The mental side of fighting might be the most crucial aspect leading to the results of many fights. All fighters feel the mental effects, whether in preparation or inside the ring/cage; the mental aspect lurks inside our head, and we are the only...

Counter punching is an effective method of boxing, seen chiefly with experienced and technical fighters. In order to counter an opponent effectively, a boxer must lay traps and use his superior knowledge to lead the dance and catch the opponent once he falls...

Setting up and landing knees can be tricky. As you have to get within close quarters to land them and avoid counters or being controlled by the opponent. With knees in the clinch you can have your opponent preoccupied with hand controls or...

When two athletes meet in the middle of the ring it often becomes a game of who can land the more effective strikes. Getting in close to your opponent so you can execute a knockout, can sometimes prove to be a difficult task....

As an athlete competing in combative sports, you need to develop your skills as a striker. A fighter can work hard on refining their power or technique in their punches, but there is more to striking than meets the eye. To become a...

  Nowadays in all forms of combat sports, utilizing a lead leg kick is very common and is an extremely effective weapon. It can be used to keep your opponent at a distance away from you or it can be great for you...

We’ve said it before and we’ll say it again—body shots win fights.  They are a great way to drain stamina from your opponent and can end a contest outright if they were not expecting a little fire to the gut. Once a beginning...

  The front kicks impacted the martial arts world like no other kick; it is the equivalent to the jab in boxing but performed as a kick. All striking martial arts have some kind of front kick ingrained in them - Muay Thai,...

Kickboxing is known for its intense combination and work capacity, mixing kicks and punches in a way that complements each other, so the combination is devastating and smoothly applied. The idea of mixing our attacks is crucial to understand as all our attacks...

  Muay Thai fighters are well known for their striking from the clinch, they develop their elbows and knees so they can land devastating blows. There are systems in place to execute functional Muay Thai strikes, some of the most brutal attacks come...

  Landing effective strikes in any fight can be tricky, because of the work fighters put into their defenses. It is an art form in itself just to close the distance on your opponent, most fighters are ready to counter or block any...

  When we are dealing with striking combinations, it is extremely important to be completely balanced when we execute. If a fighter is unbalanced then often they will lack the power to finish off their opponent. Understanding how to transfer your weight onto...

  Striking in Martial Arts can be a dangerous prospect, especially when you step in to throw a jab at your opponent. When you close the distance on your opponent you put yourself inside their range, this can be troublesome as your opponent...

   All striking martial arts have the same elements, offense, defense and counter offense. If you're a martial artist who wants to have a good offense then you need to understand the principles behind having good defenses. Learning a vast array of different...

  Setting up our strikes is the most important aspect when we want to land punches or kicks that can finish the fight. Fighters with the ability to finish fights are always feared; even when facing a better opponent, they will always have...

The Muay Thai clinch has uniquely affected MMA as it showed the world a concept combining grappling and striking together to create an effective method to work from the close range. The clinch became popular with the rising success of Muay Thai fighters...

  In MMA and other combat sports setting up a powerful clinch is one of the most effective ways to attack the knockout on your opponent. Utilising the Thai clinch will not only slow your opponent’s attacks down but it will give you...

The right hook is a powerful punch that most boxers don’t use enough today, although it has a high KO percentage behind it. Most practitioners are introduced to the lead hook early in their development, and it is known as their primary hooking...

Back in 1941, when heavyweight world champion Joe Louis was asked about his game plan against the younger, faster Billy Conn, his response coined a phrase that would be echoed for years to come: “He can run, but he can’t hide”.  In the...

Managing the distance is managing the fight in all combat sports. By controlling the range, we can deny or allow techniques to be used; if an opponent wants to punch us and manage the distance well, keeping it in the kicking range, he...