Self-defense from a knife attack is not a comfortable subject… which is why most people don’t talk about it. Many martial artists avoid the topic, too! That’s because knife defense is very difficult. The fact is if you train with a knife, you’re going to lose… a lot! And since most people train in martial…
Author: Ando Mierzwa
Ando Mierzwa is a martial arts teacher living in Los Angeles, CA.
Rear Naked Choke Defense with Stephan Kesting
Every martial artist should practice rear naked choke defense. Why? Because it’s one of the most effective finishes in MMA, which means bad guys everywhere are becoming very familiar with the “lion killer” choke. Fortunately, I know Stephan Kesting. Stephan is the founder of both Grapplearts.com and Self Defense Tutorials.com, and is also one of…
How to Breakfall and Take a Throw for Self-Defense
In my video about how to roll on the ground, I commented that if I got shoved backwards, I probably wouldn’t slap the ground. Some folks had questions about that, so allow me to share a few more thoughts on how to breakfall for self-defense. Video and article below! How to Breakfall for Self-Defense In…
Tips to Manage Distance in a Fight with Randy Brown
Sorry, but your best martial arts technique is worthless if you’re not in the right range to execute it. That’s why learning how to manage distance is so important. But don’t take my word for it… here’s some advice from my friend, Sifu Randy Brown, of Randy Brown Mantis Boxing. If you’d like to hear…
How to Stretch for High Kicks in Martial Arts
People always ask me how to stretch so they can kick higher. Unfortunately, as I admitted in my video, Flexibility Without Stretching, I don’t really stretch that much. Don’t worry! I still have a stretching technique to share from my old Taekwondo days. This simple, but effective exercise worked great for me back then and…
#49: Winning and Losing in the Martial Arts [Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #49 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Wining and Losing in the Martial Arts.” In the martial arts, winning can mean life and losing can mean death… but some martial artists seem to forget that. Or maybe just want to! In this episode, I share my thoughts on how to…
#48: Practice Time Tips for Martial Arts Mastery [Podcast]
Welcome to Episode #48 of the Fight for a Happy Life podcast, “Practice Time Tips for Martial Arts Mastery.” How much time do you spend practicing martial arts? Is it enough to become a master? In this episode, I share two pieces of advice to help anyone make the most of their practice time. To…