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!

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

  1. Great reminder. I remember how open the neck is and how many times I was hit there myself. Thanks I will definitely remember.

  2. Thank you very much. I grew up in very rural area, where fights were extremely uncommon.
    I now live in the suburbs. However, this particular once safe suburb is now rife with crime, drugs, violence and other mayhem. I look forward to perfecting these techniques, I have a wife and a teen age son. Very valuable information.

  3. I’m a disabled Vet, and though I learned a lot about hand to hand combat in the Marines, after my spinal injury and fusion, I’m severely limited in how much movement I can do successfully. Tho’ I never look for trouble, learning theses simple tricks may come in handy some day if it looks for me

  4. These are great videos and very informative but I’m 59 yrs old and my reflexes definitely are not what they used to be. I’m still in decent shape for my age but the years have certainly taken their toll.
    In stead of these younger professionals demonstrating these techniques, could you include an older person (Male or Female) performing the same maneuvers. I believe there is a difference in reaction and reflex time that could be critical. Older people are easier targets for these punks.
    Thank you

  5. This is great stuff. How old should a child be before you start teaching this stuff, wondering because of maturity don’t want to create a problem.

    Thanks Alan Cain

  6. I find these techniques, simple and devastating. Because of age (66), I’m finding with practice, a base of confidence, that can serve me very well in taking care of business,should the need arise. Thank you.

  7. Very informative – certainly appreciate the opportunity to learn. All new to me – never fought and hope I don’t have to.

  8. I like your videos. I was assaulted a month ago by some stupid street thugs while I was in my truck. They came at me so fast and sucker punched me that all I thought about was closing my window and driving away. What saved me was the automatic window locks cause if they would have been able to pull me out of my vehicle I may have been killed…jja

  9. I have beaten 5 to 1 in a fight, five gangboys hitting on me and losing straight up, and lost three years later to a drunk who surprised me
    in a NFL arena because I refused to believe I was in a fight. think hard guys
    I say we fight, ruthlessly, while keeping vigilant.

  10. This what you teach is surely amazing. I am 76 years old with various physical problems and not very coordinated. Growing up, I wasn’t taught how to defend myself and my father certainly didn’t help. I was bullied and put down. I was attacked in several occasions but if I were to back away, I did. When people were watching, I was taunted and made fun of because I backed away and not fight. It seems that others were looking for the fight to start. At my age now, I know I wouldn’t start any fight but with the instruction that you give, at least if I were ever confronted, I have the knowledge of trying to protect myself. I joined this program in order to do that.

  11. Finger magic love it as I am a bouncer and sometimes i’m on my own with 100 – 200 people and you have to be cool and calm and that is just great..Some of the arm locks are good different variation from some we use and I use but I’ll be getting all of this down.. great stuff..

  12. Without question eyes are the ultimate target as people have an inherent built of fear of eyes

  13. Very good information . – cuts right through to bottom line – eliminates confusing information from other training. Dynamite .

    Thank you for valuable information which could save a life or prevent serious injury.

    Richard Callahan

  14. These techniques are great, especially for this 74 year old Olympian who is not in the greatest of shape. The 15 fight enders gave me a LOT of confidence while in public. Now these additional techniques also work – if you are NOT bigger, not stronger than an attacker. And with the “knock out games” AKA “Polar bear hunting” becoming prevalent, I am even more alert, but confident I can react and protect myself and my wife – and then get out and away. Thank you!

  15. Thank you for the advice.
    I am not looking for a fight, but I do want to protect myself if it cannot be avoided. Thank you again.

  16. I’m very interested but short on money atthe moment as I am recovering from a stoke. Once I recover, and I will, I am going to purchase your product. I’m sorry that’ll cost more but that will have to be.

  17. Thanks! I know how effective this stuff is, thanks for the refresher, It has been a long time since I studied over 20 years ago.

  18. Its been said > a picture is worth a thousand words. Your videos are worth much more. Great seeing these take downs. As a senior I liked the finger magic move.

  19. For us Christians, God is first, however, God also commands us to take care of our lives including our body and its safety –WWW.FightFast.COM is the mean to accomplish that divine order.

  20. These are good techniques, and I certainly didn’t know any of the finger magic, which could be very important for control situations, or just light versions when I’m fucking around with friends 🙂 A point I feel needs to be made is that of movement, which may be covered in the other days, but movement in a fight is just as important as any attacks. Not wasting movement by keeping your body relaxed and focusing all your movement through your core – if you flow like a river (corny, I know), your opponent won’t hit you. Obviously this is only applicable when caught by surprise, but the surprise of you dodging or blocking an attack coupled with the fact that your opponent will probably be overextended by this point means you can quickly land a decisive blow. Move through the core with relaxed muscles, honestly, that’s saved my life. Guy came to stab me, I doubt I’d have been able to dodge if I was incredibly tense, or if I’d moved with my legs rather than my core.

  21. Thank you very much!
    All of this info. for free is a god send to anyone like me……48,overweight,unemployed on sickness benefit and a large family to worry about, including two little girls and a married, pregnant daughter too!
    With this free course, I can hopefully look after them, my wife and myself when a situation arises!

  22. Thanks for the info! Great techniques, hope I never have to use them, but great to have in reserve!!!

  23. these are very easy to learn I am dissabled and have had to defend my family with them and the fact that I can stop an attacker without lethal force is fantastic thanks

  24. Thank you for this video series I am an older (44) bar tender and wish I knew these techniques years ago.

  25. Very good first day.really easy to follow and understand. Looking forward for the rest. Thank you so much. David

  26. I love the quick to the point and effectiveness not alot to practice to get good at right away. thanks!

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