Use these 4 tips to improve your matches!

It's not about being big.

The old phrase "the bigger they are, the harder they fall" can be true in martial arts. Sports like jiujitsu are often built around the premise that your opponent's weight and momentum can quickly be turned on them. That's why it's not always about being the bigger or stronger one, but the one who can utilize leverage and martial arts principles.

Understand that winning a sparring match isn't about being big or small, it's about having the stronger presence of mind. Your beliefs and skills will be more important than your body weight; the more advanced your skills, the more you'll be able to maximize your own.

Enhance your strikes.

Putting the force of your body weight behind your strikes will add more power to your moves, catching your sparring opponent off-guard and letting them know you're not to be trifled with. An amateur will punch with his hand - a professional will punch from his shoulder. You will seem to gain strength and power out of nowhere if you can properly leverage your body weight.

Take advantage of your opponent's weight.

Taking advantage of your knowledge of body weight means you should be able to use that knowledge on your opponent. For example, you can grab their hand, but it's more powerful to grab the area that controls more weight - the wrist. The more control you have over your opponent's weight, the less power they'll be able to muster to fight back. It's important to understand how to use your own weight so that you know how to keep an opponent off balance.

Staying grounded.

When defending, it's important that you don't lose your cool and forget to keep balanced and grounded. It's much harder to attack someone who has strong footing than someone who is distracted and off their guard. Try to stay balanced as much as possible - oftentimes the person with the best balance wins the sparring match.

Photo Credits: parhessiastes

Originally posted 2009-08-19 03:09:31.

Batman who?

“You know how to fight six men. We can teach you how to engage six hundred.”

You might have seen the seminars where the Sensei fights 4 or 5 students at one time. Most of the time it’s so fake you can see the student fly in the air without the instructor touching them.

Maybe you heard on the news - one person was assaulted by a gang. So, to get back to the title of this article, “How do you defeat 100 opponents at once?” Drum roll please…….

RUN!!!

Okay, this may not be the super ninja tactic you wanted to read about, but hold your judgment off until you finish the article.

If you are facing 100 people intent on attacking you, your chances of survival is so low it’s nearly zero.  Even if they engage you one at a time, eventually your stamina will give.  There are just too many opponents for you to handle.

Image this for a moment, you are in a good shape and you cross train in many different areas of fitness….

So you run and they follow.  Maybe after 500 meters you separate the pack and only 50 are able follow you on foot.  Now it’s 1 verse 50. You just defeated 50% of your opponents.

You run to a river and swim across it.  During this swim half their numbers either give up or are not strong enough to follow.  Now it is 1 verse 25.

You reach the other side of the river and find yourself facing a couple of fences which are 4 meters high.  Since you’ve trained in Parkour Urban Ninja Freestyle running, this is no problem for you.  You hop over the fences easily.  Your attackers are either too tired or not skilled enough to follow.  It is now 1 verse 5.

So far you’ve drastically increased your chance of survival without even throwing a punch.  Where you had a zero percent chance of survival before, your situation is starting to look pretty good.

Still, 1 verse 5 is not quite the odds you’d prefer.  So you take the race to the city weaving through traffic, moving through obstacles, crawling under bridges and over walls until you look behind you and only see one person – a banged up and tired assailant giving chase.

You turn around and see the one attacker left is near exhaustion.  You pass a corner to get out of sight and either disappear or wait to take him out quickly and quietly.

Congratulations, you’ve just defeated 100 opponents!  Bruce Wayne who…

Photo Credits: kevindooley

Originally posted 2010-04-15 03:09:15.

Bullying.

What starts a fight in the first place? If you're of a certain age, then alcohol can be one of the leading contributors - two men fighting over a girl, for example, is a frequent theme around the world's bars and pubs. Understanding that alcohol can lead to these situations will hopefully encourage you to drink moderately, even when out with friends; losing control is exactly what the martial arts ask you not to do.

When you feel a fight coming on - and it's usually detectable simply by feeling the tension in the room, or observing the startled, frozen reactions of "bystanders" who are simply witness to it - it's time to be the calming presence. It's tempting to use your confidence gained through your mastery of martial arts in order to assert yourself over two people who are about to fight, but this can often just add fuel to the fire. There's already too much testosterone in the air, and the wise martial artist knows that more testosterone is not the answer.

So what do you do? You stay calm and try to shake the attention of the two fighters away from each other. If you have other people around, you enlist their help to separate the two fighters away before they can start hitting. It's important to stay calm and relaxed so that you don't add any more tension to a rope that's about to be cut - figuratively speaking, of course.

As mentioned already, prevention is the best way to avoid fighting anyone. Fights are generally a bad idea, as you never know when a stranger has friends waiting in the corner, or a weapon located on their person. Avoid them at all costs, and do it through a clear presence of mind, using other people to your advantage, and not adding any fuel to the fire. This should help you in the future.

Photo Credits: Chesi - Fotos CC

Originally posted 2009-12-08 03:47:23.

Martial Arts with Weapons

If for example, you learned the stick, you are also learning skills that can cross over to other commonly found items  - like the bat, crow bar, a golf club or any other item that might be found nearby in your environment.

The knife is one of the most common weapons you may have to face in both domestic and urban encounter. The reason the knife is so common is because of its easy access. A blade can be found in the kitchen in a matter of seconds and you can often find items that are similar to the knife in the workplace. For example, a razor or something similar from the toolbox like a screwdriver.

The chain is realistic as it represents flexible items that you might find – such as a belt, rope, phone, cord or even a chain. With the power derived from the speed of a swing, this weapon is one not to underestimate, especially if there is a weight on the end.

When learning weapons for realistic training in the martial arts, it is good to start by learning the stick (short and long) the knife and then the chain. All three of these are very different types of weapons; the stick is a blunt object, the knife has an edge and the chain is flexible.

The way you train and fight with these weapons, as well as the way you respond to an opponent with these weapons, will be based on the type of weapon being used.

Training with the stick is much safer because you are not likely to hurt yourself as you might when training with the knife - where you can cut yourself even when practicing. It is suggested that with any weapons training you begin by using a training weapon designed to help you to learn the movements but still protect yourself from the weapon being use  - such as a rubber stick, wooden knife and rope.

When just starting out learning anyone and you want to first start with the basics and master grip, basics angles of attack, manipulation and then scenario based training following these situations:

• Armed versus Armed opponent (stick versus stick)
• Armed versus Unarmed opponent
• Unarmed versus Armed opponent
• Armed versus Armed opponent mixed (stick versus knife)

Remember that timing and speed are important factors to consider when dealing with a weapon. It will never just be the knife or stick that you are facing, but an opponent that will have his own strengths and weaknesses.

Photo Credits: Rocket Surgeon

Originally posted 2010-04-02 03:38:54.

Ground Fighting

On the street - 80-90% of all fights end up on the ground. This is enough awareness to make the case for learning to fight on the ground and it is the fuel behind the cage fighting craze.

The Gracie family started the UFC and dominated the cage fighting arena by having a training background in grappling - ground fighting.  All they had to do was take their opponent to the ground as soon as possible and even the most experienced black belt was helpless without having experience in ground fighting.

As the sport progressed, so did the ground fighting skills of the athletes performing at these events.

The truth is that for you to be skilled in street self-defense, you must learn how to fight and grapple on the ground. However, fighting on the ground in a street fight is hardly realistic. Consider the following:

Multiple Attackers

If you are on the ground focused on a wrestling match with an opponent, you leave yourself open to more attackers. Remember, whether you are controlling your opponent or your opponent is in control - you are still tied up.

Restricted Movements

Being off your feet, you limit your ability to react or run if required. Getting someone off his or her feet is a key strategy in combat and the same applies to you. Your goal in realistic self-defense should be to ALWAYS stay on your feet.

Weapons

In addition, being on the ground will make it challenging for you to respond to weapons or other dangerous elements that are introduced into the situation. In a cage, you only have the chain links and mat to worry about. However, in the street you have concrete, chairs, and sharp objects to avoid.

The best way to learn to stay on your feet is to learn the strengths and weaknesses of ground fighting tactics.  For example: how to keep your balance when an opponent attempts to move you around. Keeping a low center of gravity is a simple, but effective foundational strategy for staying on your feet.  Getting into a low stance prior to an encounter and during the fight will aid in keeping off the ground.

You can practice this concept by having a partner try to pick you up off the ground. The first time you should stand straight with both of your feet touching.  The second time get in a lower stance (maybe a horse stance) and have them pick you up again. With practice you can make it much harder for your opponent to pick you up or knock you off-balance.  It is easy to be pushed over or off-balance when you are not in a low stance.  You might remember this advice from high school if you ever played American tackle football or rugby.

The only true strategy that will give you the combative edge will be training. Work with your partner on trying to stay off the ground while they work on tactics to take you down.

Photo Credits: The National Guard

Originally posted 2010-04-01 13:37:46.

No escape.

Find an escape route. Maybe you don't like to think of yourself as the type of person to run, but having an escape route can be necessary to your survival. Especially if you're not in a fair fight to begin with. Survey your surroundings so you know where to make a quick getaway if necessary, especially in potential trouble areas like rowdy bars and alleys. You'll also want to get out of sight as fast as possible, not simply escape, so be sure you know how to do that, as well.

Read peoples' body language. You should be able to read body language to the point where you can start to intuitively feel peoples' inner attitudes and emotions. If you start to perceive a threat from someone else, or know if someone is watching you, it will help you trigger your inner "alert" and let you know that you might need to get ready for a combat situation. Reading body language will also help you better understanding logistics, such as by seeing where your enemy looks - he might tip you off to the presence of a few of his allies.

Know your blind spots. When you're driving on the highway, you know where your blind spot is. But if you enter a new area, you don't really know, so you'll want to check. It's good to know the situation, but if you have a few blind spots, that means you face the unknown. As a general rule, it's usually a good idea to try and have as few blind spots as possible. If you do have them, be aware of where they are so that you can check them in a hurry if need be.

Reading a combat situation means that you should be shrewd. Know when the odds are stacked against you, read the logistics, and keep your emotions out of play. The better you understand the situation, the better chance of survival you'll have.

Photo Credits: SarahCartwright

Originally posted 2010-01-12 03:13:27.

Learning self-defense.

First, you should be sure to carry yourself confidently. Don't look down at the ground - be sure to hold your head up high and keep your posture straight. This doesn't mean you have to be rigid, but it does mean you'll want to avoid looking sad or lonely. Criminals will often target individuals who look down at the ground often. These people are less alert and more vulnerable to attack. Don't let yourself look vulnerable, even if you are.

Posture is very important to how you're perceived. Recall that kings in Europe would often stand up straight and barely even move their head in order to look at someone. This higher-value posture indicated that they were less reactive to others, and therefore of a higher status. You should be able to give off the vibe of someone who is capable of self-defense by the tone of your voice (clear and strong) as well as your posture. Do you look like the type of person who would crumble if attacked, or do you look like you'd fight back? If you look like the type of person to fight back, you lower your chance of being attacked.

This doesn't mean that you should always walk around being tense. You can be relaxed, but be sure to assert yourself confidently in social situations and to walk like someone who knows how to handle himself.

Keeping your posture straight will also maximize the appearance of your physical stature. Dog trainers sometimes recommend holding sticks against attacking dogs because it becomes an extension of your body, making you appear larger. Use this with your own posture - stand up straight and don't be afraid to take up plenty of space.

Self-correcting your posture to the point it becomes a habit will also help you to remain mindful of your situation and be on the look-out for potential attacks. The better you're able to prevent attack, the less you'll have to worry.

Photo Credits: snappybex

Originally posted 2009-08-14 03:11:52.

Defend yourself!

One of the first things to understand about self-defense are an opponent's weak points and vulnerabilities. Someone without martial arts training will likely be very susceptible to a quick counter-defense that they did not anticipate. For example, while many inexperienced people might try to fight and grab with hands, you can gain an advantage over your opponent by grabbing their rest, rendering their hand essentially useless. You can then use this wrist to pull them in and get them out of attacking position.

If someone comes at you with a hand coming forward, you can use your opposing hand to grab their wrist and pull them off-balance. For example, if someone pushes at you with a right hand coming forward, use your right hand to pull their wrist and subsequently the rest of their upper body. You can stay in attacking/defending position, but they'll be off-balance. This is the time to strike.

Keeping your opponent off-balance is one of the keys to defending an attack. You don't necessarily want to fight back, you simply want to get them to stop using an attack position. If their upper body is facing you, they have the potential to strike at you. Either get distance between the grabber, or use the aforementioned wrist-grab technique to get them off balance.

It's important that you learn to make these moves with confidence and strength. You can't "guide" your opponent's wrist to where you want to go. You've got to move it there yourself. That means being physically assertive. This is one of the things you'll learn in martial arts classes, and it's part of the reason you break wooden boards.

Mentally intimidating your opponent is a great advantage of being so assertive. If they see that you are self-confident and that you mean it when you grab them, they might think twice about the attack. Be sure to keep that in mind, and build up an "assertive vibe" so that people don't invade your personal space.

Photo Credits: dangoodwin

Originally posted 2009-08-11 03:01:27.

Self Defense Class.

• Get a can of pepper spray, but make sure that it is legal to carry and that you're trained to use it. Check with the local officials and try to take a basic self-defense class designed for women. Ask the instructors about pepper spray and how you can begin carrying it. Pepper spray isn't just a mild irritant - it can seriously disable would-be attacks, so don't take carrying it lightly.
• Travel in groups as much as possible. It's not always possible to travel with someone at your side, but try to make as much use of other people as you can. For example, ask a security guard to walk you to your car. Be sure that you go out with friends. The larger your group is, the less likely it is that you'll be attacked. Don't let the need for a companion restrict you to your home, but do try and be aware that you'll be more protected with others at your side.
• When you're alone, make sure that you walk against traffic so that you can keep better track of cars. This is especially true at night when it's difficult to see people from the road. Don't assume that cars will always see you - it's up to you to stay out of harm's way.
• Remember that prevention is better than reaction. The more you can do to keep yourself out of harm's way, the better. This means thinking about threats in advance - such as the aforementioned tip of asking a security guard to walk you to your car. This also means equipping yourself with pepper spray even if you don't think you'll ever need it.
• When someone asks for your money at gun or knifepoint, give it to them. Even if you have the skills to defend yourself, it's best to remain calm and simply hand over the property. It can be replaced; your life can't.
• Inside the house, don't let anyone in unless you requested them there or you personally know them. People who say they're from a company shouldn't be granted access simply because they claim to be from somewhere; call the company first to verify their identity. Make no exceptions, even though it may seem odd to do so.

Photo Credits: adamjackson1984

Originally posted 2009-08-12 03:05:13.