#fighting

5 days ago
2 min

Solo Fighting Drills (training video included)

One of the reasons folks don't train in self-defense is because they don't have someone to train with. While having a partner is ideal, you can still make yourself into a formidable self-defense opponent by drilling the techniques in this video. Practice these solo drills on heavy bags and/or dummies (you can even practice them in the air, but eventually you need to hit something), when you don't have a partner to work with. If you are unfamiliar with a techniques in the vid

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Self-defense Tip: Can Boxing Help You In A Real Fight?

Lawrence Castanon

7 days ago
3 min

Self-defense Tip: Can Boxing Help You In A Real Fight?

Can Boxing Help You In A Real Fight? Some folks are under the misconception that because boxing is a "sport" it is not an effective method of defending yourself. That's just not true, here's why: As a youngster, I got into a fight with a skinny kid who beat me up, even though I was the bigger kid and studying Kung Fu! He was very elusive, slipping, and blocking my strikes easily. I even tried to clinch him so I could take him down, but he would just pull away explosively. Obv

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Slipping The Assailants Punches (instructional video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Jan 14
2 min

Slipping The Assailants Punches (instructional video included)

Slipping a punch (or multiple punches) is a very important defense to learn because getting punched in the face is one of the most common attacks used by an assailant. This defense works against a straight punch to your face (i.e., sucker punch). When slipping a punch or multiple punches, you need to move your head off the centerline (away from their punch). A taller assailant will generally have the longer reach, which means they can hit you without you being close enough t

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Self Defense Tip: What Are You Training For?

Lawrence Castanon

Jan 11
2 min

Self Defense Tip: What Are You Training For?

What Are You Training For? Recently, I watched a street fight where one guy sat on the ground and motioned for the other guy to come towards him. The guy who was standing looked confused, then jumped on the grounded guys head and proceeded to stomp and kick him until he knocked him out. Sitting on the ground to start a fight sounds ridiculous doesn't it? But do you know that certain martial arts practice fighting that way? The problem is that, what you do in practice is what

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Lawrence Castanon

Jan 5
3 min

Defense part 1: Stances

Learning how to defend against punches, kicks, and takedowns/throws, is essential to round out your self-defense abilities. The first step to having good defense is your stance. A strong stance will allow you to stop oncoming strikes, and takedown attempts. Additionally, having a strong stance can allow you to attack with more power. Conversely, having a poor (or no) stance can lead to you getting hit and knocked down, controlled, and/or taken down or thrown to the ground. Th

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Do This If Assailant Grabs Both Your Wrists (instructional video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Dec 30, 2022
2 min

Do This If Assailant Grabs Both Your Wrists (instructional video included)

An easy way for an assailant to control a smaller, weaker person is to grab both of their wrists. This method of control works because the assailant can move you around easily by pulling your arms in the direction that they want you to go; and in the case of both your wrists being grabbed, you cannot hit him/her to fight back. Additionally, wrist grabbing is an instinctual technique that anyone can do. For example, in a street situation, it's not unusual to see one person gra

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Defend The Front Bear Hug #2 - Under The Arms

Lawrence Castanon

Dec 22, 2022
1 min

Defend The Front Bear Hug #2 - Under The Arms

A front bear hug where the assailant has his arms underneath your arms (around your waist) is actually easier to defend yourself against than the previous bear hug, because your arms are free to strike him. The first thing you'll want to do if the assailant grabs you around your waist and attempts to pick you up to transport you (i.e., kidnapping etc.), is drop your weight (squat), and begin twisting violently. If the assailant continues to picks you up, repeatedly lift your

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Defend the Front Bear Hug #1 - Over Your Arms (instructional video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Dec 15, 2022
2 min

Defend the Front Bear Hug #1 - Over Your Arms (instructional video included)

Please teach this defense to your children! The front bear hug over the arms occurs when the assailant grabs you around your arms while facing you. It is commonly used on smaller, weaker individuals, including children. It is commonly used by an assailant to pickup and transport the victim fairly easily (i.e. during a child abduction). This is one of the more difficult grabs to escape from because the assailant has control of your body, and has your arms pinned, leaving you w

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Stop The Assailant From Taking You Down (instructional video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Dec 7, 2022
2 min

Stop The Assailant From Taking You Down (instructional video included)

Often times an assailant may try to take you down in the street, doing this gives them complete control and dominance over you. It is a lot harder to try and get back up when someone on top of you, then it is to stop the takedown. The front headlock is an excellent clinch to use in the event the assailant tries to take you down by attacking your legs (i.e. a wrestler's shot). How to perform the front headlock if the assailant leans down to grab your legs (i.e. wrestlers shot

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Lawrence Castanon

Nov 30, 2022
3 min

Holiday Shopping Safety Tips

While you’ll be busy out shopping for gifts, and going to holiday parties, criminals will be out in full force ready to take away your holiday cheer. While the holiday season is always a special time of year, it is also a time when busy people become vulnerable to theft and other holiday crime: To help you navigate this holiday season safely, and securely, I compiled the following holiday safety tips from various law enforcement groups, and crime prevention sections. When sho

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Strikes using the One-arm Collar Grab (2 instructional videos included)

Lawrence Castanon

Nov 15, 2022
2 min

Strikes using the One-arm Collar Grab (2 instructional videos included)

The one-arm collar grab/clinch is a favorite among many Muay Thai Kickboxers, MMA fighters, and Krav Maga practitioners because it's simple to use and is brutally effective. This lesson shows an offensive version where you initiate the one-arm collar grab/clinch to striking. The next blog will teach you a defensive version. How to perform the one-arm collar grab/clinch: Facing your partner, wrap your hand (thumb and four fingers together) around his neck so your wrist is at t

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How To Strike Using The Single Wrist Grab
(2 instructional videos included)

Lawrence Castanon

Nov 3, 2022
2 min

How To Strike Using The Single Wrist Grab (2 instructional videos included)

Grabbing the assailants wrist is a great way to both control the assailant, and lessen the amount of strikes they deliver to you. Use this clinch to set up strikes, takedown, or throws. When the assailant attempts to pull their wrist away, they will pull you close to them. This gives the smaller fighter the reach necessary to attack. How to strike while using the wrist grab: Facing your partner, use one hand to grab over the top of his same-side wrist. This is an overhand gr

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Balance and Stabilization For Fighting (exercise video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Oct 30, 2022
2 min

Balance and Stabilization For Fighting (exercise video included)

Did you know that if you do not have great balance you will not be able to defend yourself effectively in a street fight? That's why balance and stabilization exercises have been a part of all martial arts and combative systems since the beginning of time. You cannot control an assailant if you cannot control yourself, and fighting is all about control. Additionally, having good balance and the ability to stabilize yourself during any activity is crucial in all areas in your

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How To Attack Using The Single Over-hook

Lawrence Castanon

Oct 26, 2022
2 min

How To Attack Using The Single Over-hook

The Over-hook is another great tactic to use when in the clinch. Over hooking occurs when, in the clinch, you wrap one of your arms around the assailant's tricep (upper arm). You control them by pulling them into you to meet your strikes. How to perform Single Over-Hook to Striking: Facing your partner, bring your same-side arm over their arm until your bicep/armpit is pinned around their tricep near their shoulder. Clasp your hands together and pull down to bring the assaila

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Can What And How You Eat Affect Your Ability To Defend Yourself? (tips)

Lawrence Castanon

Oct 24, 2022
3 min

Can What And How You Eat Affect Your Ability To Defend Yourself? (tips)

Can what and how you eat affect your physical activity, and fighting? Whether you want to defend yourself, train optimally, or just operate at a highly efficient level throughout the day, what and how you eat definitely does affect your ability to perform. Now, we all know that you won't be able to perform optimally on a full stomach and that you need to wait a few hours after a big meal to train/exercise and fight, but I'm talking about how foods affect your performance base

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How To Perform The Single Under-hook With Striking (Pics and video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Oct 19, 2022
2 min

How To Perform The Single Under-hook With Striking (Pics and video included)

The under-hook is a great offensive technique that you can use when in the clinch. The single under-hook occurs when one of your arms goes under the assailant's arm/armpit, while in the clinch. You can control the assailant by pulling them down to meet your strikes. You can also use the under-hook to move them forwards, backwards, and to either side. How to perform the single under-hook: Facing the assailant (your partner in practice), bring your left arm underneath their rig

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Lawrence Castanon

Oct 18, 2022
2 min

Clinch Fighting For Self Defense

Clinch fighting is a type of stand-up grappling, and is a very common position in street fights. Clinches can occur when one fighter wants to get close enough to strike the other, or when one fighter wants to stop the strikes of the other. Clinches can also occur when one or both fighters get tire, or to set up a take down, or throw an opponent. If the smaller/weaker fighter knows how to fight in the clinch, he/she can defend themselves effectively against the larger or stron

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Lawrence Castanon

Oct 14, 2022
3 min

Parents Beware!

A few years back a frantic mother stormed into my school visibly upset, pleading me to help her. She went on to tell me that her son got beat up by a school bully. While I understood how stressful this could be for a parent, her reaction about it led me to believe that there was more to the story, and I was right! She told me that her 10-year-old boy held a first-degree black belt from a large franchise karate school (aka McDojo). She went on to explain that she spent thousan

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Learn My Favorite Kick For Self-defense Or Competition (instructional video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Oct 9, 2022
2 min

Learn My Favorite Kick For Self-defense Or Competition (instructional video included)

The low round kick to your opponent’s calf, thigh, or side of knee is a powerful kick that can drop an assailant with as little as only one strike. Also, repeatedly kicking the assailant’s same leg (calf, thigh, or side of knee) can render them immobile. I used it successfully in many matches and it is one of my favorite techniques. How to perform the low roundhouse kick: To perform, from fighting stance, simultaneously rock up onto the ball and toes of your lead leg, as you

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Your most Powerful Short Range Weapon (instructional video included)

Lawrence Castanon

Sep 25, 2022
3 min

Your most Powerful Short Range Weapon (instructional video included)

This week we are covering the most powerful and durable weapon you have in your anatomical arsenal. This weapon is so simple that you have probably used it goofing around with friends. This weapon is the Knee Strike and it can be used to strike the assailants groin, ribs, body, or head/face. When to use the knee strikes. The knee strike is a short-range weapon that is best performed in the “clinch” range, the area where the assailant has grabbed you (or you grabbed him) but

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