All the tools necessary to build a powerful defensive base for boxing -- every defence for every punch from every angle -- are included in this manual. Punching prowess has become equated with boxing, but what is done in response to that incoming flurry makes a truly good boxer: how to make an opponent miss, how to easily defend, and, most importantly, how to counterattack. Building on that defensive base, this book explores natural punching triggers, or logical counter-punching sequences, that move past the beginner's realm of being a mere puncher into the upper echelons of crafty counter boxing. With encyclopaedic boxing defensive drills bolstered by numerous illustrative photographs, this is a one-stop resource for learning the art of counter-punching.

Going beyond the standard workout for boxers, this innovative manual introduces a diverse set of training methods, integrating them into drill sets that build the athletic attributes for which past and present fighters are known. From Leroy Jones sparring with chickens and Ken Norton’s 15 combined rounds of shadow boxing, sparring, and bag work to Ricky Hatton’s staggering 12-round sparring bouts with a body belt and Kosta Tszyu’s creative tennis-ball and head-strap punching apparatus, this guide highlights a wide vocabulary of exercises, all incorporating boxing-specific equipment. The drills can be performed solo or with a partner, and each piece of equipment is approached individually with detailed descriptions of routines, including floor exercises and drills with the heavy bag, medicine ball, horizontal rope, and jump rope. With two workout menus for weight training, this guide guarantees a regime to suit any individual need—be it professional or simply a desire to train like some of the best athletes in the world.

This guide to the finer points of boxing provides the wisdom needed to make the transition from enthusiastic beginner to proficient pugilist. The ABCs of ring generalship, offensive and defensive ring movements, feints, and draws and fakes are examined and explained along with clinching techniques, head-hunting, body work, and counter-punching chains. Strategies for boxing against tall and short opponents as well as for a variety of fighting styles such as charger, speed-demon, stick-and-move, and slugger and brawler are discussed in detail. Specific drills focus on sophisticated ring stratagems such as throwing complex combinations, cutting off the ring, fighting off the ropes, generating power, and cornering an opponent are included.

When violence becomes unavoidable, it's best to be informed, and this self-defence book provides revolutionary information that could mean the difference between life and death in the event of a physical assault. Included are drills to increase awareness, examples for using the environment as a self-defence tool, and methods that allow victims to best use their inherent strengths to repel an attack. An interesting look at the psychology of an attack -- exploring the mindset of both attacker and victim, and illuminating the dynamic between the two -- this manual puts the power back into the hands of concerned citizens.

This fourth No Holds Barred Fighting training manual contains all fighters need to know about the art of takedowns, or "shooting," and how to counter takedown tactics used by an opponent. Readers learn to see it from both sides with offensive and defensive stances, footwork, setups, and shooting techniques. Several variations of the most commonly employed shots are featured—double leg takedowns, single leg takedowns, snatch singles, and low singles—as well as counters for each. Hundreds of sequential photos illustrate the steps, grips, and angles of every move, and takedowns are included for use inside the inevitable clinch. Sections on drills and chains, as well as a list of resources for further practice, round out the text.

Offering cohesion and clarification for what is currently a loose collection of strategies, this reference delves into the 'ground and pound' fighting method - winning a fight by striking an opponent after a takedown. Demonstrating through fight metrics how just as many matches are won by strikes as submissions, this manual addresses the importance of proper 'grounding' and lists an array of riding, pinning, and transitioning skills. Following the first element up by introducing an exhaustive 'pounding' vocabulary, this guide is key to making stand-up strikers all the more formidable on the floor. Guaranteed to improve the game of even the best submission players, this handbook ensures tighter defence and enhanced offensive tactics, offering a one-stop solution for this vital but often overlooked aspect of the mixed martial arts arena.

One of the most feared and useful weapons in mixed martial arts (MMA) competition is dissected and discussed in this fully-illustrated guide to both perfecting and defending against the low kick. Many competitors view this technique as a single tool in their arsenal, limiting themselves when they could be taking this low-line method of attack and modifying it to fit far more kicking situations than those commonly used. This volume demonstrates how to expand the low-kicking arsenal, showing how a simple alteration in leg targeting can strongly challenge an opponent's defense, and how to hone low-line kicking power and speed so that rapid-fire low-line kicking becomes a powerful advantage. These techniques are prime for MMA competitors and anyone who wants to improve both their self-defense and competition skills with the best empirical information available.

This instructional guide explains the origins of submission wrestling, the underlying fighting skill associated with such events as the Ultimate Fighting Championships and the King of the Cage. It explores its various offshoots and influences and features hundreds of photos to demonstrate techniques and training exercises. Rules and regulations regarding associated competitions, workout programs, and match etiquette are thoroughly discussed, and resources for further research are included. Full of self-defensive skills and tips that improve physical fitness, confidence, and mental toughness, this book starts the novice on the path to proper training and provides fundamental information for all skill levels.

Emphasizing the "mix" in mixed martial arts, this manual addresses the inherent problems in combining different fighting styles. Pioneering a unique drilling matrix that allows the fighter to dissolve the distinctions between separate arts, this guide allows practitioners to effortlessly blend the different disciplines into one seamless whole. Covering both offensive and defensive aspects, this training handbook is the definitive reference for executing optimal flow-chain drills.

Ideal for aspiring or practising no-holds-barred (NHB) athletes or for anyone seeking an elite fitness routine, this manual employs the regimens of top NHB athletes. Explaining how to apply the scientific concepts of specificity and synergy to create tailored workout routines, this manual features scores of exercises -- from old standbys to modern training techniques -- for any type of athlete. Requiring minimal time and equipment, the programs in this resource add excitement to routines and keep readers stimulated while providing fundamental training information for all skill levels.

Written for women who want more out of their workout routine than polite, early-evening sessions of Pilates or Zumba or yoga, this go-to manual is filled with a wealth of information on high intensity training (HIT) that will help readers meet quality, high-end fitness objectives. The book begins with profiles of a diverse range of women who have blazed a trail in extreme sporting activities. It then addresses some of the usual concerns women have about becoming overly muscled, offering facts and real-life stories that prove that femininity doesn't have to be sacrificed for fitness. The guide also discusses the importance and value of HIT, describing what it is, what is realistically achievable, and how approaches differ for men and women. Hundreds of illustrations of core exercises are also provided, from the basic building blocks to the most challenging exercises, and the exercises themselves are organized into a variety of conditioning programs that match different fitness levels and needs. Women looking to test the limits of their fitness and endurance need look no farther than this book.

Covering the essential tactic and art of striking in a series of blows, this guide illustrates how today's best mixed martial arts fighters have discovered the devastating effect of "punches in bunches", or strike combinations - a mix that includes fists, kicks, elbows, and knees. The importance of striking in multiples of three is emphasised with an explanation of how to stage strikes in order to maximise load and release, counter striking, creating angles, and straight striking. Also included is the tactical role of footwork, how to merge defensive and offensive moves, and overcoming the various challenges posed by range. Avoiding a common blend of different styles, this reference takes the most efficient combinations culled from elite competition and presents them in stair-stepped drill sets, enabling fighters to utilise the same striking approaches advocated by the best coaches and competitors in the business.