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 >>

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

  8. Thanks for this valuable info. Great to know if i ever need it. I have been robbed at gunpoint and would be interested in information about defending against that happening again.

    Reply

  12. Thanks for the info. I have been looking for this type of information for self defense. I am going to get some training from a friend of mine who is a LEO. With me being a licensed concealed carrier, I was wondering what type of information, moves, or theory to use to prevent someone from taking your weapon. Any help would be appreciated. Thank you.

    Reply

  15. Very well done!!! I am a 67 Y/O EX all of the above & have not seen the come along done 8n 40 YRS. I was a professional COOLER making $100.a nite when bouncers were getting $20.in 20 years I bled once… we stopped using MUGS that nite… lol

    Reply

  18. It is nice to see these moves.. Especially for women to protect ourselves. I wish I would of known these moves when I was younger…

    Reply

  19. These guys are the real deal. I admire their professional attitudes.Glad they’re on the “good guys “side!

    Reply

  21. Invaluable information. I truly appreciate these guys sincere, heartfelt desire to educate people on how to protect themselves in dangerous, and or potentially dangerous situations. Cheers!

    Reply

  23. Extremely valuable and shown and taught in techniques that are quick and fairly easy to master, with a lot of practice. Amazing how just these few moves alone, with practice, can give a person such an advantage. Gary

    Reply

  25. Very informative. These instructors have it together. The moves are simple the key is timing and practice.

    Thanks Fight Fast

    Reply

  27. This will come in handy if ever needed. I am 70 and not in that great a shape with having a lung removed.Where I live you never know when you will need it.

    Reply

  29. The come along hold are very useful in controlling person but first alway soft up your opponent with a half fist strike or kick or stompkick to knee or shin and instep to make the come along hold work better just like choke work against people who is drug or drunk blood knock out with sleeperhold.

    Reply

  33. Nice. Some stuff I knew, some variations on things I knew, and some things I didn’t know. Good info all around.

    Reply

  34. Thank You. I look forward to reviewing this lesson,[probaly more than once] and the next lesson as well!

    Reply

  39. thanks.Older disabled biker(60) now, who’s always taken care of myself despite having been shot having ducked to only catch it thru cheek & ripped muscles out on side of throat, but I still finished business. Stabbed once,but slid over to just catch some rib meat, last time felt a blade hitting buckle & spun around & took it from him & put him to sleep hold. Never any training but older & back operations make me appreciate the KNOWLEDGE to control situation without having to worry about lack of speed & strength I was always known for. Thanks & hope I never have to use it. JW

    Reply

  40. As a woman who has been trained in Dim Mak Chin na this is a great refresher course to mentally reopen my eyes, so to speak! Thanks!

    Reply

  41. I want to thank you again…I was train in Wing Chun, Dim Mak Chin na and Southern Chinese fighting styles 1) because I was interested ( too many episodes of reruns of Diana Rigg as Mrs Peale) in the Avengers, and because I knew a number of Special Forces members who were more than willing to train me and put me in touch with Masters in the NYC and Philadelphia PA areas. Again, great work!

    Reply

  42. Retired military, Ex-Deputy Sheriff, Ex-City Police, Ex- Firefighter, Ex-Deputy Coroner. So far the techniques shown are variants of those I was taught and used. They work! I’m finding the variations interesting! What I don’t know is that even with repeated practice, muscle memory, you still have to get people over the fight of flight response. As most people, anymore, are non confrontational and have never had to defend themselves or anyone. I’m watching, LOL, sure you’ve worked that out!

    Reply

  43. I am a 59 year old Vietnam Era Veteran who has forgotten and/or lost the speed and muscle mass I had 40 years ago. So far, in this first set of instructions are techniques I can use for self protection if I need to.

    Thank you for the instructional videos you have made. I hope that the videos are going to available for a long time. This way I keep practicing over and over for years to come.

    Reply

  44. I was formally trained in Kokusai Karate and am 64 years old. I have found your maneuvers easier to put into effect then was taught by my Sensei.

    Reply

  45. Years ago I was in Judo for a few years. WE also learned judo fightding techniques. These are similar, but beyond yhe things I learned and easier to learn.

    Reply

  48. Thank you very much for advising us — considering that there will always be bullies around.

    Reply

  49. I really like the finger magic. As an older person I have been looking for something that doesn’t require a great deal of strength to gain the upper hand on an attacker.

    I also like the beginning information on targets to start thinking about, and the starting information on the best way to strike those targets is what I will be looking in future lessons.

    Just so you know, I had to use the finger magic just the other day. I managed to “not” break the fingers but I did damage the web of my attackers ring and middle finger. A few days later a person that k
    nows the attacker told me that the attackers fingers and hand was still swollen and very tender.

    I am fairly certain that he won’t be bothering me again any time soon. Thanks for the lesson and I am anxiously waiting for my day 2 lesson.

    Bob Usher

    Reply

  50. I forgot to mention that my 63 year old wife surprised a big red-neck by applying the ear slap. The first slap hurt and disoriented the guy but he attempted to come back after her and she gave him another ear slap on the other side and he went to the floor crying and holding both ears. Eventually someone called a cop and the offender was taken first to the hospital and then to jail. She also passes along her thanks.

    Bob Usher (and wife)

    Reply
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