Forward rolls in the martial arts are taught a lot of different ways… You might see the lead hand cutting across the hip or through the legs, for example. You might also see the back hand cutting across the hip or through the legs. Or maybe both arms are extended. Which is right? For me,…
Category: SELF DEFENSE
Self-Defense techniques for women and men, plus concepts for protecting your mind and spirit from anything that would cause them harm.
Self-Defense Tip: Finish the Fight
In my video, How to Take A Punch, I talked about how calling “time out” every time you get hurt during training can build a bad habit that might get you killed in a real fight. Well, there’s a flip side to that. You might be building the same bad habit even when you’re winning!…
How to Spot a Bad Self-Defense Teacher
Do you know the difference between a good self-defense teacher and a bad self-defense teacher? A bad self-defense teacher makes fighting seem easy. Don’t believe the hype! Fighting for your life is not easy. That’s why it’s called fighting. In this video, I offer a reality check for anyone who has ever studied with a…
3 Martial Arts Moves You Can Do Every Day
No time to train? Ridiculous! There’s always time to train. Sometimes it’s just a matter of working exercises into what you’re doing already. In that spirit, here are three martial arts moves you can do every day. The good news? They require no sweat, no equipment, and no extra time! A WORD OF CAUTION: All…
Flinching in the Face of Success
Emily has been training in the martial arts for over eight years. She’s bright, hard-working, and athletic. A couple of months ago, Emily and I got together for a private lesson to help her prepare for a second degree black belt test. After a little warm-up, I asked her to perform a kata. She demonstrated…
What I Learned From Getting Beat Up
As a martial artist, I’ve taken more than a few beatings… and I’m thankful for every single one. Why? Because getting beat up teaches you lessons you can’t learn any other way. Crazy, but true! Learning isn’t always easy. Some lessons can only be learned the hard way. There are no hacks or shortcuts in…
How To Punch in a Street Fight
Learning how to punch can be confusing. Especially when the gloves come off. Some people turn the fist, some don’t. Some hit with the big knuckles, some don’t. Some say you should never punch to the head in a street fight, some say that’s crazy talk. So, what exactly is the best fist for self-defense?…