never even spar or practice these methods against another person.
While any type of self defense training is better than none, this is not going
to help you much in a real street fighting scenario.
This guide will cover three of the most realistic fighting styles, and isolate
the most important moves from each to help you be prepared for a real
fight scenario. In addition, it will also include some dirty techniques that
are not allowed in any traditional fighting style or cage fight, but SHOULD
be used in a life threatening situation. I'll also show you some mental
techniques that will help you be prepared should such a situation arise.
While your basic bar brawl or street fight is fairly common, it's important to
note that the overwhelming majority of people have no fighting experience
or training whatsoever. Any type of training is going to put you at a huge
advantage over the average person in your common bar fight or
confrontation. They may be bigger or stronger than you, but if you're
trained to fight and they aren't, you're still at an advantage. That said, I
encourage people to avoid dangerous situations if at all possible, especially
if you are outnumbered or in serious danger of being maimed or killed.
If you're ready to step up your confidence and learn how to handle yourself
in a real life street fight, go ahead and turn to the next page.
Alex Lorenzo
Street Fighting vs Martial Arts

As you probably know, there is a big difference between martial arts and
real life street fighting. Martial arts is a very controlled type of fighting
where there are no surprise attacks and no major risk of serious injury or
death. Most martial arts fights are very closely refereed and do not allow
any type of attacks that can cause serious harm to the fight. These types
of attacks include eye gouging, groin attacks, knee strikes, and strikes to
the back of the head.
However, in a real fight, there are no referees and you have a real chance
of being seriously injured or even killed. In these situations anything goes
and you should do anything you can to immobilize your attacker. This can
mean a sudden strike, a kick to the groin, or even the use of a weapon if
necessary. In these cases, it's important to consider if you are in real
danger of being killed or if there are other people nearby who can alert the
authorities or come to your aid. If you are going to use lethal force, you
should be sure that you're in a life or death situation and it's for self
defense. The use of potentially life threatening attack (strike to the back
of the head, use of a weapon, etc) could backfire and wind you up in jail if
a court finds that you were no longer defending yourself.
In an average bar brawl or street fight, the best outcome is always to avoid
avoid the situation. This doesn't mean you need to cower before your
attacker and beg for mercy. Not at all. With the right mental attitude and
a display of confidence, most people will back down from a fight. Most acts
of aggression are an attempt to detect weakness in the victim and display
dominance over them. If you stand up to your opponent and show them
that you're not at all intimidated and are ready to fight if need be, they will
almost always back down.
In the case of a back alley mugger, it's a whole other scenario. In this case,
it could very well be a life and death situation. If the attacker has a
weapon, or you are severely outnumbered, you should attempt to reason
with the attacker rather than potentially get yourself killed or severely
injured. If reasoning is not an option, you should use any and all means to
severely injure and demobilize your attacker. In either of these scenarios,
never turn your back and walk away until you are absolutely sure they
Alex Lorenzo
aren't getting back up. This mistake can turn into a potentially deadly
situation and opens you up to a surprise attack to the back of the head.
Main Differences Between a Real Fight and a Sport Fight
In sport combat you do not fight with bare knuckles. Wearing gloves allows the
striker to attack many areas that would be damaging with bare knuckles.
This also decreases the amount of force you can strike with without damaging
your knuckles. In a real street fight you'll need to be conscious of this and
utilize strikes with your palms, knees, and elbows. Throwing punches in a real
fight near a hard surface can easily lead to a broken hand.
Going to the ground and going into guard is very common and actually
preferred by many MMA fighters. This is a very bad idea in a real street fight.
Going to the ground in a real fight opens you up to being stomped by multiple
opponents or injured by the hard ground. A takedown and submission can be
very effective in a street fight, but you need to be very aware of whats going
on before attempting it or you can get seriously hurt.
Also note that throwing an opponent into the ground on a hard surface can be
potentially fatal. A strong force to the back of the head is the most common
cause of death in fight and it's almost always caused by someone hitting their
head on the ground. If this happens, you could wind up in jail, so be aware.
In cages fighting the fighters are often taught to move slowly into a submission
to allow the opponent a chance to tap out. You will likely not have that option
in a street fight. If you're in a life or death situation, you'll want to submit
them as quickly as possible and move on, possibly to the next attacker.
In sport combat, fighters will often take shots and back up in an effort to size
up their opponent. They do this to get a better read on their defense while
conserving energy. You will often see them toss jabs or kick combos and back
away. This is also done on the ground where the attacker breaks the guard and
simply stands up. In a real fight, if you throw a punch you better be ready to
commit. Swing first, and swing hard is my motto. If you land a strike or take
an opponent down, take advantage because you might not get another chance.
Alex Lorenzo
Tapping out is another common occurrence in sport fighting. Obviously, in a

real fight you will not have this luxury. If you get put into a choke hold, you're
likely going to be seriously injured or become unconscious.
Characteristics of a Good Street Fighter

I've been involved in dozens of bar fights, street fights, and other real life
confrontations in my life. I've witnessed dozens of others. During this
time, I've seen all different types of people and different types of fights. My
observations during this time have shown me what all the best fighters have
in common.
First, and most importantly, they strike first.
The person who makes the first move will win the fight at least 90% of the
time in my experience. This doesn't mean that they go around starting
fights and punching people in the face. It means that when threatened
with physical violence, they preemptively attack before getting hit. If
given the chance to avoid the fight, do it. If avoidance is not possible,
make absolutely sure that you strike first and you strike hard. In most
cases, the fight is over right then.
Second, defense is far less important in a real street fight.
It's human nature to want to defend ourselves from physical harm.
However, blocking an attack in real life is extremely difficult, even for a
trained fighter. It requires extremely fast reflexes and speed, which most
of us just don't have. A trained fighter who is in a controlled fight will need
to be able to defend attacks, but in a street fight, you're most likely going
to be attacked suddenly and without warning. Not to mention that most
street fighters are utterly unpredictable. Keep up your guard at all times,
but don't expect to do much blocking in a real fight.
Martial Arts in Street Fighting
Now that the most basic items are out of the way, it's time to get into more
of the details. Although street fighting is a lot different than martial arts,
they shouldn't be completely isolated from each other. There are several
forms of martial arts that come into play very often in a real fighting
scenario. In my extensive experience, those are boxing, Jiu Jitsu
(submission wrestling), and Muay Thai.
Alex Lorenzo
Boxing is the most representative of a common fist fight. Most fights begin,
and often end, with punches being thrown. The average bar brawler
probably knows nothing about boxing and will opt for the common
roundhouse punch (haymaker). Someone trained in boxing will easily be
able to defend and defeat this type of attacker. To learn the basics of
boxing, read the Boxing Basics section of the program. Later on, we will
cover the most important parts that you will need in a real street fight.
Jiu Jitsu is the second most common type of fighting style in a real life
fight. Jiu Jitsu is the most common type of martial arts used in MMA and
cage fighting, because clinching is so common in fighting. This fighting
style is centered around grappling and submissions and is sometimes
referred to as submission wrestling. After the initial strikes are thrown in a
common street fight, the next logical step in the fight is grappling. The
common bully will likely opt for your basic headlock, but a trained fighter
will easily be able to escape this and retaliate with a brutal guillotine that
will likely end the fight right there. Check the Jiu Jitsu Basics section of
the program to learn the basics and later on we will cover the most
important moves for use in a street fight.
Finally, we have Muay Thai. Muay Thai is a very old form of martial arts
that combines elements of boxing, kick boxing, and grappling. It's a very
well rounded fighting style and a lot of the techniques overlap the moves in
boxing and Jiu Jitsu. Muay Thai, however, is well known for its brutal
elbow and knee strikes. It's a good addition to any good self defense
arsenal and can end a fight quickly if used properly. Read the Muay Thai
basics section to get an overview. Later in this book we will go over the
common moves used in street fighting.
Alex Lorenzo
Self Defense vs Life or Death

When reading through the techniques and scenarios in this guide, it's
important to gauge the situation correctly. Using a potentially lethal attack
on someone who isn't threatening your life can and will land you in jail. If
you're in danger of being maimed or killed, use any means necessary to
immobilize your attacker. If someone bumps into you at a bar and you
immediately go for an eye gouge, you'll be answering to the police shortly
after. Use your common sense to assess the situation before making any
potentially life changing moves.
The following illegal moves can cause serious pain and injury. They are
banned from cage fighting and all other sport fighting competitions because
they cause serious damage but require little skill to perform.
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
6.
7.
8.
9.
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
16.
17.
18.
19.
20.
21.
22.
23.
Butting of the head

Eye gouging
Biting
Hair pulling
Fish hooking (hooking the inside of the mouth)
Groin attacks
Putting a finger into any orifice or wound on an opponent
Small joint manipulation (breaking fingers)
Striking to the back of the head or spine
Downward elbow strikes
Throat strikes of any kind
Scratching or twisting the skin
Grabbing the clavicle bone
Kicking the head of a grounded opponent
Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent
Stomping a grounded opponent
Kicking to the kidneys of a grounded opponent
Forceful ground slams to an opponents head or neck
Throwing an opponent an opponent into an object
Holding the clothing of an opponent
Spitting at an opponent
Using abusive language
Attacking an opponent during a break
Alex Lorenzo
24.
25.
26.
Attacking an injured or submitted opponent

Attacking an opponent after the fight has concluded
Faking injury to gain an advantage
Many of these moves can maim, disfigure or even kill someone. When in a
real life fight, you need to act with aggression, but be intelligent enough to
know when and where to use them, and more importantly, when to stop.
Some factors you need to consider when deciding if it's a life or death
situation:
Your Location
If you're in a crowded area or near one, you need to carefully consider your
options. If you can get help, do it. Chances are, someone will come to
your aid or alert someone who can. Using lethal force on someone in a
crowded bar or party is most likely going to get you arrested. These
situations rarely become life or death scenarios since there should be a
crowd of people there to break it up. Don't be afraid to defend yourself if
attacked, but don't go immediately for a bone breaking joint lock or an eye
gouge. Those will almost certainly land you with an assault charge if
people determine it was unwarranted. A good choice here would be a quick
jab or ankle pick followed by a choke to subdue them until help arrives.
If you're in a dark alley and a mugger attacks you, forget about your ethics.
In this case your life is almost certainly in danger and you should use any
and every means necessary to immobilize the attacker. If possible, talk
your way out of it, or run and get help. If escaping is not an option, you
should be using the most devastating moves in your arsenal, and weapons if
needed. In this case a kick to the groin and/or a strike to the back of the
head are fair game and should be used if it will enable you to save yourself
or your loved ones.
Weapons
If you get attacked with any type of a weapon, no matter the situation, use
lethal force. The use of a weapon is life threatening and nobody will
challenge that. Obviously, if you can escape the situation, do it. Fighting
someone with a weapon is an extremely dangerous situation and should be
Alex Lorenzo
avoided at all costs. If it's not avoidable, you'll want to seriously injure
your opponent until they are completely immobilized. A strike to the
throat or an eye gouge are completely necessary. You also have free reign
to use weapons in this situation as well, so keep that in mind.
Size of the Threat
The size of the threat basically means how physically threatened you are.
This most often comes down to two things; the number of attackers, and
the size of the attacker(s). If threatened by a large attacker, don't be
afraid. The size of the opponent is not nearly the most important factor in
a fight. However, you should note that if a 300lb line backer threatens to
physically harm you, nobody is likely going to convict you of assault for
defending yourself with any and all means necessary. This also goes for the
number of attackers. If three men are threatening you, you should be using
the most harmful moves you have. I'm talking about groin kicks, gouges,
forceful takedowns, and even weapons.
The main take away here is that you should always look at the situation
through a 3rd person perspective. Consider if a group of onlookers (or a
jury) would consider the situation life threatening. If the answer is yes,
then it's no rules and you should be doing anything necessary to physically
harm and neutralize your attacker. If the answer is no, then you need to
carefully choose which strikes and moves you use. There is nothing wrong
with defending yourself, but don't get carried away and wind up in jail with
an assault charge, or worse, manslaughter. It can and does happen, so be
aware and assess every situation with a clear head.
Alex Lorenzo
Street Fighting Scenarios

Being prepared for a fight and knowing what to expect is a huge advantage
that most people simply don't have. It's what bullies and thugs count on
when choosing their victim. If you plan ahead and know what to do and
when to do it, you're going to be at a huge advantage over any untrained
fighter. Even the best martial artists simply aren't trained to fight in a real
life situation and often lose because they don't know what to expect
outside of a dojo.
Special Op soldiers use the phrase, Speed, Surprise & Violence of Action
as a cornerstone to planning their attacks. This hasnt changed since
fighting was invented. So what does that mean, really?
Let's go over these basic principles of street combat:
First off, let's make one thing clear. Unlike sport fighting, winning a street
fight has very little to do with physical size and strength. The real keys to
winning a street fight are speed, surprise, and violence of action. Let's
cover these in more detail.
Speed
As we all know, speed is a very important factor in fighting and any sport.
Many of the best boxers in the world are also the fastest. But in a real
street fight, speed also has another use. Having speed in a street fight
means being able to strike hard and fast without hesitation. This will be
discussed in more detail later on.
Surprise
Surprise is a major part of winning a real life fight, especially if your
attacker is bigger and stronger than you. Surprise can be broken down into
two major subcategories. Those are deception and distraction.
Deception
Deception is key in fighting, games and even in war. General Eisenhower
used deception against Hitler to pull off D-Day and you too can use
deception to gain the advantage over an opponent. The basic concept of
deception is to make your opponent think one thing while you plan to do
another. The result is often confusion, hesitation, and panic.
Alex Lorenzo
Deception can be verbal or physical. For example, tell him you dont want
any trouble while locating good targets to strike. Raise your hands up in a
manner of submission so that they are up in front of your shoulders and
face with open palms. Hell think youre in a submissive position, but in
reality your hands are ready for action.
As you're looking him in the eye telling him you don't want any trouble,
unleash the fury and begin your attack. Striking first is absolutely critical as
I stated earlier. It may not be politically correct, but it's completely
necessary if you want to walk away uninjured.
Distraction
The human brain can't easily focus on more than one thing at a time. This
has been well documented. The good news is that you can take advantage
of this little fact by distracting your opponents attention away from you
and freely make your move while he is off guard. It's important that you
have an immediate follow up plan, however, since distractions generally
only work for a second or two. If you don't act quickly, it will be a waste.
A few examples of possible distractions are flipping a cigarette in their
face, dropping loose change on the floor, throwing your drink in their face,
or really tossing any object toward their eyes.
Be prepared to act the instant you gain a distraction.
Stay on Offense
What this means is acting decisively, ruthlessly, and without hesitation.
Once you make your move, you're committed and can't change your mind.
Your attacker began his attack thinking he could dominate, control and
humiliate you. Show him quickly and decisively that this will end very badly
for him. Get him worried about his own well being. Once you start your
attack, don't stop. Stay on the offensive at all times.
Alex Lorenzo
Some important fighting tactics...

Hit First
I know I've stated this before but I wanted to state it again. You're not in 5 th
grade anymore. This is real life, and the consequences of losing a fight are
much greater now. Start it and finish it with the first strike advantage.
Close the distance
Once you're ready to make your move, take the fight to him and quickly
start inflicting pain. Do not hesitate to begin attacking targets. Don't give
them time to recover or plan their own attack. Stay in attack mode.
Forward Pressure
Continue the attack. You should be relentlessly attacking without pause.
Keep him back pedaling. Now is not the time to be Mr. Nice Guy. This guy
wants to physically harm you. Beat him down into humiliation.
Think about your target and what to strike it with. Typically a soft target
gets hit with a hard body part, while a hard target gets hit by soft tool.
Examples would be a punch to the gut, or a cupped palm to the ear.
Attack high value targets. There are tons of points on the human body that
are sensitive and can deliver a lot of pain without much force. These
targets generally give you the surprise and shock factor that puts your
opponent out of the fight. They can't fight back if they are in shock.
Lastly, once the fight is over youll want to get out of the area as quickly as
possible. Dont wait for him to recover, dont wait for his friends to show
up, don't wait for a bystander to jump in and try to join the fight. Finish the
fight and get out of there.
Now that we've gotten that out of the way, let's review the stages of a
typical confrontation in the street. While street fights are very
unpredictable, I have seen many of the same patterns and scenarios
throughout my extensive experience. While you can't predict exactly what
will happen, you can have a good idea of what to expect without ever
having been in a fight. I'm talking about an ordinary street fight, which
might happen in a bar, at a concert, or in the street.
Alex Lorenzo
Your typical fight will start off with some sort of confrontation. It might be
you bumping into somebody, saying the wrong thing, or just some drunk
bully who feels like acting tough. In any case, it will start out with what I
like to call the Pre-Fight.
Pre-Fight
The beginning of any fight will start with someone making aggressive or
threatening verbal or physical moves towards you. Most times it will be a
verbal attack in an attempt to size you up and see how easy of a victim you
may be.
The first thing you need to master for a street fight is the mental attitude.
You may think that fights are purely physical, but that's not even close to
true. Having the right mindset and knowing what to expect puts you at a
huge advantage in any fight. In fact, if you have your mental game down,
many fights won't even happen. The average person, when confronted with
verbal or physical threats, will have no idea what to do. Even trained black
belts often lose fights because they have no idea how to respond in a real
life altercation. They have been trained extensively to fight, but always in
controlled and predictable environments.
To survive a street fight, you've got to become aware of your surroundings.
Take a look around. Note of the size and number of attackers, where you
are, bystanders, exits, anything you can. You should be able to gauge how
dangerous the situation really is. If you're in a crowded area, you're likely
not in a life threatening situation. If you're in a dark alley, you probably
are. Obviously, you'll need to react differently to each situation. It's very
important to keep cool and calm, despite the fact that it's a very high
adrenaline situation. Adrenaline is good, but it also can cloud your thinking
and cause you to make irrational moves. It's this high stress situation that
causes most people to completely forget all their training and wind up
getting knocked out by an obvious and predictable attack.
The most important part of the mental game is actually knowing when
you're in a fight. It may seem obvious, but it's really not. It's actually a very
common mistake among novice fighters to deny that youre even in a fight.
A fight doesnt start when you get punched in the face, it starts when your
intuition tells you somethings wrong.
Alex Lorenzo
Let's say youve got some pissed off drunken linebacker screaming
profanities in your face. Its very difficult to make quick decisions in this
scenario. Your bodys natural responses during a high stress situation is to
drain blood away from the brain and into the muscles, which makes it very
hard to think clearly. This is why most martial artists forget all their dojo
training and end up getting rocked by a simple haymaker.
The easiest way to get around this is to plan out your triggers and decisions
ahead of time. This will help make your decisions more automated and
easier to make under stressful conditions.
It's EXTREMELY important that you create a list of decision points right now,
so that you don't need to figure it out at a time when your thinking is
blurred by adrenaline. The purpose is to simplify your decision making
process.
The main idea here is to know when it's on.
Way too many guys choose to ignore the fact that they're in a fight until its
too late. Afterward, they might claim they had no idea what was going on.
In reality, there are almost always two major signs that a fight is about to
happen.
1. Body Language
2. Verbal Tip Offs
Lets dive deeper into each:
Body Language
These are non-verbal, but clear signals. Its very common for the average
guy to ignore these obvious signals. Theres a number of tells that
indicate an imminent attack on you. These are unintentional ways of your
opponent telling you I'm about to hit you.
Looking Away: Just before that all too common right haymaker is thrown,
your opponent will commonly look to one side. Its a sort of distraction
technique (which we recently discussed). If you see this, watch your left
and be prepared for a right haymaker. It happens almost without fail. A
quick jab is another way to counteract this.
Alex Lorenzo
Poking: Someone poking you in the chest is a serious red flag. Hes testing
your limits by violating your personal space. Any violation of your personal
space at the beginning stages of a confrontation should trigger immediate
action.
Shoving: Your opponent isn't likely going to push you and then walk away.
This common move is almost always immediately followed by a punch. Be
sure that you decide beforehand what you're going to do if and when this
happens, because youll probably have no time to decide during the
confrontation. It's almost guaranteed that the old right Haymaker is coming
your way. Train yourself to watch your left side.
The Gaze: People naturally look at something before they strike it. Watch
out if your opponent changes his gaze to your chin or other obvious target.
Dropping the Chin: Another obvious tell that should prompt you into a
decision is seeing your opponent drop his chin. This is a subconscious act of
protecting the neck and usually means they are about to strike.
Getting Hit: This should go without saying, but incredibly, many people still
won't believe they are in a fight after getting hit. They know something
happened, they may suspect theyve been hit by the angry drunk guy
staring them down, but for some reason they can't believe it really
happened. That is, until they get hit again. If you even suspect youve
been hit, take immediate action, whether its running away going for an
aggressive strike or takedown.
Verbal Tip Offs
This is the second major indicator that trouble is on its way. Here are two
common verbal tip offs that you should be watching for:
Threats: I'm going to kill you! This may seem too obvious to even
mention. But I wouldnt mention it if my research didnt show that most
inexperienced fighters still do nothing even in the face of serious verbal
threats. They stand there and do not respond at all. A bully or attacker will
often use verbal threats as a way to jack up his confidence and emotions
right before he attacks. This means things are likely escalate very quickly.
Think through various scenarios and what would trigger you into action.
Alex Lorenzo
The Silent Treatment: If your opponent has been trash talking and jaw
jacking, but then suddenly becomes quiet, it means hes entered into an
internal dialog on what hes about to do. This is a clear cut sign that he's
planning to attack, soon. He's likely looking for a target, and will shortly be
throwing a haymaker directly at it.
Planning Your Trigger Points
You should decide, in advance, what will trigger immediate response from
you. Define them for yourself, as it's different for everyone. The idea is to
program an automatic response into your brain based on common visual and
verbal cues.
Automatic Response
Once you've planned out your preset trigger points, theres no longer a need
to think about it. If a certain trigger is tripped you dont have to think
twice. The decisions already been made for you. This is extremely
important, as your decision making will be very clouded due to stress and
adrenaline.
You should know that some triggers may not hold up in court. Someone
accidentally bumping into you should not be a trigger. If they flip you off or
call you an asshole and keep walking, that probably shouldn't be a trigger
either. You should plan very specific trigger points, and ignore all others.
This allows you to make decisive decisions and never regret those decisions.
The best part about a trigger is that it lets you fully engage when the time
comes. There is no hesitation, no second guessing. The decision has
already been made for you. The reason most people, including martial
artists, lose in street fights is because they get nervous, emotionally jacked
up, or scared, and they blank out. They hesitate, they fumble, and before
you know it they are on the ground.
When your trigger points get triggered, you attack. In all other cases, you
walk away. It's as simple as that. In any sport, combat or other, there is
always a game plan. Those who execute their game plan are the ones who
win. This is no different.
Alex Lorenzo
First Strikes
Once the first strikes take place, you're officially in a fight. This is where
your boxing training will come in handy. If you made the first move and
connected, you're already at a huge advantage. Your opponent is likely
disoriented and off balance. DO NOT give them a chance to recover. From
here you should be delivering a series of attacks to keep the advantage.
Like we discussed earlier, keep forward pressure. Stay on the offensive at
all times.
Many times they will go down after the first strike. If not, you have several
options. If the fight is one-on-one, you may want to go for a tackle, trip, or
takedown. If they have friends around, you won't want to be on the
ground. In the case of a fair fight, you'll want to keep attacking to keep
them off balance, or go for a takedown. Don't let them recover. Keep
them in shock so that they have no time to counteract.
If you didn't land the first strike, you're probably at a disadvantage.
Hopefully you haven't been hit already, but if you have, you know it's on.
Your opponents first move was more than likely a right haymaker. Hopefully
you watched your left as we discussed earlier and were able to dodge it. If
this is the case, they should be momentarily off balance. Take this
opportunity to strike. Go for a high value target and strike hard. I'm
talking about the groin, neck, solar plexus, whatever it takes. They've
already attempted to hurt you, you have free reign to do what it takes to
defend yourself. A trip or takedown may also be effective here although
you generally don't want to be on the ground.
If the attack has already hit you, you'll likely be dazed. You'll want to
immediately get out of striking range until you can recover. This means
you'll either want to back away from the attacker, or go for a clinch.
Running away might work, but since you've already been hit, they are
probably in better physical shape than you at this point. Immediately get
your hands up and guard your jaw and face from another attack. They
probably aren't going to punch once and stop.
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Now that they've already hit you, are legally allowed to use physical
violence to defend yourself in almost any case. Get in your boxing stance
with your jaw down and hands up. Watch for additional right haymakers
and block accordingly. If they are on the offensive, you'll need to take
drastic measures to stop them. Go for a knee stomp, groin kick, or drop
down and pick the leg. DO NOT crouch over and cover up. You'll be able to
block some punches, but you're also giving them free reign to pound on you.
Kick at the knees, trip, bite, do whatever you have to to stop their forward
momentum.
If nothing works, go for the clinch. This stops them from being able to hit
you. In the clinch, punches are not effective because the range is too
close. This can give you a chance to recover, or to go for a takedown. A
takedown is a good option because it will stun them and temporarily take
them out of the fight. An ankle pick or a trip is usually effective if they
aren't ready for it and can allow you to escape.
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Grappling
At this point, the Jiu Jitsu portion of your training will kick in. Most fights
do end up in a grapple at some point, so you should know basic stand up
grappling. The goal of a grapple is to get a dominant position and put
yourself in position for a takedown. The double
collar tie is the most common stand up grappling
position and you should attempt to get it if you can.
This puts you in a good position for knee strikes,
submissions holds or a takedown. It's fairly difficult
to strike while in a clinch, and most likely your
opponent will not know how. Take this opportunity
to go for a head lock or a few knee strikes. This is
also the perfect time to bite, pull hair, or even
break fingers if you need to.
Keep your center of gravity lower than your opponent and it will be much
harder for them to take you down. Stay low and try to get a hold of a leg
or two. If you can grab a leg it should be easy to tackle and trip them.
Alternatively, you can step a leg behind theirs and shove them over it. Just
remember to keep low and drop your weight so they can't easily knock you
over. Keep your stance wide as well so they can't shove you off balance.
If and when your opponent does go down, do not give him a chance to get
up. You can't afford to give them another chance to harm you. Take a
dominant position immediately. The full mount is the best position to be
in, so get it if you can. If you wind up on bottom, you'll want to transition
into a dominant position quickly, or you're in trouble. Read and practice
transitioning and ground grappling in the Jiu Jitsu section. This is also
covered in detail in a later section.
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Ground Combat
Ground combat in a street fight is tricky. You really don't want to be on the
ground if you can help it, but it does end up here fairly often. In street
combat, the full mount is king. Fights don't last long on the ground, and
usually involve wild wrestling and flailing punches.
If you took the opponent down, try to achieve the full mount as soon as
possible. This allows you to hold them and down and allows you to reign
down strikes on them at will. Unless they are trained in wrestling or Jiu
Jitsu, they will not be able to escape it. Don't go overboard here, but keep
on the offensive and keep attacking. Don't let them recover or reverse on
you. The ground is dangerous, if you give them a chance to recover, you're
putting yourself at serious risk.
If your opponent gets on top of you, you're in a bad
situation. I'll be blunt, you're not going to win most
times unless someone jumps in to help you. Your two
best options are to deflect punches and try to get a
hold of their arms, or to wrap them up and go for a
transition. To deflect punches, form an 'X' over your
face using your forearms. Try to grab hold of an arm
if you can. You can strike from the bottom position,
but you won't get much power behind it making it
less useful. The alternative is to grab hold of their
shirt or neck and pull them down to the ground.
Then you simply wrap them up and hold them there, keeping them from
striking. This can be very effective and allow you to neutralize them until
help arrives.
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High Value Targets

A pressure point is an area on the human body that can produce significant
pain or other effects when manipulated in a specific manner. The concept
of pressure points began in old Japanese martial arts and is claimed to have
an even older history.
Exaggerated accounts of pressure-point fighting have become common in
media and movies, commonly referred to as "Death Touch" in western
popular culture from the 1960s. You may recall the popular Vulcan Nerve
Pinch seen and adored by Trekkies in the 90's. Despite this fact, it is not
disputed that there are sensitive areas on the human body that can deliver
a lot of pain without a lot of pressure.
There are several different types of pressure points. Each type is applied
differently and each creates a different reaction. Some pressure points
temporarily immobilize the target, others produce involuntary movements
or even cause the target to be knocked unconscious. Most pressure points
are located on pathways on the nervous system.
Pain Points
Some pressure points produce pain when struck, pressed, or rubbed. These
are sometimes referred to as nerve centers. There are two advantages to
this type of pressure point. First, the distraction of pain might allow you to
gain an advantage in a fight, or escape. Additionally, the body has a pain
withdrawal reflex whereby it reacts to pain by moving away from the
source. Applying pressure to the collar bone from above will cause the
target to involuntarily move downwards. Poking them upwards in the gap
between the ear and neck will make their body want to move upwards. A
jab to the stomach will cause some people to twist around, away from the
pain.
A rapid impact to the solar plexus can easily knock all the air out of an
opponent, leaving them gasping for air and unable to move. Some points
react more violently to pain from changes in the pressure (rubbing) rather
than constant pressure. Applying pressure to the nose or temple will also
cause significant pain. Some of the parts of your body that you can use to
apply pressure or brute force to these ares are: fist, knuckles, knife hand,
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palm strike, elbow, knees and feet. Using these pressure points can be
effective means of self defense when attacked by a larger opponent.
Blood Pressure
The baroreceptors in the carotid artery are pressure sensitive and supply
the brain with information to control blood pressure. Pressure against this
region will send signals to the brain that indicate blood pressure is too high
and lead to a lowering of blood pressure. For this reason, striking this area
can cause unconsciousness by the same mechanism. We already know that
a head lock can cut off blood flow to the brain, causing unconsciousness. In
a similar fashion, a quick strike to the jugular can also cause it.
This is often exaggerated or parodied in movies, where the attacker simply
chops the neck of his opponents and they drop to the ground unconscious.
You may recall the judo chop from Austin Powers as one of the most
famous instances. While you actually can knock an opponent unconscious
with a well targeted strike to the neck, it requires a lot of skill and
practice, and even then may not always work.
Break
There are certain bones and area of the body that are likely to break if
struck properly. Some examples of these are the floating ribs, the
philtrum, and the side of the knee. In a threatening situation, a well
placed kick to the side of the knee is likely going to land your opponent on
the ground with severe knee damage.
Hyper-extension
There are joints that when struck, can be hyper-extended and even tear.
This is a technique which can cause permanent damage to your opponent.
Brute force hyper-extension is simply striking a joint so that it quickly
hyper-extends out of its normal range, usually causing severe joint damage
and tearing. A strike to the back of the elbow or the side of the knee is an
example of this.
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Another way to perform this is by targeting Golgi tendons. A gentle strike

to the Golgi tendon at the back of the elbow, for example, triggers a reflex
which immediately relaxes that tendon allowing the elbow to bend more
easily in the wrong direction. If this is immediately followed by a solid
strike to the elbow joint, the elbow can be broken with significantly less
effort than through brute force.
Concussion
The brain is a sensitive organ that floats in a fluid and balances on a very
flexible spine. These safety mechanisms allow the head to take substantial
impact without resulting in concussion, but which can still cause permanent
brain damage. Certain techniques can be delivered in a way which
essentially eliminates these protections, causing disorientation or
instantaneous knockout. The most commonly taught concussion technique
involves a strike just below the occipital ridge, at the correct angle in the
correct direction.
Another well known point with this effect is the chin or lower jaw, giving
rise to the boxing expression: a "glass jaw", which is discussed in the Boxing
Basics section. As discussed in the previous section, the same effect of
knocking somebody unconscious can be achieved by using the edge of the
hand to apply a sharp strike to the carotid artery.
Examples
High value targets are those areas that a strike will have the most effect
on. As such, it is in the best interest of those who study self defense to
know where the vital striking points are in the human body. The following
are some of the easiest vital targets to locate and hit:
Temple
Contrary to popular belief, the skull isnt thinner in this area, but rather it
is flatter. A strong blow to this area can cause disorientation or
unconsciousness, which is due to referral shock to the brain, not to a
weakness in the area. The possible reactions that an assailant may have to
a solid blow in this area are; disorientation, unconsciousness, severe pain,
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seizures. and in extreme cases, death. The best types of strikes for this
area are the heel of the palm, hammer fist, back fist, and elbow.
Eyes
Any strike to the eyes can cause lasting injury so do not use this target
unless it is very serious. It should be used only when your life is in danger or
when under the threat of serious bodily harm. Blindness, corneal scratching
or tearing, and other types of injuries are possible.
The best types of strikes for this area are finger jabs.
Base of the Nose
This is the area at the top of the nose where it meets the forehead
between the eyes. Contrary to popular belief, striking someone in this area
does NOT cause the nose bone to be shoved up into the brain. As with other
strikes and points on the head, the results are usually due to the shock to
the brain. The normal reactions to a strike to this area are; the assailant
drawing back, eyes watering and/or swelling, bloody nose, pain and
disorientation. Exceptionally strong blows can cause bone fractures and
unconsciousness.
Bottom of the Jaw
This is a fairly easy target to hit and can have several desirable results.
Common reactions to a strike to this area include; snapping the assailants
head back and putting them off balance, pain, clacking the jaws together
and breaking teeth, and even unconsciousness. This is a classic point for a
boxer to strike for a knockout blow.
There are several strikes that can be affective to the mandible, these
include; an uppercut or straight punch, elbows, the heel of the palm, and
even a roundhouse kick.
Hinge of Jaw
There is a cluster of nerves that is located below each ear at the hinge of
the jaw. You can find this area very easily using your fingers. Use your
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thumb and GENTLY apply an increasing amount of pressure under the ear.
You should feel it right away.
You can also use your fingers on an attacker. If they are trying to bear hug
or hold you against your will, drive your thumb into the hinge of the jaw in
a sharp, jabbing motion. It wont cause lasting injury or break bones but it
will usually cause enough pain have them release you.
Under the Jaw
Directly under and behind the end point of the jaw is a V shaped area.
There is also a cluster of nerves here that can cause pain to an attacker. To
find it on yourself, put your thumb to the inside area and your other fingers
on the outside surface of the jaw. Squeeze and push up against the bone.
During an assault, this can be used similarly to the hinge of the jaw point.
Larynx (Throat)
This is a very vulnerable area in the neck. It is at the front and center of
the neck, and can easily be damaged. Strong blows can cause difficulty
breathing, rupture of the trachea (windpipe), bleeding and even death.
Almost any solid strike will be affective in the area but a few suggestions
are the edge of the hand, punches, finger jabs, and elbows.
Base of Throat
Like the larynx, this area is very delicate. To locate this spot, find the
indented area at the base of the throat. There is a sort of V notch where
the collar bones come together. You can apply pressure to this area with the
fingers and cause extreme pain and difficulty breathing
If some punk is hassling you and won't leave you alone, simply pressing your
thumb into this spot should do the trick. If you get grabbed or pinned, sharp
finger jabs and spear hands can also be used.
Carotid/Jugular Vein
The carotid artery is the artery that supplies the brain with oxygenated
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blood. When performing a choke hold, you're usually trying to pinch this
artery, blocking the blood flow, causing unconsciousness. A punch or strike
with the edge of the hand to this area can cause dizziness, disorientation,
or an instant knockout.
Solar Plexus
This is a good one. The Solar Plexus, or bread basket, is the small tip of
bone that extends beyond the bottom of the breastbone. It is also the bone
that CPR instructors warn you about. If struck with any real pressure or
force it can break off and cause severe pain and injury to a person. Besides
the pain, there is also the possibility of puncturing a lung. Perhaps most
importantly, a powerful strike will cause the attacker to have the wind
completely knocked out of him, leaving him crouched over and gasping for
air. From here you can do what you please.
Possible strikes are the heel of the palm, straight punches, and knees.
Inguinal Area
This is the highly sensitive area of the upper, inner thigh, about halfway to
the knee. There are a large number of nerves that make it an ideal area for
strikes. A strike or pinch to the area can cause a lot of pain and numbing of
the leg.
If someone comes up behind you and puts you in a bear hug, move your hips
slightly to one side, reach back, and pinch. They will jump back almost
immediately. Even fairly light pinches can cause bruising.
You can also use punches, one finger punches, elbows, and all kinds of
kicks.
Outer Thigh
Muay Thai fighters are trained to relentlessly target the large area of nerves
that run on the outside of the thigh. If you've ever had a charlie horse
before you probably know what I'm talking about. Striking this area with a
hard knee or kick can greatly reduce their mobility and often take them to
the ground.
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The Knee
The knees are obviously delicate, which is why joint locks to the knee are
often banned from combat sports. There's a reason so many football players
go out each year from knee injuries. A good kick or stomp to the knee is
almost guaranteed to bring your opponent to the ground for good. Knee
strikes work best if his foot is planted to the ground with the leg straight. If
you manage a stomp kick to the front of the knee it does the most damage,
but its fairly easy to miss. I recommend going for the outside of the knee
and kicking slightly downward. This is an easy strike and almost always
works.
The Groin
This one is obvious but I'll mention it anyway. Even though just about
everyone knows this is an easy target, most people never think of it when
the time comes. There are several ways to target this extremely sensitive
target. The first and most common attack would be a kick to the groin.
Kick upwards with the foot or shin. Their legs will basically guide your foot
toward the target making it an easy shot. The other option is a grab. If
someone grabs a hold of you or tries choking you, a simple grab and twist
will almost always break it up. Any type of strike to this area is probably
going to immobilize them very quickly.
In all there are over fifty vital striking points taught in various forms of
martial arts. The ones listed above are some of the easiest and most
commonly used, making them ideal for a street fight. There are other
useful ones, but they are less likely to be effective in real life.
Please realize that many of these areas are very sensitive to permanent
damage and should be used only in certain situations. In other words, if
someone bumps into you at a bar, do not gouge out their eye or break their
knee. If a simple strike to the solar plexus or a thumb to the jaw hinge will
do the job, stick with that. Unless you feel that your life is in danger,
you're best off not permanently maiming your opponent.
Alex Lorenzo
Hand to Hand Combat

Hand-to-hand combat takes place while you and your opponent are both
standing. It is almost always the first stage of a fight. The term is
commonly used in martial arts and combat sports to designate the set of
techniques employed from a standing position, as opposed to techniques
employed in ground fighting. Stand-up fighting includes both fist fighting &
striking, and also clinch fighting & grappling. Techniques used in hand to
hand combat fighting include various punches, strikes, takedowns, and
chokes. Essential aspects of stand-up fighting include striking combinations,
with the aim of striking to incapacitate or injure the opponent. The most
realistic fighting styles that focus on stand-up combat are boxing and Muay
Thai in my opinion.
As we discussed in the Boxing Basics section of the program, boxing is likely
one of the most useful forms of martial arts for a real life street fight.
Boxing focuses purely on hand to hand combat, with its main focus on
punching, blocking & dodging, and controlling distances through movement.
Muay Thai also uses punches, but focuses more on knees, kicks, and elbows,
which are also useful.
To truly understand stand-up fighting and hand to hand combat, you must
learn all the different striking zones. Let's review.
Comfort Distance
The comfort distance is a non-combat distance from which it is not possible
to kick the opponent without closing the distance considerably. From this
zone the combatant might carefully close in on the opponent to engage
with strikes. Always try to keep the fight in this zone until YOU are ready to
make your move.
Kicking Distance
The kicking distance is the most distant unarmed fighting position in which
consistent contact can be made with the opponent. The combatants can
use far-reaching quick kicks to the legs, body or head of the opponent. Most
people don't utilize kicking in a street fight, but you should definitely be
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aware of the option and use it if necessary. A good kick to the side of the
knee can end a fight in just seconds.
Punching Distance
The punching distance is the zone where punches can be thrown, and
includes the distance from the furthest jab to the closest hook, as long as
no grappling is taking place. In addition to punches, this distance often also
allows for elbows and knees. Boxing occurs almost entirely in this zone.
This section could also be split up into several boxing ranges like in-fighting
and out-fighting. While in punching distance, you should always be alert
and ready for punches to be thrown.
Clinching Distance
The clinching distance is generally the same as the punching distance,
except that one or both combatants grapple, and at the same time prevent
the other from moving out of the clinching distance by using a clinch hold.
While in this zone a variety of techniques can be deployed including
elbows, knees, takedowns, and chokes.
Here's a good visual representation of the different fighting ranges that
exist and the transitions that occur to get into them:
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OK, enough of the technical stuff. We've already gone over all the basic
moves you'll need to win a stand up fight in the other three sections of the
program. If you've studied and practiced them, you've already got the
weapons you need to take down any untrained thug that might come at you
on the streets. But you're probably wondering, what exactly do I need to
do to win in a real street fight?
Let's go over some important basic principles that you have to follow in any
confrontation on the street.
At the beginning of a fight, you're almost always in a stand-up position, and
you're likely within punching range of your opponent. Many times these
confrontations begin with trash talk and aggressive movements. During this
time, you should be analyzing the situation and searching for targets. Some
things you should consider:
Is he in range?
Is there anything in his hands?
What targets are open?
Are any of his friends around?
Is anyone behind you?
Do you have an escape route?
As you can tell, you need to be very aware of your surroundings and your
specific situation. You should immediately be looking for targets.
This is why so many martial artists, even black belts, get their asses handed
to them in a real street fight. When they're in the well-lit dojo they train
with plenty of room on padded floors. They bow politely, then fight in a
predictable manner. They never have to worry about any of the items
above. Once they're confronted by some big guy screaming insults and
cursing, confusion hits, and all that training goes down the drain. One
haymaker and its over.
That's why its important to know your surroundings and be looking for the
obvious verbal and physical cues we discussed earlier. Know them ahead of
time so you don't get caught off guard when it happens.
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Your opponent will likely be making verbal threats, cursing, etc. Do not pay
attention to him. This only distracts you from your target awareness. They
are usually just trying to get into your head and get you to back down
anyway. If they continue making aggressive movements and behaviors as
discussed above, be on the lookout for the right haymaker.
The beginning of the fight is a great place for a little acting. This goes back
to our discussions about deception. The basic concept is to make your
adversary think one thing while you are planning your move. Deception can
be verbal or physical. Tell your opponent you dont want any trouble while
you locate targets and plan your attack. Raise your hands up in a submissive
way so that they are in front of your shoulders and face with open palms.
Hell think youre in a I surrender position, when in reality you are ready
for action and just waiting for the right moment.
At this time you can tell him, "I don't want any trouble, and depending on
the situation, unleash on him. Striking first is absolutely critical as I stated
earlier. It may not be politically correct, but if you want to escape without
injury, it is necessary.
Depending on your situation, you'll likely have dozens of possible attacks
and strikes available to you. The three basic actions you can choose from
are a strike, a takedown, or a submission. Depending on your strengths as a
fighter, it's up to you to choose. A solid cross to the face, an open palm
strike the solar plexus, or an ankle pick will all stun your opponent
immediately, allowing you to engage in a series of attacks or a submission
hold.
When you do decide to make your move, act quickly and aggressively. In
other words, if you're going to make a move, make it count. Shoot for an
attack that will immobilize your opponent and put you at the advantage.
Once you make the initial attack, KEEP GOING. This is important. Do not
give your opponent a chance to get back up or recover. Keep on the
offensive at all times.
For example, if you strike your opponent in the solar plexus, they will likely
crouch over gasping for air. At this point you could easily put him in a
guillotine choke, or continue striking.
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If you deliver a cross to the face. They will likely stumble backwards or fall
down. At this point you could ankle pick them, put them in a wrist lock, or
continue striking.
The idea in either case is to get the advantage and keep it.
So what strikes are most effective for stand up fighting?
If I were to summarize the most important stand-up fighting techniques, I
would be sure to include:
The jab
The cross
Hooks
Single leg takedowns
Low kicks
Standing chokes
Wristlocks
All the above pressure points and high value targets
It's important to know that most street fights are over in under 10 seconds
so you'll probably never have to use more than one or two different moves.
In fact I recommend that you plan your attacks ahead of time and focus on
really mastering just two or three moves. Bruce Lee once said I do not
fear the man who has practiced 1000 kicks one time I fear the man who
has practiced one kick 1000 times. So what's the point here? Basically,
you're not going to be able to master every move and be prepared for every
possible scenario. Instead, you'll want to have a game plan that allows you
to control the fight and put you in a position to use your most effective
moves.
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In most cases, if you land the first punch, the fight is basically over.
Assuming you connected as planned, they are probably going to be
completely stunned or on the ground and likely will not recover as long as
you keep on the offensive.
But what about the times when you don't get that opportunity? If it's been
established by both parties that you're going to fight, then you're going to
need some training and a game plan. In this next section, we'll go over an
arsenal of powerful moves and techniques that are effective during stand
up combat as well as some defensive moves.
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The Haymaker
I've already stated this previously but its worth mentioning one more time.
If you can gain a distraction in a street fight, DO IT. This isn't sport fighting,
its real life. If you can get an advantage, take it.
Distractions don't have to be complicated at all. If you have a drink, toss it
in their face. If you have some change or car keys in your pocket, throw
them on the ground or at their face. Look or point to their side as if
something is happening behind them. It can be as simple as that.
The important part of distraction is that you act immediately as soon as
they take their attention off of you. This is a key element used by many of
the worlds best street fighters so don't blow it off.
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The Haymaker
If you're not familiar with the haymaker, you haven't seen many street
fights. The haymaker is a slang term for a big, full force cross with the
dominant hand. It's by far the most common strike in any street fight and
so its very important that you know what it looks like, when its coming, and
how to avoid it.
If you get into a confrontation and you're getting a sense that your
opponent is going to attack, you can almost count on a right haymaker
coming your way if they aren't a trained fighter. Don't rely completely on
this as they may be left handed or have some martial arts training, but an
overwhelming amount of first attacks will be a right haymaker.
The weakness of the haymaker is that its very slow and obvious compared
to a technically correct punch. The opponent will have a large wind up,
cocking the fist back near their ear, then step forward and throw with all
their force. Always keep the left side of your head and face guarded if you
feel this may be on the way.
Haymakers are fairly easy to dodge since they have a very clear and long
wind up. Most times you can simply lean back, to the side, or duck.
Alternatively, a quick jab to the jaw is a great defense against the
haymaker. If you feel this is coming, and it probably is, you can throw a
fast jab or cross as soon as you see the wind up. The opponent's hand will
be busy, leaving the face wide open.
When the attacker misses this type of swing, they will be off balance
immediately after due to the force going forward. This leaves an easy
opportunity for you to strike back, or put them in a wrist lock or choke
hold. If they are by themselves, a simple submission hold is a good way to
control the situation without doing a lot of damage. If they are with
friends, you'll want to take them to the ground as quickly as possible and
move on the next opponent.
While they're off balance, they are an easy target for a trip or takedown as
well. They will without fail take a step forward during this swing, so a
simple ankle pick or trip will work well.
Do not underestimate this attack. While slow and obvious, it does do some
pretty major damage if it lands. Be cautious and ready for this move at the
beginning of any fight.
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The Jab
The jab is a completely under utilized and effective strike in street
fighting. A good jab is the biggest difference between a good fist fighter
and a bad one. To get an idea of its importance, Mohammed Ali used the
jab 90% of the time when he was a boxer. It's quick, its harder to dodge,
and it deals a good amount of damage when it connects.
The average person will not often use the jab in a
fight. You should be ready for it, but most times you
won't see it. Keep your hands up and your chin down
and you won't have to worry much about catching a
jab in the lip. If your attacker does throw a jab,
that's a tip that they may have boxing training and
you may want to opt for a leg attack or takedown.
While throwing jabs, be sure to keep your chin down,
and keep your rear hand up guarding your jaw. This
will keep your face covered while you attack, making
it hard for your opponent to counter.
The jab is useful for multiple situations. As we discussed earlier, its a great
counter for the haymaker. It also works well for maintaining distance
between you and your opponent(s). While in a proper boxing stance with
your hips and shoulders facing sideways, your front arm will be closer to
your opponent than your face. This means they need to close distance in
order to hit you. When they do, a quick jab will likely stun them or knock
them down.
Many people ignore the jab thinking it doesn't have enough power to do
damage. This is wrong. A bare knuckled jab to the jaw will knock down
most people or at the very least disorient them. At that point you can go in
with stronger attacks like crosses, knees, and kicks.
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The Cross
The cross is a power punch performed with your dominant hand. A good fist
fighter will utilize the cross often as it is quick and powerful. The
haymaker is a sloppy variation of the cross when the wind up is
exaggerated. People with no boxing experience feel the need to wind up to
get more power behind the punch. However, a proper cross can deliver as
much if not more force than a haymaker without the unnecessary windup.
The proper cross is performed from a boxing stance with both hands up
guarding the face. The front hand is slightly higher, guarding the face, with
the rear hand slightly lower, guarding the jaw. The power from the cross
comes from the rotation of the hips. A wind up is not at all necessary to
knock out an opponent. To gain even more power, you can step into the
punch, although this will make it more obvious that its coming.
While throwing a cross, its important to keep the
front hand up, guarding the face. This makes it
nearly impossible for the opponent to counter punch
while you attack.
The cross is effective in combinations with the jab,
hook, and uppercut. Most times, a simple one-two
combo (jab-cross) is enough to take out your
attacker, so don't worry too much about complex
combinations.
Alex Lorenzo
The Single Leg Takedown

Takedowns are a key part of street fighting. When used properly, you can
almost instantly incapacitate an opponent with a takedown. You'll see
takedowns occasionally in street fights, usually by wrestlers or people
familiar with wrestling.
Takedowns work because most people are not expecting them. An
untrained fighter will be expecting an exchange of punches or maybe a
jackhammer. When you shoot for their ankles, they go down like nothing.
It's very important to survey the situation before performing a takedown. If
there are multiple opponents around, you likely do not want to be on the
ground. You might take down your immediate threat, but then his buddies
will be there to stomp you.
For single opponents, a simple ankle pick, trip, or
even a spear can give you a huge advantage. An
ankle pick simply involves shooting for the ankle,
grabbing hold, and lifting while you drive into their
abdomen with your shoulder. An alternative is to
trip them by throwing a foot behind their leg and
shoving them over it. The cruelest form of
takedown is a simple spear or tackle.
In any of these cases, you'll want to either escape
the scene, or immediately take a dominant position
on the ground. Go for a full mount where you are
on top of the opponent straddling them. If you achieve this position the
fight is over. Do not let them roll over you or wrap their legs around you.
Keep them on their back so that they can't get any power behind punches.
Please note that takedowns can be potentially dangerous or even fatal if
the opponent hits the back of their head on the pavement. They should
have the instinct to hold their head up while going down, but just know
there is a very small chance they could be killed if they slam the back of
their head into a hard surface.
Alex Lorenzo
The Low Kick

You will rarely see kicking in a street fight, despite the fact that it is
effective. Kicks have a large reach advantage over any other type of attack
and can cause some serious damage due to the power of the leg muscles.
Many people don't like kicking because it leaves you off balance and open
to sweeps or takedowns. Most don't kick simply because they aren't trained
to. Kicking in a real life fight is a good addition to any arsenal, assuming
you use them properly.
If you decide to use kicks in a fight, I highly recommend sticking with low
kicks and foot jabs. Keeping the leg lower to the ground reduces the
chances of you getting swept or knocked off balance. Kicking above the
waist leaves you open to getting your leg caught.
A proper leg kick should target the knees and pressure points on the side of
the thighs. A thrusting kick to the front of the knee can easily dislocate or
break your opponents knee in a severe situation. A low kick to the side of
the knee can also cause dislocation, but more likely will just knock them
down. In either case, your first kick should probably be your last. Once
they realize you're kicking, they'll be looking for it.
Foot jabs can also be used to maintain distance when used correctly. A fist
jab can do the same thing and has less of a chance of leaving you off
balanced, so I usually would recommend this route in most cases.
Alex Lorenzo
Joint Locks & Chokes

Joint locks and choke holds are a great way of subduing and opponent and
controlling a fight without letting things get too out of hand. If you have
the skills to lock up and opponent or simply put him in a hold he cant
escape, do it. This is often much safer than engaging in punching and
striking and can allow you to subdue an aggressive opponent until help
arrives.
If you choose to perform a choke hold or joint lock, be sure you know how
to perform the technique ahead of time. Improper use can severely injure
an opponent, or be rendered useless, allowing them to easily escape and
counter you.
From a standing position, you'll want to avoid any type
of fancy or complex holds as they generally are too
risky to perform. Stick with simple wrist locks and
head locks. If you can get a hold of your opponents
arm, it's fairly easy to do a simple rotational wrist lock
if you catch them off guard. This is more risky against
stronger opponents who may be able to resist. A
guillotine or rear naked choke are also viable options if
you can get control of the head. The nice thing about
choke holds is that you can put your opponent to sleep
no matter how big and strong they are. A good amount
of pressure on the jugular vein is going to make you go
unconscious, period.
The alternative is to take the opponent to the ground before performing
your lock or choke. This is riskier, as there are usually other people around
to interfere. You also run the risk of losing the dominant position, which
can be very costly. Again, stick with the basic arm and shoulder locks on
the ground. Don't get fancy.
Alex Lorenzo
The Grab and Jackhammer

We've all seen this one. It's the go-to move of the hockey fight and happens
all the time in real life as well. This is a favorite of the inexperienced
fighter because its really simple.
The basic jackhammer is when an assailant grabs an item of clothing
(usually your shirt), and with his free hand he wails away, striking over and
over.
You've more than likely witnessed this move at some point.
It's common because it actually works!
It's primitive, it's crude, and it works.
There are many ways to escape this move but there's no need to make this
complicated. Defend a simple move with a simple defense.
The first method to defeat it is to simply extend your hand into your
opponent's face. Both his hands are occupied, so get your hand in there and
block his vision.
Once your hand is in there you don't have to do much except push your
hand and fingers into their face, eyes, or any other sensitive area. Clawing
works well here. Having fingers in their face causes stress, discomfort, and
disorientation.
Clawing at their face and eyes will almost always cause them to let go of
you so you can escape.
Alex Lorenzo
Eye Gouging
Eye gouging sounds pretty self explanatory but often you'll have to drill to
find the eyes without looking. It's harder than it sounds, especially if they
are attacking you.
When you can find them without looking, you can poke and gouge the eyes
even if you're being choked or attacked. This will be the case most of the
time, so be aware of that.
To perform an eye gouge, bring your palm up to the attacker's jaw with the
fingers pointing toward their ears.
Crawl your thumbs up until they hit your opponent's nose.
From the nose, work the thumbs into the eyes from the inside.
You can also simultaneously crush the ears with your fingers to add
additional pain. Really drive the finger nails in to make it more effective.
Alternatively, to cause quick and brutal damage to the eyes, you can simply
go for a poke. This is normally done with the first three fingers (pointer,
middle, and ring). Clench and extend the fingers out, and drive the middle
finger at their eye.
Please note that eye gouges can cause permanent damage including
blindness so you must use extreme caution. Use your head. Don't eye
gouge unless it's a life threatening situation.
Alex Lorenzo
The Head Butt

Another street fighting staple move is the good old head butt. Head butting
is not allowed in cage fighting or any sport fighting, but is standard practice
in a street fight. While very effective, it must be performed very carefully
to avoid doing damage to yourself. A head butt performed incorrectly can
cause you to do more damage to yourself and possibly split your head open.
Obviously this would be very embarrassing.
The keys to a successful head butt:
Keep your neck straight and still. This is the most common mistake made in
head butting. Your neck should not move. Keep it clenched in place or you
can hurt yourself. Your chin should not drop at all during the strike!
Make contact anywhere behind your hairline. The hardest part of your head
is just above the hairline, and that's where you should be shooting for.
Strike the opponent in the face, preferably below the eyebrows. Just like
you, the hardest part of your opponent's head is above the hairline. You
want to strike the softest part of the head, which is the face. Aim for the
top of the nose.
The real key to a good head butt is to use the hardest part of your head to
hit the softest part of your opponent's.
To increase the power of a headbutt, you'll want to get control of their
head. The best way to do this is to grab them by the ears. Once you get a
firm hold of the ears, drag his face into the head butt, then throw him into
a wall or object if possible.
It's difficult to resist when someone has you by the ears because of fear of
having them torn off.
Alex Lorenzo
Feints (Faking Strikes)

Feints are a very powerful part of self defense, especially in the street.
Remember the 'distraction' section we covered earlier? This falls under that
bucket. If you can make your opponent think you're going to do one thing
and then do another, they likely won't be able to defend it.
In military tactics, there are two types of feints: feint attacks, and feint
retreats. This a little different than what we're talking about here, but it's
the same idea. You never want to telegraph your next move unless that
move is a feint.
The superman punch is the most commonly used feint in cage fighting. The
striker lifts the knee as if going for a kick, causing the opponent to focus
attention downward. At that point they leap up and throw a flying cross to
the face.
There are countless feints you can use in a fight, the general idea being to
distract them from what you're really going to do. A feint doesn't even have
to be a strike. It can be as simple as looking or pointing in another
direction. Use your imagination.
Alex Lorenzo
Cupped Hand Blows

Open handed strikes can be effective in many situations. One of them is
cupped hand blows. These can end a fight quickly if performed right and
work great for escaping grabs and holds.
If you don't feel like spending a lot of time clinching, a simple relaxed clap
to the ear with a cupped hand can rupture your opponent's ear drum. Even
if it doesn't, it will still be very painful.
A ruptured ear drum will cause pain, nausea, and confusion in your
opponent. This essentially renders them unable to fight, allowing you to
either escape, or take them down.
Not only is it effective, it's very simple to perform. Simply cup your hand
very slightly, and slap their ear hard and fast. The center of your palm
should strike the opening of the ear. Assuming you strike hard and at the
right spot, they will probably be stunned and unable to continue fighting.
Cupped hand blows are great for escaping bear hugs and grapples and are
easily followed up by head butts.
Alex Lorenzo
The Bear Hug

Big guys love this move. If your opponent has a large
upper body, look out for it.
If a large opponent grabs you around the chest and
lifts you up it can be painful and cause panic. You
might feel all the air rush out of your lungs and your
ribs start grating together. It's a scary feeling.
If this happens, it's important not to panic. Keep a
cool head at all times.
If he makes the mistake of leaving your arms free, this
leaves him vulnerable to a double cupped-hand blow
to the ears. He'll drop you immediately. Other options
are to for an eye gouge, or to drive your fingers into
the soft spot under the ears (see Pressure Points).
Many times they will secure your arms as well which forces you to use other
moves. If they bear hug you from the front, they are vulnerable to knee
strikes to the groin area and head butts. A head butt is risky since you won't
be able to get much power behind it and you likely won't be able to make
contact with the top of your head. A knee the groin is likely your best
option.
When an opponent bear hugs you from behind you'll need a different
technique. In this case, take a deep breath to expand your diaphragm as
much as you can. This will cause them to widen their grip. Now, all in one
move, combine the following steps: let out the air, becoming instantly
smaller than you were before. Squat to the floor, lowering your base, and
spread your arms apart breaking his grip. You will also want to drive your
butt into his hips as you drop your weight. T he combination of these moves
done simultaneously with proper speed and force will break the hold.
Alex Lorenzo
Fish Hooking
By grabbing on to soft tissue, you can easily drag your opponent around
without much resistance. This is especially true on the face, since they will
not want to risk permanent damage. It's very painful and they will probably
let you do what you want to avoid disfiguring their face.
It really doesn't matter how big or strong your opponent is in this case,
which makes it a great move to keep in your back pocket.
Fish hooking involves inserting fingers into the mouth, nostrils or other
orifices of an opponent, with the intention of pulling and tearing the
surrounding tissue. Forceful fish hooking will usually lead to permanent
facial damage.
Fish hooking is not allowed in any combat sports or cage fighting due to the
risk of permanent injury. They are occasionally taught as a self-defense
technique in some select martial arts like Krav Maga.
To perform a fish hook, simply hook your index finger inside the opponents
mouth, avoiding the teeth. The finger should hook onto the inside of the
cheek, allowing you to pull sideways. Now simply crank on their mouth,
causing severe paint.
Another thing you can do is grab them by the lower lip.
The lip grab can cause a great deal of pain and also fear of disfigurement
which will overwhelm most opponents.
Starting from the chin, squeeze the opponents bottom lip between your
index finger and thumb.
From here you're free to crank their head around, possibly tossing them into
a wall or object.
Alex Lorenzo
The C-Grip (Throat Grab)

As the name implies, the throat grab implies turning your hand into a claw
and grabbing the opponent's throat with it.
This type of grab is not allowed in cage fighting or any other form of sport
fighting because grabbing the throat like this can cause damage to the
esophagus. This can cause it to swell and close, which may kill your
attacker. Because of this, you obviously don't want to use this unless lethal
force is justified.
When attacking the throat, concentrate on your thumb and the
index/middle fingers.
Place the fingers high in the trachea and squeeze together while pushing up
and in.
Note that you will need to stabilize the opponent's head or he will be able
to pull back and away from the trauma.
One easy way to do this is to grab the back of his neck with your free hand
while you attack the throat.
Keep your chin tucked down to protect your own throat while attacking.
From this same position you can throw quick headbutts as well if the
opponent resists. This will cause him to pull his head back and away from
the attacks, opening up the neck.
Alex Lorenzo
The Knee Smash

There are many non-traditional Muay Thai kicks that you will never see in
competition because they will get you banned. One of these devastating
kicks is the always gory knee smash.
The knee smash is very easy to perform, and usually causes extreme and
permanent damage, which is why it is banned from sport fighting.
To perform it, wait until your comes in for a strike (usually a punch). Lean
back out of his reach as he would expect you to.
As he leans forward during his strike, he'll
leave his lead knee wide open for an attack.
Now all you have to do is thrust your foot
forward and drive it straight through his
knee. This is done while you continue
leaning back, avoiding his punch.
It doesn't matter if his leg is sideways or
straight on. If you really drive through, you'll
probably dislocate his knee causing him to
come crashing to the ground.
It doesn't take much force to injure the
knee, which is why you see so many huge
football players going down with knee injuries every year. One good knee
smash and your attacker should be down for the count.
This kick can also be performed as a pre-emptive attack rather than a
counter. In this case you simply drive forward and thrust straight through
the knee of your opponent. This is also sometimes referred to as a knee
smash.
Alex Lorenzo
Defending Against Knee Attacks

Knees are not common in street fights but occasionally you will see them.
The easiest way to defend them is to simply keep moving. It's hard to land
a knee strike if you're always moving.
Alternatively, if an opponent does get you in a position where they can land
a knee to your body or head, you'll want to be able to block it and absorb
the bulk of the impact. This is fortunately not very hard to do.
If your attacker tries driving your head downward he may be setting up for
a knee. If you can't escape the grab, you'll want to create a pouch with
your body. While crouched over, keep your stomach muscles clenched, with
your hands guarding the face. Your elbows will be pointed out with your
hands pointed in. You may want to lock your fingers to create a pouch to
catch the knee. The idea is simply to absorb most of the power of the knee
until you can counter.
If the opponent tries kneeing you in the ribs, stomach, or face, they will be
temporarily unstable. When only one leg is on the ground, they are
vulnerable to a counter. At this moment, you'll want to try to knock them
onto the ground. This can be done by grabbing the leg and lifting, or
tackling. This requires good timing, but can be done, especially while in a
stressful or disorienting environment.
Alex Lorenzo
The Cover Up
If you land a solid strike to the face, your opponent will often cover up in
shock. They usually will crouch over, holding both hands up to guard the
face in a submissive manner. This usually means you've won the fight, but
don't always assume this. If you don't keep going, they could very well get
back up and hit you.
If you're in a life threatening situation, one potentially fatal move is to
drive an elbow into the back of the head where the neck meets the skull.
Be aware that this is potentially fatal. This is not allowed in any combat
sport and has a high chance of seriously injuring your opponent so only use
it in extreme situations.
A simpler option would just be to continue striking with low hooks and
uppercuts until someone comes to your aid. Alternatively, this is a very
easy takedown position. You could easily toss them to the ground, or take
hold of their head in a guillotine position. In either case, they will be in a
submissive position, allowing you to finish the fight.
Alex Lorenzo
Controlling the Head

Controlling your opponents head allows you to control him with ease. This
gives you the opportunity to toss them into a wall or other nearby object
and is a great advantage in a fight.
We've already discussed some ways that you can control the head. Fish
hooking and grabbing the ears are both good ways to control the head.
Additionally, any kind of clawing grab to the face will usually cause shock in
your opponent.
If you really want to keep it simple, just claw at his face and grab hold.
They usually won't resist much out of fear of disfigurement, allowing you to
do what you will. If you can control the face, you can control the head, and
therefore you control the body.
From here you have a nearly unlimited number of takedowns and strikes
readily available to you.
Alex Lorenzo
The Sternal Notch

The sternal notch is the point just below the neck where the two collar
bones meet. This is a very painful pressure point that can come in handy
during a clinch.
In order to effectively attack the sternal notch, as with any pressure point
attack, you must train to be able to find it without looking for it.
Place your hand on the opponent's chest and crawl your fingers up until you
hit the notch. You'll notice a soft spot as soon as your fingers get above the
breast bone. You should be aiming for the very center of the body.
Once you find it, drive in and down, vibrating your fingers side to side very
quickly. This will greatly increase the amount of pain you inflict. This can
also be done with the thumbs. Just be sure you're pressing down hard.
Most opponents will drop down and begin coughing and tearing up. At this
point you can do just about whatever you want so have at it.
Alex Lorenzo
Biting
Biting is obviously not allowed in any combat sport including cage fighting.
We all know how things turned out for Mike Tyson. However, in a street
fight, biting is fair game. If you want to walk away from a fight unharmed,
don't be afraid to bite. It's a pretty scary and intimidating attack, even if
unsuccessful. If your attacker knows you're willing to bite him to win, he'll
certainly be left feeling uneasy about the remainder of the bout.
Any type of soft tissue or small body part is usually good for biting. The
most common targets include the ears, nose, and fingers. Biting is usually
used in a clinch and can be useful for getting out of a grab.
If your opponent grabs you, you can simply bite down on a finger and pull it
out, tearing the skin as you go. This is extremely painful and will cause
them to let go immediately. They will likely be stunned by the pain as well.
It's not recommended to attempt biting if your opponent is moving
sporadicly as you can damage your teeth. Biting hard surfaces such as the
head can also knock teeth out so only use it when needed. As a rule of
thumb, you should only bite while in a clinch.
Alex Lorenzo
Escaping the Headlock

If you have ever watched or been in a street fight,
you're probably aware that the head lock is
extremely common.
If your opponent gets you in the head lock, don't
panic. It's easy to panic when you're not in control.
You can usually escape headlocks fairly easily by
using the simple techniques we've already described.
One of the easiest ways out is the fish hook. Let your
fingers feel along your attacker's cheek and go for
the hook. Once you get a hold of the cheek, start
yanking and they will be forced to let you go. At this
point, don't let go. Throw them into a wall or other
object.
Another option is to go for the nose. No matter how strong the attacker is
he probably isn't going to sacrifice his own nose to keep you in a head lock.
Feel around for the nose, and when you do, drive your fingernails in deep
for a good grip. Start ripping at the face, and attempt to pull their head
back opening up the neck. When punching at the neck it's pretty hard to
not hit something important.
Your third option is to attack the nasal septum, which is the cartilage wall
separating the nostrils.
The easiest way to do this is to drive the first knuckle of your middle finger
straight into the septum. Then simply drive the knuckle up and in, vibrating
side to side in a quick motion. Try it yourself, it's very painful.
Your final option is always to go for the eye gouge, which is self
explanatory.
Alex Lorenzo
Finger Damage
Small joint manipulation is not allowed in most combat sports because it's
very easy to break and damage small joints without much force. Beyond
that, the opponent probably won't have a chance to tap before something
gets damaged.
The fingers are a prime target for small joint manipulation because they
are easy to get a hold of and cause a lot of pain.
There are essentially two easy ways to damage the fingers. The first, as
discussed previously, is to bite. If they get their fingers in your face, bite
to the first knuckle, then rip away with the hand and twist your head away
from the fingers simultaneously.
To cause joint pain and damage, you can perform a type of joint lock on the
fingers. This is useful for escaping bear hugs and and other grabs. To
perform it, simply grab a hold of one or two fingers with one hand, and
grab the rest with your other. Now just crank them apart until they scream
for mercy.
It's a very simple attack that works very well without the need for lethal
force or severe injury to an opponent.
Alex Lorenzo
Neck and Throat Strikes

The neck and throat are very sensitive targets no matter who you are. The
neck contains your airways and also some very large arteries. Because of
this, it's also a very dangerous target, so use extreme caution.
If you want to serious stun and possibly injure your attacker, strike the
center of the throat with a simple jab or cross. This will cause severe pain
and can severely damage the trachea. Do not do this unless you are in a
life threatening situation!
Alternatively, you can stun and scare your opponent by striking the side of
the throat. The large veins that run along both sides of the throat carry
blood to the brain. You can temporarily halt that blood flow by striking the
vein with a punch or open handed chop. You sometimes see this 'Judo Chop'
move in karate movies or even parody movies like Austin Powers. While this
move generally won't knock out your opponent instantly, it actually can
cause dizziness or unconsciousness if performed correctly. Find your own
artery by feeling along the neck with two fingers. Striking in that area will
both cause serious pain, but can temporarily halt blood flow causing
confusion and disorientation.
Alex Lorenzo
Knee Strikes
Knee strikes can be effective in street fighting, especially while in a clinch.
If you wind up grappling with an opponent, you have two ways you can
effectively strike with the knee.
The first is to strike diagonally upward into the ribs. Since the opponents
arms will be tied up, they won't be able to block these attacks. The range
is too short for punches and kicks, but perfect for knee attacks. Drill into
the ribs as much as you can while wrapped up.
The alternative, and more devastating option, is a knee blow to the face.
If you're grappling you should attempt to gain a double collar tie. This is
where you have both hands wrapped around the back of the opponents neck
with your arms inside theirs. If you can gain this position, it is fairly easy to
pull their head down and strike upward with the knee. This is very
powerful and can break the opponents nose, so use caution.
Alex Lorenzo
Downed Opponents
When your opponent goes down, you'll want to make sure he stays there
until help arrives or you can escape. Don't give them a chance to get back
up and fight.
When they are down you should never stomp the back of their head unless
you are in a potentially life threatening situation and you have no choice.
Strikes to the back of the head can of cause paralysis or death.
If you're going to do this, be prepared to face the consequences. It will be
hard to justify this kind of force unless you can prove they were threatening
your life. Kicking to the face is another use of excessive force which can
cause major permanent damage. You're less likely to kill someone by
kicking the face, but you'll still cause lasting and serious injury and can
possibly take their eyesight.
Stomping your opponent's hand or arm will likely break it, but carefully
stepping on it and pressing into it can help immobilize them without serious
damage. It will still hurt, but the chances of a break are much lower. Don't
expect to hold them like this for long, but it's a temporary solution.
The ankle is another easy target. A stomp could easily break it, but a press
could hold them in place.
If severe pain and damage is your goal, you can also go for the kidneys and
spine. Both of these targets are easily damaged while an opponent is
down. The kidneys are located on both sides of the lower back. The spine
can be struck at nearly any point, but know that there is always a chance of
paralysis.
Generally, if you can get away, do it. If not, keep the opponent
immobilized. A simple joint lock can often be the best option. See the Jiu
Jitsu section for details.
Alex Lorenzo
Downed Knee Strikes

When your attacker is on the ground and trying to get up, his hands will
have to be on the ground while he tries to get up. This leaves him wide
open to strikes. The knee is one of your most powerful weapons, and since
your opponent is already low to the ground, its often your best method of
attack.
While they are trying to get up, simply grab a hold of them for leverage and
drive your knee straight through your target. Aim for a point about a foot
behind where you're actually striking for some serious force.
His only option at this point is to give you the strike as he tries to get up, or
try to block the knee, in which case he's back on the ground and you still
have control.
Always remember that if there is an audience and you strike someone who
is down you will look like the aggressor. Be sure you can justify these types
of actions.
If you want to avoid looking like the bad guy, you can go for the
accidental knee driver. You'll see this in Muay Thai all the time. To do it
you simply trip and drop a knee into the downed opponent. There isn't as
much force behind it, but it still does damage if placed properly. Go for
the kidneys if you have the option.
This is a great way to make sure you opponent is out of the fight without
looking to obviously like you're attacking.
An instance of when this might be useful is if there are bystanders watching
and you don't want to give them any reason to tell the police that you hit a
man while he was down.
Alex Lorenzo
The Clavicle Grab

If you wind up in a clinch with an opponent, one good way to get an
advantage is to go for the clavicles. The clavicle is also sometimes known as
the collar bone.
While clinching, you can grab the clavicle, gouging into the hollows and
pulling down on the bone. You can try this on yourself. It's very
uncomfortable and causes serious pain if performed properly. To inflict the
most damage, drive your fingers into the soft area right above the collar
bone and curl as if trying to get a hold of the bone. This will usually cause
them to drop down, putting you in position for a head butt or knee strike.
The clavicle grab can also be used for leverage if an opponent gets you on
the ground and is on top of you. Driving your fingers into the soft part
above the collar bone causes serious pain and will usually allow you to
escape a ground clinch.
Alex Lorenzo
Ground Combat
Ground fighting is combat which takes place while the combatants are on
the ground, generally involving grappling. The term is commonly used in
martial arts and combat sports to designate the set of techniques employed
by a combatant that is on the ground, as opposed to techniques employed
in stand-up fighting. Ground combat is the main focus of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu
and most types of wrestling.
Similar to clinch fighting, ground fighting implies that the combatants are
at a very close range, usually involving one or both combatants grappling
the opponent using various grappling holds. Depending on the positioning of
the combatants, the proximity can allow for techniques such as biting,
choke holds, fish-hooking, eye-gouging, joint locks, pressure point
techniques, or various strikes.
In a real life fight, striking on the ground is an important aspect of ground
fighting. Most grappling martial arts like Jiu Jitsu and wrestling disregard
ground striking and focus entirely on grappling and submission. Typically, a
top position is better for striking than the bottom position and is generally
regarded as the dominant position. This is unlike Jiu Jitsu where the
bottom position is sometimes thought of as an advantageous position.
Another factor is gravity, which is in favor of the top combatant when he is
striking downward. Striking an opponent from the top is also amplified by
the fact that the opponent will be knocked into the ground rather than
falling backward. Typical strikes from the ground include elbows,
headbutts, knees and punches.
A ground fighting sequence usually begins with one combatant forcing the
other to the ground with a takedown and establishing a mount position. The
top combatant may then proceed to throw punches or perform a
submission. In a real street fight, getting your opponent on the ground and
into a full mount generally will lead to victory. The average person will not
be able to escape from this position meaning you'll be able to deliver
unrelenting strikes to the face or put them an armbar or choke. Generally
you don't want to be on the ground in a real fight, but if you are, you need
to know what to do. That's what this section will cover.
Alex Lorenzo
Getting Knocked Down

If you get knocked down by an opponent, the first thing you should do is
raise your legs up and point them at the opponent. Keep them coiled back
and ready to kick. This way, if your attack tries to mount you, you can kick
him away. Many times they won't go for it because they know a kick to the
face is coming.
If you're able to kick them, they may still get on top of you. In this case, try
your best to wrap your legs around their waste, also known as the guard
position. This is sometimes known as a dominant position in Jiu Jitsu, not
so much in street fighting. It's still a definite advantage over being full
mounted.
If you can get in a guard, you can at least control them with your legs and
keep them further away. This reduces the force of their strikes and puts
you in a much more advantageous position.
Alex Lorenzo
Transitioning
The most important part of ground combat in a real fight is getting into a
dominant position. In Brazilian Jiu Jitsu the dominant position could mean
many things, but in a street fight it generally means a full mount (you
straddling your opponent from the top). Side control is also usually
considered dominant (you lying sideways across your opponents chest). Most
times a fight ends up on the ground after stand-up grappling or a takedown.
If you performed the takedown, you should be able to achieve a mount
fairly easily as your opponent should be on the ground first and likely
stunned.
If your opponent is able to take you take you down either due to a strike or
a takedown, then you are in some serious trouble unless you regain a
dominant position fast. This can be done via a variety of techniques, but
generally it is done using basic Jiu Jitsu transition moves like shrimping (hip
escape) and upa (bridging).
Shrimping is one of the most common

defensive moves taught to escape
from a mount. It is very basic and
involves you lying flat on your back
with your knees bent and your feet
planted right under your butt. You
then turn on your side, push off with
your feet, and thrust your hips
backward while pushing off with your
hands. Here are a few drill videos that can help you better visualize it:
Shrimping Drill
Shrimping/Hip Escape
Alex Lorenzo
Likely your best bet to transition is the Upa, also known as 'bridging' or 'trap
and roll'. To perform the Upa, grab one of your of your opponent's arms with
both of your hands. The hand on the same side as the opponent's arm
reaches up and grabs the elbow. The hand on the opposite side reaches
across the body and grabs the hand or wrist.
Next, secure your opponent's same-side leg. This means if you are holding
their right arm, secure the right leg. Do this by placing your foot on the
outside of their foot. Make sure your ankles are touching so your opponent
can not slip out.
Bridge straight up and push hard with both legs and shoot your hips toward
the sky. This takes advantage of the powerful muscles in your thighs and
hips. Even a very heavy opponent can be easily lifted this way. Your
opponent will be propelled both up and forward.
Push with your legs toward your shoulder. Do this on the side where you are
trapping your opponent's arm and leg. Since he can't use his arm and leg on
that side to support him, he has no way to stop you from rolling him over.
Look over your shoulder and flip him onto his back. It is important to roll
him to the side and up, not just on his side. If you do that, your opponent
could stop your momentum, leaving you both on your sides.
Here is an excellent demonstration video:
Upa Mount Escape
Alex Lorenzo
Ground Striking
Ground striking generally isn't taught in
traditional martial arts. Many combat sports
like boxing do not engage in ground combat at
all. Others like Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and
wrestling focus highly on ground combat, but
do not allow striking while on the ground.
Even in cage fighting, there are a lot of
restrictions on what you can do while an
opponent is down. This is mainly due to the
fact that it is very easy to injure someone
while they are on the ground.
If your opponent is able to get a full mount on
you, you're in real trouble. This is the most
dominant ground position and allows them to
rain down strikes on you while you are fairly defenseless. Striking from the
bottom position is difficult because the ground restricts your movement and
doesn't allow a full windup. You also are working against gravity.
If you find yourself on the losing end of a full mount, you'll want to get out
of the position as soon as possible using one of the transition moves
described above. If you are overwhelmed or unable to transition, there are
some simple moves that can help distract and possibly injure your opponent
while he has a mount, allowing you to escape.
If your attacker has you in a full mount, he is almost guaranteed to go for a
ground and pound. This is simply when the attacker reins down a barrage
of punches, elbows, or hammer fists on the opponent. Covering the face
and blocking can reduce the impact, but it doesn't do much to help you
escape from that position. Instead, you'll want to disable him from
punching by pulling him down to the ground. Do everything you can to grab
hold of him and pull his head down next to yours. Grab his shirt or the back
of his neck and pull him down tight. Now wrap your arm around the back of
his neck and pin him down. Do not let him get loose.
While your opponent is pulled down, they are unable to punch because of
the shortened distance. At this time, take advantage of any painful attack
necessary such as biting, eye gouging, hair pulling, etc. If your opponent
has you in a full mount, you are in serious danger and should do anything it
takes to get out of it.
Alex Lorenzo
If you need to block attacks you should form an 'X' in front of your face
using your forearms. You can deflect a lot of the attacks this way but it's
not going to help you escape the situation. Your only real options here are
to hold off until he tires out or someone breaks it up. Unless other people
are around, your best bet is to try to get a hold of his arm and bridge him
off (Upa).
If and when you gain a dominant position, be it a full mount or side control,
be certain you do not lose it. Allowing your opponent to escape or recover
is putting yourself in danger, do not allow it to happen. Should you gain a
full mount, you need to keep striking or at the least put them in choke
hold. Do not let up on them or you are putting yourself at risk.
Alex Lorenzo
Collar Chokes
Collar chokes are a great way to subdue an opponent without having to
beat them senseless. You can fairly quickly put an opponent to sleep with a
good choke without causing any serious damage. This puts them out of
commission but keeps you from getting into a lot of trouble for beating
them too badly. There are three simple collar chokes that can be done from
the mount.
The sleeve choke is a type of choke where you
need to have long sleeves to perform it. You
simply place one arm behind the opponent's
neck, then grab hold of that sleeve with the
other hand. You can then drive your forearm
into the neck, using the sleeve for leverage.
It's quick and easy and works no matter what
they are wearing.
The second is the nutcracker choke. This is
when you grab the opponents collar with
both hands pointing in. Pull the collar in
tight to the back of their neck with the
pinkies at the base. Now just drive your
pointer knuckles into the arteries on both
sides of the Adam's apple and they will go
unconscious shortly after.
The third collar choke is the papercutter.
This is perhaps the simplest choke. Simply
reach across and grab the opponents collar on
the opposite side of you hand. Now pull
tight, and drive your arm down on their neck.
Their collar provides leverage in this case.
Alex Lorenzo
Joint Locks
While joint locks are very common in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and submission
wrestling, they aren't nearly as much in a street fight. If you really take
the time to master BJJ you can be an effective submission artist, but that
can take years of practice. In real street combat, ground striking and
chokes are much more common. Your best bet with joint locks is to pick
one or two moves and master them. Don't go for the most complex tricks,
stick with something simple. My personal recommendation is the armbar.
The armbar (juji-gatame) is a type
of arm lock derived from judo. It is
performed from a ground position.
To do it, you need to get a hold of
one of your opponent's arms
between your legs. This can be
done while your opponent is down
and you are standing. Secure the
arm between your thighs and grab
hold of the wrist. You'll need to get your legs across the opponent's chest,
while their upper arm is held between your thighs. Their elbow should be
pointing down toward your hips. Now simply crank their wrist toward your
chest to hyper-extend the elbow joint. You can increase the pressure by
arching your hips into the elbow.
There are many other simple joint locks that can be performed quickly, but
this is the most common. Pick one or two moves, and practice them until
you have them down solid. It's no use knowing a ton of moves if you can
perform them quickly under pressure.
Alex Lorenzo
Dirty Fighting
There are a lot of fighting techniques that are not allowed in combat sports
or martial arts but are used all the time in street fighting. Since there is no
referee in a street fight, people will use any means necessary to win, and
that includes dirty fighting. What is considered 'dirty' will vary from person
to person, but generally if it's not allowed in cage fighting, it's probably in
here. These moves are all fair game in a real fight, and you shouldn't
ignore that. Your opponent very well could use these against you, so don't
feel too high and mighty to break them out if you need to. Some of these
have been covered in previous sections but are explained again in more
detail here.
Fish-hooking is the act of inserting fingers into the mouth, nostrils or other
orifices of a person, with the intention of pulling and tearing the
surrounding tissue. Forceful fish-hooking involves a high risk of permanent
facial and/or orifice damage.
Fish-hooking techniques are disallowed in modern combat sports due to the
risk of permanent injury but are occasionally taught as a self-defense
technique in some martial arts such as karate and Krav Maga. If you are in
serious trouble in a street fight, be ready to use this technique. It works
great for escaping grabs, bear hugs, and clinches. Most people will not
resist against the fish hook out of fear of disfigurement, so it works great
even on big opponents.
Eye-gouging is the act of pressing or tearing the eye using the fingers,
other body parts, or instruments. Eye-gouging involves a very high risk of
eye injury, such as permanent eye loss. It is disallowed in combat sports,
but some self-defense systems teach it. Training in eye-gouging can involve
extensive grappling training to establish control, the eye-gouging itself
being practiced with the opponent wearing eye protection such as
swimming goggles. You should be aware that eye gouging has the
opportunity to cause blindness and severe eye damage, so it should only be
used in life threatening situations. Keep it in your back pocket, should you
Alex Lorenzo
find yourself in serious trouble, but refrain against gouging the eyes unless
you absolutely need to.
Generally, to perform an eye gouge, you thrust your first two or three
fingers into the opponents eye in a gouging motion. Alternatively, you can
simply grab hold of the opponents head and press the thumbs into the
attackers eyes. This is somewhat safer but will still cause severe shock in
your opponent.
Small joint manipulation, in grappling, refers to twisting, pulling or
bending fingers or toes to cause joint locks in the various joints in those
appendages. Finger locks and toe locks are not allowed in combat sports or
Jiu Jitsu because it is too easy to break these fragile joints before the
opponent has a chance to tap out.
The leverage needed for such joint manipulation is comparatively small,
since grabbing a finger or two with one or both hands creates a distinct
advantage. Joint manipulation can allow a weaker person with the right
training to control a stronger one. Grabbing three or more fingers makes it
fairly easy for the opponent to resist and escape, so it is usually
recommended to grab two or less. For maximum effectiveness, a single
finger is often best.
Small joint manipulation is sometimes taught as a self-defense and pain
compliance technique in Krav Maga and 'Small Circle JuJitsu'. If you find
yourself in a clinch or hold with a larger opponent, a finger lock is a great
way to escape and cause serious pain in your opponent. Simply grabbing
one or two fingers and cranking will cause severe joint pain no matter who
you are. Bending, twisting, and pulling fingers apart is a very simple way to
cause a lot of damage with little effort. Please note that it's fairly easy to
break fingers and finger joints, so be aware of when and when not to use
this technique.
Groin Attacks
OK, we can all agree that a shot to the groin is going to be considered dirty
and disrespectful to most people. We're taught even as young boys not to
go for this region. However, if you're in a situation where your life is in
danger, this is the perfect attack to get you out of it. Most times it causes
Alex Lorenzo
no permanent damage, but will cripple your opponent with pain for quite a
while. It's a great way to escape from grapples and grabs, or as a way to
stun your opponent while you escape the situation.
Some examples of ways to use groin attacks;
1. During a front bear hug, drive the knee into the attackers groin
2. During a rear bear hug, drive the heal upward into the groin
3. During a rear naked choke (head lock), shift to the side and hammer
the fist into the groin
4. To escape a fight, simply throw a front straight kick or knee into
the opponent's groin
5. To escape a full mount, attack the mounters groin with punches
Attacking the groin may not be considered 'fair' or ethical to some, but you
definitely should not ignore it. Anything goes on the street, and your
opponent can and will use this move against you. Keep it ready if you need
it.
Distraction & Deception
We've already discussed this in detail earlier, but its worth mentioning
again. Some people may consider distracting an opponent in order to get a
shot off dirty. In some cases this is true, in others it is totally necessary. If
you're in a situation where you feel your life or health is in danger, you may
find it necessary to distract your opponent in order to get a free shot on
them. This can be anything from holding your hands up and asking for
mercy, to throwing some change on the floor. Draw your opponent's
attention away from you and attack as soon as they look away.
This type of thing can get you in trouble in certain situations, but many
times it is justified. Judge each scenario and decide if you can justify a
sneak attack on your opponent or opponents.
Alex Lorenzo
Striking the Back of the Head

Attacking the back of the head is illegal in all forms of sport fighting
because it can cause permanent injury or death. This is also the most
common way for people to die in a street fight. In cases where there is a
death during a confrontation on the street, it is almost always because one
of the fighters fell back and hit their head on the ground. For this reason,
you should be very aware of this sensitive and deadly area. Do NOT strike
the back of the head unless you are in danger of being killed and are
prepared to defend yourself in court.
Hair Pulling
You may remember your little sister pulling your hair when you were
younger. It drove you nuts, but boy does it hurt. Pulling the hair is a great
way to control your opponent and also to cause pain. Obviously, it doesn't
work against all opponents because some have little to no hair. If hair is a
viable target, use it!
Grabbing large chunks of hair are a great way to get control of your
opponent's head. As we discussed earlier, controlling the head gives you
tons of opportunities. Grabbing smaller chunks of hair causes a lot of pain.
If your goal is to crank the neck or throw your opponent, grab a fist full of
hair and pull. If your goal is to inflict pain and distract your opponent, grab
a smaller chunk.
Alex Lorenzo
Weapons
One of the scariest things that can occur in a street fight is when a weapon
shows up. Weapons have the potential to cause life threatening damage to
anyone nearby and should not be taken lightly. This is something that isn't
taught in most self defense or martial arts classes and is obviously not
allowed in cage fighting.
In a street fight, weapons aren't what you would typically think. We
generally think of weapons as guns, swords, knives, bats, and other
common tools. In real life, most people don't carry these types of weapons
around with them. If they do, your best bet is almost always to run. I'm
not going to lie to you and tell you that you can take on an attacker with a
knife and walk away unharmed. Even if you win the fight, you're going to
be seriously injured. It's not worth it.
If someone confronts you with a knife or gun, you're dealing with a
predator. The ideas and techniques we discussed before generally aren't
applicable here. These people generally are unstable and probably can't be
reasoned with. If this happens, keep your cool and play along. No amount
of money is worth losing your life.
The types of weapons you'll more likely be dealing with in a real
confrontation tend to be bottles, car keys, pool cues, chains, and other
everyday objects known as improvised weapons. They may not seem like
a threat at the time, but when used properly, they can be just as deadly. If
you find yourself in a serious situation, these simple objects can save your
life. Let's discuss some simple ways you can use common everyday objects
to defend yourself in an extreme scenario.
Before we begin, note that using weapons is very serious and can cause
permanent injuries and death. You can get serious jail time if you get
caught using weapons in unnecessary situations. Also, it's VERY important
to note that any weapon you use can and will be used against you if you
allow it. Remember that before you ever try to bring a weapon into the
picture.
Alex Lorenzo
There are many different classes of weapons that you can use in a street
fight that are usually readily available. Let's go through each one and cover
a few examples of how they can be used.
Extension Weapons
Extension weapons are long, stick-like objects. Generally they are used to
attack in a swinging motions.
Common Examples: an umbrella, baseball bat, pool cue, tree branch, or
broom handle.
This type of weapon can be very intimidating to an attacker and will usually
cause them to back off without any need for use. Be aware that this type
of weapon is fairly easy to steal away, so you're running the risk of having it
used against you. Use only in severe situations or if you're outnumbered.
Strike low and fast so that your opponent isn't able to grab hold of the
weapon and use it against you.
Small Weapons
Small objects are great for street fights because they are not very
noticeable but can still do serious damage if used properly. They are useful
for throwing, but also for keeping in the hand and increasing punching
power.
Common Examples: an ashtray, car keys, a mug or glass, plate, or rock.
Most people don't know this, but just by clenching your car keys in your fist,
you are increasing your punching power enormously. Placing a small object
in your fist acts like brass knuckles and allows you to deliver extremely
powerful punches. The best part is that most people won't even notice that
you're doing it. If you're in a severe situation and need knockout power,
grab your keys and let em have it.
Distractions
These are small objects used to distract your opponents attention, which as
we discussed earlier, is extremely important.
Alex Lorenzo
Common Examples: a cigarette, coins, wristwatch, keys, a drink.

Simply tossing a few quarters on the floor or a cigarette in the face can give
you that split second distraction you need to take them to the ground hard.
Toss your spare change at their feet, toss a drink in their eyes, do what it
takes to draw their attention away from you.
Shields
These are objects used to stop or deflect a strike.
Common Examples: a chair, trash can lid, backpack, briefcase, or jacket.
There are an unlimited amount of things that can be used as shields. They
don't need to be huge or hard to be effective. Anything that can get
between your opponent and you can be used to your advantage.
Stabbing Weapons
Sharp objects used to stab or slash the flesh. Can be lethal and should be
used with extreme caution. Fairly high probably that this type of weapon
could be used against you if you fail to control it. Attacking with a sharp
object will always be considered assault with a deadly weapon so only use
in life threatening situations.
Common Examples: a broken bottle, scissors, screw driver, or bottle opener.
A broken bottle is a common object that can be used to seriously injure or
kill someone in a real life confrontation. Be aware of this at all times and
don't allow this to enter the picture unless you are fairly certain you will be
permanently injured or killed without it. Many times the fight will end
before this weapon gets used. Most thugs are still smart enough not to risk
their neck to get the best of you.
Whips
These are rope-like objects that can be used to lash, strike, or choke an
attacker. They don't seem like they would be effective, but I assure you
they are. Lashing attacks when performed correctly are extremely painful
and give you an enormous reach advantage. The same object can also be
used to subdue or choke the opponent.
Alex Lorenzo
Common Examples: a belt, piece of rope, or chain.

Most people don't realize that they have a powerful weapon wrapped
around their waste. A belt is an extremely effective weapon in a street
fight due to the hard metal clasp attached to the end. This makes it great
for lashing, swinging, and even choking, not to mention the huge reach
advantage. It is also fairly safe to use, legally speaking.
Liquids
Liquids can be used as distractions or as weapons. They can be thrown or
sprayed into the face of an attacker causing confusion and pain. You will
almost always have a liquid nearby, which makes it a high probability
weapon.
Common Examples: a soda, beer, hot coffee, soup, or even water.
Obviously a hot latte to the face is going to be a pretty quick fight ender,
but just about any liquid can be used to your advantage. Even a glass of
water to the face will temporarily distract your attacker, allowing you to go
for a quick strike or takedown.
Large Objects and Structures
Large objects and even walls or tables can be effective weapons if you use
them right. If you're strong enough, a chair becomes a weapon. If not,
simply push or pull the attacker into a stationary object.
Common Examples: a chair, table, counter, pole, or wall.
In a high adrenaline situation you'd be surprised at how easy it is to toss a
chair at someone. You likely won't get the speed required to do real
damage, but it will certainly knock them off balance long enough for you to
take over. Alternatively, you can use tables, counters, and walls as
weapons, assuming you can control your opponent. Going for a fish hook or
wrist lock should give you enough control to toss them into a large object or
structure.
Alex Lorenzo
Training
The average guy looking to defend himself on the street doesnt need a
black belt to do it. The purpose of this course is to demonstrate how easy it
is to efficiently defend yourself in common situations.
I hear of certain customers who simply read through the program, do not
training at all, and are able to recall and use it correctly when needed. You
can't beat that. But if youre serious about learning how to fight and defend
yourself, I highly recommend that you train and practice. It's the only way
to really engrave this information into your brain.
As I stated many times before, street fighting does not require the same
level of conditioning as sport fighting. Cardio endurance and size aren't
significant in a street fight. I know you may not want to believe that but my
years of research, training, and observation say otherwise. Remember that
true street fights rarely ever last longer than 10 seconds.
With that in mind, having the ability to act decisively and maintain
continuous forward action for 8 to 10 seconds will give you a huge
advantage in a street fight. Your training plan should rely on this principal.
If your goal is self defense and street fighting, focus on anaerobic
conditioning rather than endurance. Try to improve your strength and
power. Ten seconds may not seem like a long time, but try going all out on
a heavy bag for that amount of time. It's not easy.
Try to train as realistically as possible. Don't neglect the emotional
component.
Here are some simple tips:
Visualize yourself initiating a pre-emptive attack and counter attack from
multiple positions and stances. Practice an initial attack from a submissive
position rather than a boxing stance. This is the position you want to
practice launching from. Most times you won't have time to square up into
a fighting stance before things get out of hand. Practice striking from
various distances as well.
Alex Lorenzo
It's also important that you practice maintaining a constant barrage of

attacks. If you can find yourself a training partner, practice maintaining
constant forward pressure. Maintaining a constant barrage is more
important that striking accuracy in a street fight. You should also practice
target awareness. If working on a heavy bag, imagine different targets
being made available. If working with a partner, make sure they offer a
variety of targets for you to attack.
Don't neglect the verbal component of the fight either. Make it as real as
possible. If you're working with a partner, have them play the part; yelling,
threatening, cursing, etc. Imagine how you would feel if this were a real
attacker. Bring the emotion into it.
Develop Your Striking
Start hitting a heavy bag as soon as possible. A partner with pads or strike
mitts is even better, because it allows you to attack a moving target.
Practice striking with your hands, feet, knees, elbows, and head.
Practice Execution
I've watched countless hours of real street fights in progress and it has
overwhelmingly confirmed what my research had already suggested; real
life street fighting is very sloppy. You will rarely see a fighter execute a
technically correct martial arts move. It's mostly just wild swinging. If you
practice proper technique and execution, you're much more likely to retain
some of it while in a street fight.
Studies show that it takes about 2,000 repetitions of a move before its
actually implanted into your brains neural pathway for easy recall even
under stress. That may sound like a big number, but its not. Practice a
move correctly for a few weeks and you'll see huge improvements in your
technique and power. After some time, that move will come back to you
without thought even in the most stressful situation.
Alex Lorenzo
Here is a very basic but proven way to hone your skills:

Stage #1
Practice in front of a mirror, slowly. This allows you to see and correct
anything you're doing wrong. Keep practicing in front of the mirror until you
are satisfied that your technique is correct. Even pro boxer's shadow box
extensively, so don't think this is an unneeded step.
Next, practice the same move in front of mirror but this time at full speed.
When you're satisfied with your technique, perform it at full speed with
eyes your eyes closed. This will start hard wiring the move into your muscle
memory.
Practicing in front of a mirror (also known as shadow boxing) may seem
stupid to you, but it's a critical step in learning proper technique. Even the
most elite boxers in the world spend a lot of time shadow boxing, don't
think you're too cool for it.
Stage #2
Get yourself a heavy bag. Theyre not expensive and the exercise you'll get
from it alone is well worth the price. I've included some links to some
really good deals below. You'll also need some hand wraps and gloves if
want to keep from injuring your hands and wrists. Trust me, don't break
your wrist because you didn't want to buy a $20 dollar pair of gloves.
Now practice the same move on the heavy bag, starting slowly. Use a mirror
as well if you can to check your technique. If it doesn't look or feel right, go
back to stage 1.
Next, practice the technique on the heavy bag at full speed. Try to visualize
how youd use the move on specific target areas. Now practice the move in
different combinations and using jabs to control distance. Visualize the bag
as an opponent at all times.
A reflex bag can also help simulate a moving target and help you practice
dodging and counter punching. It's critical that your target isn't always
stationary since that will never be the case in real life.
Alex Lorenzo
Freestanding Heavy Bag

If you're going to do any kind of martial arts or combat
training, you're going to need a heavy bag. Period. You can't
train without it. A hanging heavy bag is best, especially if
you're a larger person, but many times you don't have a space
to hang it. If that's the case, a freestanding heavy bag is the
perfect alternative. These types of bags you simply fill with
water or sand and they stand on the ground. They are
relatively cheap, and can be moved around easily. The
downside is that you don't get the swinging movement of a hanging bag,
which helps simulate movement from your opponent.
Reflex Bag
A reflex bag is another type of bag used to train for reflex rather
than power. The target is small, and bounces around aggressively
as you hit it. This allows you to improve accuracy, speed, and
reflexes. It also allows you to train combinations, dodging,
slipping, and counter punching. You can't beat a heavy bag for
improving power, but if you want to hone your attack speed and
accuracy, get yourself a reflex bag.
Hand Wraps
In order to keep from hurting your hands and wrists,
you'll need some wrist wraps. They are very cheap
and can help prevent damage to the fragile bones in
your hands and knuckles, and prevent sprained wrists. Do yourself a favor
and get a few.
Alex Lorenzo
Boxing Gloves
Before you start pounding on that heavy bag or sparring
with a partner, you'll need a set of gloves. Hitting a bag
without gloves can and will lead to injury. Grab yourself
a pair of training gloves. They come in 12oz, 14oz, and
16oz options. Generally for training you go with a lighter
glove, usually 14oz. These will keep you from hurting
yourself or your partner, but aren't as heavy as what's
used in the ring.
Stage #3
Practice with a partner. I understand not everyone will be able to find a
training partner, but for those who are committed to self defense and
street combat, there is no replacement for having a live person to practice
on. Specifically, it is very difficult to train grabs, locks, holds, and
takedowns without a partner. A heavy bag will suffice for most striking
moves, but it simply can't train everything.
For any move you want to train:
Start out very slowly with your partner. Just go through the motions so you
can get an idea of how the mechanics work. Stay at a slow pace until
you're both comfortable with the techniques, and then gradually increase
the speed until you reach your max. Always stay under control and be
careful not to injure your training partner.
When training chokes, joint locks, and other submission moves, be sure you
have an established 'tap' move. Be very careful to slowly increase pressure
to give your partner a chance to tap out before any damage is done. When
practicing takedowns, always use proper mats and equipment to avoid
injury.
Here is some gear that will help you train more efficiently with your
partner:
Alex Lorenzo
Grappling Gloves
If a good grappling game is what you're after, you'll need
yourself some grappling gloves. These are used to train
in MMA and are good for sports like Muay Thai which
require both striking and grappling. These gloves are
much less padded, so use caution when power striking or
sparring with an opponent. However, they allow you to
practice grappling, while still padding your knuckles for
striking. These are best used to train combinations in
kick boxing or for practicing ground combat with a sparring partner.
Punch Mitts
When you're ready to start training with a partner,
you're going to want to start out with punch mitts.
These are simply hand pads, used to simulate moving
targets. The partner holds them out, allowing the
attacker to train combinations and attack different
targets. Be sure to agree on specific movements and
combinations beforehand and always wear boxing
gloves to avoid injuring your partner.
MMA Punch/Kick Mitts

When you're ready to start training kicks, knees, and
elbows, you're going to want a larger, more padded
target. That's when you'll need an MMA kick mitt. This
mitt has a larger area to attack and more padding to
protect the holder. Do not try to practice kicking and
knee strikes with punch mitts as you can easily miss
and injure your partner. Get a kick mitt and be very
careful with where you strike.
Alex Lorenzo
While not everyone will be able to find a training partner, it's a great way to
take your skills to the next level. If not, don't worry. You're still going to
be at a HUGE advantage over an untrained fighter just by practicing strikes
and grappling on your own. You can still greatly improve your skills using
heavy bags, reflex bags, and grappling dummies.
For training power, there's nothing like a heavy bag. Even the best fighters
spend a large amount of time training on a heavy bag. It's great for
endurance and generating more power in your strikes. It sounds easy, but
wait til you go all out on a heavy bag for 30 seconds. It's a great workout.
To train your accuracy, speed, and reflexes, you can do very well with a
simple reflex bag. These bags bounce and move as they are struck,
allowing you to practice slipping, dodging, and counter punching, on top of
strikes and combos. Don't forget this important piece.
For ground striking and submission training, you can get yourself a grappling
dummy. This is a type of heavy bag that is lighter and can be moved around
to practice throws and ground striking. Some grappling dummies have
limbs like a person that allow you to practice joint locks and submissions as
well. A simple grappling bag is a great way to practice and visualize ground
striking and transitions.
Many of the moves you've just learned can be used pretty easily right out of
the box. Theyre fairly simple, easy to learn, and cause severe damage
when performed properly. Do not demonstrate your new moves on
unsuspecting friends and family members as you can easily injure them or
even kill them in some cases. Just because they seem easy to perform,
doesn't mean they can't cause serious long lasting injury.
This is powerful information which is normally only taught to trained
fighters, law enforcement, and Army forces. Knowing this information
requires that you accept some large responsibilities.
Alex Lorenzo
Conclusion
In conclusion, my research and many years of experience in street combat
and self defense really boil down to a couple key points. While martial arts
do play a role in being a good fighter, the real secret to being a good street
fighter is having a game plan and executing when the time comes. This
means knowing what to expect, and reacting with a preset action without a
second thought.
Deception, distraction, and explosive action are all critical elements of
being a good street fighter. You can spend your whole life training karate
and martial arts, but when it comes down to it, 10-15 seconds of explosive
action is all that is needed. Choose your triggers carefully and play to your
strengths when it comes to striking and grappling. Choose a small set of
moves that best suit you and master them.
Studies have shown that it takes about 7,000 repetitions to build the muscle
memory needed to master a skill. This means that in order to truly be able
to perform a skill well under pressure, you'll need to perform it correctly
about 7,000 times. That's why it takes years to master martial arts and
combat sports.
Fortunately, you don't need to learn or even know every move. Take the
simple skills taught in this program and master them. You won't need a
huge arsenal of moves to dominate a street fight. Nowhere near it.
Remember that you generally have about 10 seconds of action. Once your
trigger goes off, attack quickly and relentlessly. Keep on the offensive and
don't let them recover. That's all it takes.
If necessary, subdue your opponent using any combination of compliance
holds taught above until help arrives. If you don't have that luxury, your
only real option is to batter your opponent until they immobilized. This
isn't 3rd grade, your safety is at risk. Eliminate the threat, then deal with
the aftermath later.
I wish you the best of luck with the program. If you have any questions,
feel free to contact me at any time: alex@howtofight.net
Alex Lorenzo

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