Fight Fast Blog

As you know, here at Fight Fast we don’t recommend taking a fight to the ground, but sometime it happens. The ground is a dangerous place where a lot of nasty things can happen.

In particular the ground itself becomes a weapon that you and your opponent have access to. The ground can also turn your own strikes against you if you are not careful.

In this video clip, MMA ground fighting trainer and “street” ground fighting expert Walt Lysak explains how to avoid a simple mistake that could break the tip of your elbow and risk your ability to survive a violent confrontation.

When delivering an elbow strike on a mat in the position shown in the video you aren’t in danger of breaking your elbow. If you accidentally catch the mat the elbow will just slide right along into your opponent, and if he bridges you and your elbow drives into the mat…no problem that’s what mats are for. Training this way can lull you into a false sense of security, sheltering you from the real life consequences of this kind of mistake when it happens on the street.

On the street or in a bar, where there is no mat, you can’t afford to make these mistakes. Driving your elbow accidentally into the concrete can result in a painful and debilitating injury. Luckily, the solution to this problem is very simple. Instead of delivering the elbow shot parallel and close to the ground, simply come down at a 45 degree angle at your opponent.

If he bridges you will instinctually extend your arm catching the ground with your hand not your elbow. This is the kind of advice you can only learn from someone who has made this mistake in real life. Mr. Lysak has learned this trick the hard way so you don’t have to.

For more street tested ground fighting skills what work outside the ring or dojo click here. You won’t find any complex non-sense here, just what work to get you back on your feet quickly and safely while doing as much damage to your attacker as necessary. Reality Based Ground Fighting Moves Here!

I originally posted this video on the FightFast facebook page shortly after the tragic events at the Boston Marathon. This video was created a few years back, but recent events make it all the more relevant. As Mr. Wagner explains in the video, although it is rare, civilians in the U.S. unfortunately are exposed to IEDs. The good news is that the simple and easy to learn technique in this video can save your life if you are ever unfortunate enough to be in the wrong place at the wrong time.

First of all, it must be said that this technique only works if you have at least a split second warning before a device explodes. I’m not suggesting that this makes you immune or that those victims of the Boston Bombing would have been saved or less severely injured had they known this technique. That was a surprise attack. However, if you are exposed to several blasts, after the first “surprise” you do have a chance to drop to the ground, thereby lowering your profile and potentially saving your life.

The best part about this technique is its simplicity. While nearly all those who have served in the military are familiar with this technique, startlingly few civilians are even aware it exists. This is a shame since it is dead simple to learn and extremely effective when done right.

As Mr. Wagner explains in the video, this technique starts with you becoming aware that an explosive device is in your vicinity. Once you see it you need to immediately take a step away from it then dive onto the floor with your feet pointed toward the device. Once on the ground you have lowered your profile significantly, reducing the amount of shrapnel you are exposed to.

How does this work? Well on average only 2% of the shrapnel (fragments of metal or other debris which cause most of the damage in this type of explosion) coming from an IED or grenade actually travels along the horizon (close to the ground).

It’s simply mathematics, drop to the ground, lay flat, and your chances of surviving increase dramatically. Remember you can’t outrun shrapnel, although this is often a first instinct it is dead wrong.

Once on the ground there are several steps you can take to prevent that 2% of shrapnel you are exposed to from causing a serious or mortal wound. The first and most important step is to be face down with your feet together and pointed toward the device. This step allows the soles of your feet and your legs to absorb any shrapnel headed your way. Your feet and legs are now a wall of protection for your vital organs.

Next you want to cover your ears with your hands, tucking your elbows in at your sides. This protects your ear drums as much as possible and tucking your arms in at your side protect the artery that runs on the inside of the arm. You will also want to open your mouth to prevent the the shock front from collapsing your lungs. And close your eyes to prevent dust and debris from hampering your vision after the blast.

Lastly, the information shown at the end of the video explains how this technique can be slightly modified to save the life of someone your are with.

For a safer life,
Bob Pierce
Head Honcho, FightFast.com

You can learn a lot from the video above. Most of it is pretty obvious but I’m going to break down a few points because I think it’s worth mentioning. Before I get into that I want to make one thing clear, I’m not suggesting that a one-strike KO is common or likely. The fact is it’s not but the little guy would have most likely won even without a KO here’s why:

First, little guys can take out bigger stronger attackers. The big guy in this video is a full head taller than the winner. My all logic an reason the big guy should have one the fight, and the truth is he probably would have won if he was ever given a chance. Fortunately, the little guy wisely took the initiative and hit first. The big guy never had a chance.

That brings me to the second point. Whenever possible you should strike first. You won’t always get a lucky first strike knockout but taking the offensive in a self defense situation dramatically increases your chance of winning. The little guy knew that, and even if he hadn’t knocked the big guy out he would have probably followed up with repeated strikes at sensitive targets to keep the big guy off balance and distracted. That’s how you win a fight against a person larger and stronger than you.

Third, the little guy in this video maintained a confident posture. He didn’t slump over or hang his head when confronted. He didn’t want to fight the big guy, but never submitted.

Fourth, strike quickly. The winner of this fight didn’t make a looping punch, he didn’t try anything fancy either. It was a quick strike with his full body weight behind it. He didn’t wind up or let on that a punch was coming. Looks like the big guy may have tried to block the punch with his right hand but wasn’t quick enough.

Let me know what you think.

For a safer life,
Bob Pierce
Head Honcho, Fightfast.com

Hey guys, I’ve got a nasty little add-on fight move for you this week, the backfist.

In the video above Demi Barbito teaches you how easy it is to work the backfist into other brutal self defense moves making the combo even more devastating.

As you know one of the biggest secrets to dominating any street fight is creating a constant barrage of strikes to overwhelm your attacker. The backfist is perfect for this strategy. As Demi explains in the video, the backfist is not a great lead off move when you are in punching range, but when added onto the end of another technique it quickly adds insult to injury, allowing you to add in another painful technique in a split second.

Remember not every strike needs to be a finisher, it’s about the totality of strikes. A quick backfist to the nose or groin does not take a lot of strength or agility. Its simply a quick flick of the arm driving your knuckles into a soft sensitive target. It’ll keep his mind on the pain allowing you to follow up with more strikes.

Now for that nasty little tip at the end of video the, driving your thumb into an attacker eye socket. Two things to remember on this one, first you may destroy someones eye when you use this so it’s only for a real life and death situation. Second, be sure to tuck your thumb into your hand, it’s not a “thumbs up” motion. You don’t want to break your own thumb, and you don’t want or need to drive your whole thumb into his eye socket, just the tip will do the trick.

This nasty technique will most likely take the fight right out of an attacker, but be sure to follow it up with something else, there are no guarantees in a street fight.

For more simple, easy to learn close quarters fight moves from Demi Barbito check out his “Extreme Close Quarters” fighting system. You’ll be glad you did.

I hope you enjoyed this clip, please share it with others, it could be a life saver!

For a safer life,
Bob Pierce
Head Honcho, FightFast.com

Fights often start with an aggressive or belligerent attacker pushing you. If that happens you have two options fleeing the area, or taking control of the situation. A push or shove is a violent act and will not likely be followed up with a peaceful resolution.

I would normally recommend flying into a barrage of quick strikes to take the attacker by surprise, and prevent him from striking first. However, there are situations where an attacker pushes or shoves a victim, but doesn’t immediately start his attack. As you can see in the video above an attacker may shove then drop his hands at his side while perhaps continuing a verbal assault, not thinking you are a threat.

The move Ray demonstrates in the video above is great for a situation like this. If you have access to his hand you can use it to quickly put him into a painful and immobilizing joint lock.

This is also a great move to use on someone who is drunk or otherwise out of hand in a situation where blowing out his ear drum with an ear slap would be considered overdoing it.

As with most joint locks speed is key, no attacker will stand there willingly while you put him into a joint lock. This is a fight move you’ll need to practice slowly at first, but you’ll eventually want to practice it at full speed. The goal is to have the attacker in the joint lock before he realizes what’s going on.

Again, for most situations I recommend quick damaging strikes to immobilize an attacker but there are situations where that’s not possible or appropriate. This is a move designed for those types of situations. The more you know the better your chances of surviving and winning in any situation.

For more simple restraint techniques, along with plenty of brutal lethal tactics (for when things get serious) check out Ray’s Lethal Defense DVD Package.

For a safer life,
Bob Pierce
Head Honcho, FightFast.com/TRS Direct