Lesson One of the Self Defense Mini Clinic

Each lesson of this course includes videos of highly effective, street proven fighting moves that are easy to learn and simple to use.

Each installment will also include some seriously important fighting information that has taken 20 years of interviews and research with dozens of the world’s most notorious street fighters, bar bouncers, law enforcement officers, and soldiers to put together.

This stuff is solid gold. These lessons are boiled down from a 100 page book I wrote on how to fight and win. I’ve taken the most valuable life-saving lessons from it at put it into 5 short lessons.

You don’t want to miss any of this critical information.

Below is your first video, the other two videos are further down the page (my little trick to get you to read this stuff). The following technique is extremely simple and can be used by anyone with little practice.

*Note: Feel free to leave a comment at the bottom of the page. I enjoy the feedback and others may learn from your insights & thoughts. Enjoy.


Know When The Fight Is On:

Today’s lesson is meant to get you up to speed quickly. It includes the most important things you need to know to win a street fight.

The best way to win a fight is to recognize it before it has happened. Countless guys get taken out by some punk without even knowing they were in a fight (they either didn’t see it coming or didn’t want to believe they were in a fight). Don’t let this happen to you.

There are three ways to recognize a fight (other than someone punching you). There are non-verbal body language cues, verbal cues, and previous behavior (aka common sense).

Aside from getting hit there are 5 main non-verbal cues that you are about to be in a fight:

  1. The “Look Away:” During an argument the other guy suddenly looks away from you off to one side. An experienced street fighter and special ops soldier Jim West uses this cue all the time. He once told me, “If I’m in a confrontation with someone and they look to the side, it means they’re about to hit me – so I hit first.” It may seem odd but looking away is a very common, almost reflex like, reaction for many aggressors. So take Jim’s advice and hit first because if you don’t his haymaker will be sailing towards your temple.
  2. The “Finger Jab:” Someone poking you in the chest is also a big red flag. It’s a way that your opponent “tests the water” to see if you are an easy target. He’s building up his confidence and resolve, by violating your personal space. If you stand by and do nothing, it tells him, “the water’s fine… go ahead and attack this guy.” A poke in the chest, or any violation of your personal space at the initial stages of a confrontation should trigger some kind of immediate response from you.
  3. The “Shove:” Yet another classic example of violating your personal space, except this move is almost always immediately followed by a punch. You should expect very little time between the shove and the incoming blow, which of course means you need to act fast in this situation. People typically don’t push, then walk away.
  4. The “Target Gaze:” An opponent will naturally look at what he’s about to strike. Watch out for an adversary who changes his gaze from your eyes to your chin or some other obvious target. This is another one of those gifts from human nature, he can’t help but look where he is going to strike, so use that information to gain the upper hand.
  5. The “Chin Drop:” Another involuntary move that should prompt you into a decision is seeing your opponent drop his chin. This is a fairly consistent, and subconscious act of protecting the neck, it almost always means trouble.

Verbal Cues:

  1. The Threat: “I’m gonna zyx@%# you up!” This may seem so obvious that it’s not worth mentioning. And I wouldn’t mention it if my research didn’t show that MOST inexperienced fighters do nothing in the face of serious verbal threats. They often stand by and take NO action.
  2. The “Sudden Silent Treatment:” If your opponent has been talking, talking, and talking, then suddenly becomes quiet, it means he’s entered into an internal dialog on what he’s about to do to you. As FightFast instructor Demi Barbitos says: “Fighters don’t talk and swing at the same time.” In other words he is probably about to hit you.

Previous Behavior:

This one is painfully simple. If you are around someone who is known to be violent it’s pretty likely they may start a fight. Don’t play with fire. Also intoxicated men are trouble, intoxicated men with women around are even more trouble. If you get into an argument or scuffle with a drunk guy and his girlfriend or other women are around he is very likely to fight.

I’ve worked with almost a dozen bar bouncers from some of the roughest bars and nightclubs and they all know that saving face is one of the biggest causes of fights. In other words if you somehow manage to bump into, slight, or irritate a drunk guy or his girlfriend a fight is pretty likely, so be ready for it.

Now that you know how to recognize a fight before it happens I’ve got another fight move for you. This one is from professional fighter and notorious “cooler” Mike Serr. Go ahead and watch the video before moving onto the next section.


Dealing with Fear:

When it comes to fighting and learning how to fight fear is the 800 lb. gorilla in the room. Everybody knows it’s there but nobody want to talk about it.

Well like it or not I’m going to talk about it. After 20 years of working with Special Ops soldiers, SWAT cops, Cage-Fighters, Ex-Gang Enforcers, and bar bouncers, I’ve learned that all of them feel fear before a fight.

Wow, what a shocker. Fear is normal and healthy. The thing is none of these guys are scared, because they have learned to deal with that fear and make it work for them.

They have learned to harness that adrenaline dump and make it work for them, not against them.

The average guy on the street, when confronted with a life threatening fight will quickly realize the danger and the voice inside his mind will start talking a mile a minute, “Why is this happening to me? Am I going to die? What did I do to piss him off? Should I run? Should I stay and fight?” and on and on.

Letting this internal dialogue turn your fear into panic will get you hurt. Instead you have to use that fear and adrenaline to help you identify targets and take action.

The first step is to control your breathing. Slowing the pace of your breaths (inhale deeply and exhale slowly) sends a direct message to your brain that calms you down, lowers your heart rate, and lowers your blood pressure.

The next step is target awareness described below. But before we get to that here’s another video for you.


Target Awareness:

Once you know a fight is eminent you need to look for open targets to strike. To do this you must be aware of certain “high value” targets on the human body, so that when they are exposed or unprotected you know when and how to strike them for maximum damage.

Target awareness is a continuous process because as an attacker moves closer or further away from you the targets you can strike change. Below is an example of what your internal dialogue should be like once you realize a fight is coming:

“He’s approaching me — is he in range?”…
“Is there anything in his hands?”…
“What targets are open?”…
“Are there any friends around?”…
“Now… what targets are open?”…
“Is anyone behind me?”…
“What targets are open now?”…

Finally you need some basic info about what targets to strike and why, some are common sense some may surprise you:

Neck: the side of the neck is a “knock out” area. The good news is that the shoulder and head offer a natural “funnel” that’ll guide your hand directly into his neck – which means it’s a “high percentage” shot. People rarely protect their neck properly so even a poorly executed shot can often mean instant knock out.

Groin: believe it or not, research shows that most guys do NOT protect their groin. They are so “indoctrinated” with the idea that they’ll be punched in the face that they leave themselves wide open for one of the most devastating strikes. So forget about focusing so much on getting in that right hook to the head, (which he’ll be expecting), and start looking for an OPEN target.

Inside knee: very vulnerable. One good kick to the inside of the knee can end a fight instantly.

Outside thigh: a favorite target of Muay Thai fighters is the nerve running down the outside of your leg. Even a well conditioned fighter can’t stand more than a couple good shin kicks to this nerve before buckling.

Eyes: Striking the eyes is a great distraction technique. They are the main sense used during a fight, take them away for even a second and you have gained a huge advantage. An eye strike causes a person to blink involuntarily, and if scratched the eyes will water blurring vision.

There are many more targets these are just a few to get you thinking like a fighter.

Keep your eyes peeled for more free videos, in the next lesson I’ll take you inside the world of a real street fight. This is something most guys have no idea about, thanks to myths and misconceptions that often get guys hurt or killed.

Knowing what a real fight is actually like is a huge advantage.

Interested in learning “dirty fight tricks” right now?
Click here to find out how!

Next Lesson >>

Leave A Reply:

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

2,694 thoughts on “Lesson One of the Self Defense Mini Clinic”

  1. Helps a lot with the self confidence already. You must just know that you will do the take down. Usually walked away from or avoided this kind of situation. This makes it VERY easy. You can even learn it by visualizing the moves. It happened once that I did the right thing by thinking it through before I needed it. It’s the mind set that matters. You are not some kind of guy, you just do what you have to.

  2. I like the way these were put together for they were easy to follow
    I learned most of these at my dojo & they came in handy a few times on the street.

  3. Thanks Bob. I’m 74 years old and obviously not as “physically capable” as when I was a 21 year old cop. The stuff you are providing LEVELS THAT PLAYING FIELD! Keep up the good and valuable work. I Still live my life at least on yellow alert ;you might consider doing a thing on “color codes” for your Hotlist Members. Once a cop, always a cop. 410ken

  4. Very informative. I can see how this helps in a real live situation. Much practice is needed to be used correctly and effectively. Thank you.

  5. The finger magic is very affective and will leave a lasting impertinent with other combatants as to break their will to fight. My wife now has the tools to control aggessive personal. Very nice.

  6. I’m at a time and become very venerable at 62. I’ve been trying to stay on the healthy side and in shape.
    Your Technique so very important to me. Thank you for the free videos and allowing me in to Fight fast. Please keep email coming

  7. This Stuff Is Great, Am A Trained Karate Student But Karate Will Not Help You In A Street Fight Or When Facing More Than One Opponent.

  8. Thank u guys 4 these lesson, I’ve never had 2 use these techniques but it’s good 2 know more tricks 2 b used thanks again, and keep me in the loop. Mike.

  9. I love the slap move. Even as a young kid, I’d rather have someone punch me with their fist than to slap me. Now I have to do that from a chair and my arms aren’t that long.

  10. Fantastic training tools! I’m 50 just had part of my foot amputated….always willing to find “help” to even the confrontation field…..also works to help my 13 yr old daughter with bullying at her school! Thank you for sharing

  11. That was good; ?i learn a bit…i very must enjoy the videos.i specialy like the kickboxing tipskeep me in loop

  12. This was a great video, it offers such an easy to learn and practical methods to use.
    Thank you for this information and the fact that you offered it for free is just a God send. Please keep up this work.

  13. Oh my goodness I love the techniques. I have a 6yrs grandson at his age other boys are starting fights with him this the perfect first defense mechanism for him to learn. Appreciate this so much. Thank you Sami

  14. I love it ! It’s good set-up @ great work out!! I’m with you on this, thank you @ my best to you. Bob Hoose

  15. I LOVE YOUR IDEAS IN A FIGHT I THINK THERE GREAT! THE NECK AND GROIN ON A MAN ARE A EASY HIT AND A KICK TO THE KNEE WILL KNOCK A PERSON DOWN

  16. Its really helpful for me,I can now put it out into action this weekend at our town bishop where street boys always attack pedestrian @bustop,,Lae city Papua New Guinea

  17. Thank YOU! for the advice of dealing with fear. The fear has always been a huge problem. I really hope that the dialogue will help.

  18. Thank you very much for sharing your talents. I sure hope that I never have to use them, but, if I do, I will be more ready than I would have been before!

  19. Wonderfully simple, yet very effective techniques. I’ve had to use all of these and many more throughout my Special Ops career over the past 28 years. I look forward to seeing the rest of the lessons in the coming days.

  20. I’m amazed that your materials are for ‘guys’. I’ve had to stand my ground while men stood around doing nothing. I’ve had a one get behind me! I’m no tough broad looking for trouble, but it doesn’t mean I don’t benefit from this type of training.

  21. Thank you for sharing this information with me. I am never looking for a fight but if anyone ever starts something its good to know how to end it quickly

  22. Of the fights I was in I for some reason grab the guy by the throat and beat the hell out of him.
    Never had to repeat with the same man.

  23. I have learned more about hand to hand combat on your website than I was expecting and you can explain it so well that my wife has been able to understand what I was talking to her about it and you are a great teacher.
    Thank you for all the great things to teach her these moves you’re the best.

  24. I appreciate how clear the videos and written instructions are, especially because I am a beginner.

  25. Finger split (breaks) are ok if done extremely fast. Oponent still has other hand free and can move. Finger split not good enough for me unless you go for quick , fast break.
    Dr. V’s Trachia punch is lethal and is great the way he demonstrates.
    Been in many, many sreet and bar fights, too many.

  26. If I wasn’t in this chair I could get a lot more out of these demos. But I can still get good out of some of them. The finger one was my favorite.

  27. Great stuff! The teaching is slow, and repeated which makes it a lot easier to understand ans grasp. Simple but effective self defense moves. Love it, thank you!

  28. I’m really enjoying this series, as I have had to drastically alter my fighting style after spinal/neck surgery. So thanks, and keep ’em coming!

  29. Block and punch at the same time is good advice, that will be the next move I will practice. Moving in close can open you up to an elbow strike.

  30. I love the way you introduce your videos, the confidence level out passes all the ways I’ve thought about taking my enemy out..

    Michael

  31. As I get older opponents get younger I need some better techniques these will help a lot thank you

  32. Thank you, I’ve signed up for a free krav maga
    ClAss next week… I am disabled and considered elderly. Those are 2 things not in my favor, don’t want to be a walking target for people who want to do bad things to others and make it easy for them.

  33. There is one big problem I have with hitting first. If the law gets involved with it the first thing they ask is who made the first hit. Then you are in big trouble of trying to defend yourself again which is a lot tougher and can turn out very costly.

  34. Living in south africa makes a simple task like walking home from school a daily hazard, especially with two muggers in the area, who have asked me for my possessions the first time, and blatantly demanded me to hand them over in the view of a highway, in our street. My first reaction was to speed away on my bicycle and show them the finger. But such sircumstances are not always the case like if I’m walking, but I now feel a bit more confident knowing that I could win a fight with a two bit gangster. Thanks to you they’ll see a seventeen year old, and not know what I’m capable of.

  35. Very efficient easy to follow techniques. To help get out of trouble fast ,block and blow very effective,thank you

1 33 34 35 36 37 54