MODE 1: OUT-FIGHTING

The first mode of combat is Out-Fighting. Out-Fighting is combat before you clinch. Out-Fighting consists of stance, movement, strikes, defense, and combinations. In this mode of combat your primary goal is the knockout. The knockout is the most definitive finish.

STANCE
Your stance should be natural. There is and always will be great debate about which stance is most efficient. As long as you have your hands up and your chin down, your stance can be very malleable. The basic pointers on stance are: your power hand should be in back, you should be mobile, and you should be protected while attacking. The most important thing about stance is that it works for you.

MOVEMENT
Movement is important because it makes you, particularly your head, a difficult target. But movement is also important because you can use your momentum to generate power. A good mover will constantly switch direction and change levels. The key to proper movement is agility and staying up on the balls of your feet. The reason for staying on the balls of your feet is that this is what precedes any motion. By being cocked and loaded, you are able to act or respond much more efficiently. The best way to practice your movements is to get in front of a mirror and turn on the music. When you move it should be fluid like a dance but you should constantly be cutting the rhythm.

STRIKES
Strikes are the foundation of Out-Fighting. The general rule for a powerful strike is to use your body’s weight, and momentum. The most effective punch is the knockout so learn to be precise and hit hard. Simplicity is key when learning to strike effectively. In martial arts striking is often taught in the form of complex individual techniques, when the most effective is often the most simple. The information provided will give you a simple but effective base that utilizes hands, legs, elbows, and knees.

DEFENSE
It is essential for your training that you learn a very simple system of blocks and evasions. This will allow your training partner to have an actual living and breathing target, as well as accustom you to receiving hits. This method of training will also develop useful muscle memory for your defense. Defense practice is particularly important when learning Out-Fighting because it allows you to train realistically. The best way to defend a strike is not to be in its path, although this is often not a possibility, so learning to keep your hands up and absorb a blow is a necessary ability.

COMBINATIONS
Punches and kicks just don’t come in multiples of one. Each strike sets up the next so you can generate much more power by combos of two or more. By combining punches and kicks you cause your opponent to have to protect more of himself by splitting his concentration and forcing him to defend both his upper and lower body. This is why I like to use combos that switch levels.
As I stated earlier, power comes from your weight and momentum. The torque of your body helps to create this momentum. This should illuminate the importance of the pre-stretch or windup, and also illustrate how the jab, sets up the straight, sets up the hook, etc.

MODE 2: IN-FIGHTING

The second mode of combat is In-Fighting. In-Fighting is combat after you clinch, but are still standing. The way you set up your clinch will determine your ability to control your opponent. In-Fighting consists of the clinch, strikes, shoots, throws, takedowns, and defense. In this mode of combat your primary goal is a knockout or a devastating takedown. If you do get the takedown, it is important to end in a control position to set up for the finish.

THE CLINCH
Fighting in the clinch is an intricate game. The most important aspect is to maintain leverage and control. From the clinch you can strike or set up the takedown; the clinch is a very versatile place to be. It is the foundation of In-Fighting because it defines it. Without a dominant clinch you will not be able to execute an effective technique. In general your objective in a clinch is to maintain a relatively straight posture. This can seem very counterintuitive at first but the reason for this is that as a “free-fighter” we have the option to knee to the head or punch the back of the neck. Striking is illegal in the sport of wrestling for example, so you can crouch bent and low. But in free-fighting, you have to be aware of another element, which is the knockout. This is why it is advantageous to control the head of your opponent. By controlling your opponent’s head you can control his or her balance. Do not let yourself get pulled into a bent position where you will be vulnerable.

STRIKES
Striking during In-Fighting is similar to Out-Fighting in the sense that your power should come from your body weight, and momentum. The main difference is that you can use only your close quarters strikes and you can hold your opponents head while you strike. The “Straight Clinch” is good for your basic boxing techniques as the stance is similar, while the “Double Straight” clinch is good for knee attacks. Knees seem to be the most powerful weapon while tied up and it is good to begin with low knees and work up to the head.

SHOOTS, THROWS & TAKEDOWNS
A shoot is when you throw your body into a move to try and get a position of advantage over another person. Once in a position of advantage you can do a variety of throws and takedowns. I include this aspect of combat in the In-Fighting section simply because if the shoot is successful, you will end up in a clinch of some sort.
After getting into a position of advantage you are ready to take your opponent down. A simple takedown can act as a devastating knockout. Although a good takedown could mean the end of a fight, the majority of takedowns are used to gain a position of control on the ground. This is why it is so important when training throws and takedowns that you practice ending in a control position.

DEFENSE
Defense, while In-Fighting, is about not letting your opponent uproot your base. This can be accomplished through grip and body position. The “under hook” is my favorite way to assure control. The basic “swim” is an essential drill to learn how to fight for control. Although, when defending during In-Fighting it is often important to get your hips out while fighting for control, it is also important not to get pulled into a bent position. Your torque power relies on an upright posture, so try to keep your head up and your chin down.

MODE 3: GROUND-FIGHTING

The third mode of combat is Ground-Fighting. Ground-Fighting is combat after you hit the floor. Ground-Fighting consists of positions, strikes, submissions, transitions and defense. In this mode of combat your primary goal is a knockout, or a submission. These can only be obtained if you first control the fight by being in a strong and dominant position. If you do not have control, you will not be able to set up for the finish. It is important to note that Ground-Fighting is a highly important aspect of combat both in the ring and on the street. It is fact that although most street fights start standing, the majority ends up going to the ground. With this in mind, you must distinguish the difference between sport-effective and street-effective ground technique.

POSITION
Without a dominant position you cannot be successful. The basic concept of Ground-Fighting is to get the position, maintain the position, and then utilize the position to your advantage. Within your first day of Ground-Fighting training you will experience the importance of a good position. Your primary goal as a beginning student is to try to maintain control, if you can achieve this, the rest is easy. There are fourteen base control positions and an infinite number of variations. A key to a good ground game is learning to use your weight to its fullest potential. As a general rule, if you are resting weight on the floor, you are wasting it. Your weight should be on your opponent at all times. The more pressure on the opponent the more energy he or she will have to spend.

STRIKES
Striking during Ground-Fighting is similar to both other modes of combat. The main difference is that you may end up striking from your back. This changes the dynamics of your weight and momentum. Because position is an important aspect of control, you don’t want to over commit to your punches. If you do so you could be swept or rolled by your opponent. So when striking on the ground you must be extra aware of balancing your weight. Your main strikes from the ground are your, elbows, knees, and fists.

SUBMISSIONS
Submissions are the most unique element of Ground-Fighting. A submission is commonly understood to refer to any technique that renders an opponent helpless, or causes the opponent to give up. There are three types of submissions. Submissions that induce pain, and cause an individual to “tap out” or give up, but are not inherently damaging. There are submissions that cause the incapacitation and damage of a specific body part, and may also cause an individual to “tap out” or give up. Finally there are submissions that induce unconsciousness, rendering the opponent helpless. I find submissions caused by pain to be less reliable than the other two, simply because pain is relative. I choose not to train in this aura of relativity. Submissions of the second type, those that are designed to cause damage, are usually done on one of the thirteen primary joints of the body. It is important to consider that the true potential of such a technique is devastating. In training we usually submit when we feel the technique is close to its breaking point, but in reality the idea is to debilitate an attacker. An arm-bar is really an arm-break, it is a situational call, you must decide what is right for a particular situation. Personally I prefer the submissions that cause unconsciousness, specifically strangles. There are two reasons for this. First, it is quite hard to fight while sound asleep. Second, this is the most humane finish. If you put someone to sleep, they are no longer in danger of hurting themselves or others. This is better for the both of you.

TRANSITIONS
Your ability to maintain control is dependant on your ability to change and adapt. To be able to transitionally flow between techniques is important in every mode of combat, but is particularly necessary when Ground-Fighting. Your transitional movements allow you to keep the pressure on an opponent while maintaining control with minimal effort. Practicing a variety of flows will help you develop this ability. With good transition you will be able to go with the flow until you are given a clear and clean opportunity to finish the fight. Sweeps are an important aspect of this section because a good sweep can transform the dynamics of a situation in your favor. A sweep, when applied properly, is effortless and the majority of the time brings you from the bottom position to the top. Top position allows you to use your weight to add an extra element of pressure on your opponent.

DEFENSE
Due to the emphasis put on position, it should be clear why escapes are so important while Ground-Fighting. A good escape can instantly turn the tables on an opponent and should be studied in-depth. The success of a submission is dependent upon the physical angles that are used. Your primary defense method should be to eliminate your opponent’s angles and nullify their ability to create advantageous positions. I must admit that it is my personal orientation to be an active fighter. I have found that if I am the one who is constantly on the move and dictating the rhythm of the fight, my opponent is preoccupied with defending my moves, and is therefore unable to act offensively. I utilize a proactive defense.