street fight academy

Alex Lorenzo Street Fight Academy

Copyright 2010 Street Fight Academy http://www.HowtoFight.net


DisclaimerPlease note that this book and it's contents are for

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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 andentertainment 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.



Table of ContentsIntroductionAn introduction to street fighting 4Street Fighting vs Martial ArtsThe differences between sport fighting and real fighting 5Self Defense vs Life or DeathLearn when and where to use your most lethal attacks 9Street Fighting ScenariosLearn what to expect in a real street fight, step by step 12High Value TargetsLearn where the high value targets are and when to use them 23Stand Up CombatHand to hand striking, stand-up combat, and grappling 30Ground CombatGround combat, grappling, and submissions 64Dirty FightingDevastating illegal moves for life threatening scenarios 72WeaponsLearn how to use common objects as deadly weapons 76TrainingLearn what to expect in a real street fight, step by step 80ConclusionFinal conclusions and tips 87



IntroductionIf 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.



Street Fighting vs Martial ArtsAs 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



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 FightIn 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.



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 FighterI'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 FightingNow 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.



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.



Self Defense vs Life or DeathWhen 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. Butting of the head2. Eye gouging3. Biting4. Hair pulling5. Fish hooking (hooking the inside of the mouth)6. Groin attacks7. Putting a finger into any orifice or wound on an opponent8. Small joint manipulation (breaking fingers)9. Striking to the back of the head or spine10. Downward elbow strikes11. Throat strikes of any kind12. Scratching or twisting the skin13. Grabbing the clavicle bone14. Kicking the head of a grounded opponent15. Kneeing the head of a grounded opponent16. Stomping a grounded opponent17. Kicking to the kidneys of a grounded opponent18. Forceful ground slams to an opponents head or neck19. Throwing an opponent an opponent into an object 20. Holding the clothing of an opponent21. Spitting at an opponent22. Using abusive language23. Attacking an opponent during a break



24. Attacking an injured or submitted opponent25. Attacking an opponent after the fight has concluded26. 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 LocationIf 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.

WeaponsIf 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 willchallenge that. Obviously, if you can escape the situation, do it. Fighting someone with a weapon is an extremely dangerous situation and should be



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 ThreatThe 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.



Street Fighting ScenariosBeing 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.



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.



Some important fighting tactics...

Hit First

I know I've stated this before but I wanted to state it again. You're not in 5th

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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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, ortakedown. 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.



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.



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.



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.



High Value TargetsA 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,



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.



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,



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



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



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.



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.



Hand to Hand CombatHand-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



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:



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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.



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

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