Learn how to fight, but do it responsibly

When you’re faced with an overly aggressive person, you probably won’t react very well unless you have some training to help you deal with the situation. The ability to “calm the raging beast”, so to speak, is a useful skill that anyone can learn. Unfortunately, like most skills, it can let you down on occasion. Sometimes, generally when alcohol is involved, there’s literally not a thing you can do to diffuse a tense situation. Sad to say, there are times when you need to fight, and knowing how might just save your life.

Occasionally, someone will confront you with passive-aggressive behaviors. These include things like calling you names or trying to bully you. In these situations, you don’t need to get rough with anyone. The way to handle yourself is with words, not fists. But if you are really in danger of falling victim to bodily assault, you have to know something about self defense. There’s no way around it: to be fully secure, you have to know how to fight.

There is an important skill that most police (or others who deal with violent people) possess. That is, the ability to judge at a glance if a situation is potentially troublesome. This sort of ‘survival skill’ requires you to figure out how most people act when they are just having fun, so you can avoid misjudging a situation. You don’t want to get physical with someone who is only playing around, right? If someone is accosting you with some good-natured name calling, you shouldn’t hit him, it’s that simple. On the other hand, you need to be able to recognize when name-calling is simply the first step towards escalating the level of violence from verbal to physical.

It is never a good idea to go around looking for a fight. But you should always be ready for one, if the situation dictates it. When you find yourself in dangerous places where people are drinking, this caveat is doubly true. It’s triply true when the alcohol is inexpensive, plentiful, and relatively un-regulated. In cases such as that, you have to be careful because there is a level of danger that is always present.

On the other hand, nobody wants to go around half-cocked at all times. Staying clear-headed and calm is something you should strive for. But this may mean limiting your alcohol consumption, or abstaining altogether. It does you no good learning how to fight if you are the one who flips out on other people at the drop of a hat. Learning to fight should go hand-in-hand with learning how to act in a responsible manner.

The good news is, it is easier than ever to learn how to fight because there are plenty of reputable places on the web where sober-minded people congregate to discuss serious issues such as this.

Buster Douglas versus Mike Tyson -- 20 years later

Check out this great article Douglas versus Tyson -- 20 years later from ESPN.com.

They do a good job of explaining the circumstances which surrounded this fight. And, people who are not into boxing can enjoy it as a human-interest story, too.

Virtual boxing classes with today's top trainers

Did you know that you can take boxing classes with world-class trainers, no matter where you are or what your skill level happens to be?

That's right, many of today's top trainers sell virtual lessons that are available on dvd for much less than the cost of a session with a trainer down at the local boxing gym.

Boxing classes in your own home?

Obviously there are some things -- like sparring -- that you can't learn at home without a training partner.

But there are so many more tricks, tips, and techniques that you can learn at home that if you're really serious about doing this the right way, you'd be shortsighted to pass up the opportunity.

After all, you can visit any boxing gym and prove to yourself that the simple act of showing up and going through the motions doesn't guarantee success. A quick look will prove to you that most of the boxers at any gym have serious issues with bad form, improper technique, and a lack of understanding of the finer points of the sport.

And yet, most of these boxers have access to a trainer at the gym. So why do they work out and spar with technique problems?

The sad truth is: lots of trainers just aren't articulate enough (or patient enough) to to teach you how to do the things that they can do instinctively. It takes more to train someone to box than simply saying "watch how I do this thing". Boxing classes should address your personal strengths and weaknesses; there is no one-size-fits-all method of teaching boxing.

With virtual boxing classes, you can get the absolute best boxing instruction available anywhere, and you won't feel rushed or embarassed if you have to go back and rewind in order to truly understand the finer points of a punching move or defensive technique.

When you realize that lessons from top-class trainers like Jeff Fenech, Kenny Weldon, Chris Getz, or Freddie Roach are as close as your DVD player, you'll wish you'd taken this opportunity ages ago.

Imagine if you'd started a year ago. Right now you would feel great because you'd have all the knowledge you need to make the most of your potential.

Don't put it off any more. Guess what? Some of Freddie Roach's lessons start at only $10 for close to an hour of instruction. Click through to Freddie Roach Advanced Punching Techniques and learn from the best.

Private Boxing Instruction From Today's Top Trainers

Boxing training can be frustrating. Usually, you'll pay to use a boxing gym -- where you have access to the facilities and the shared equipment -- but you won't get much in the way of instruction except for group classes that are more like fitness workouts than they are skill training.

If you want some one-on-one time with a boxing trainer, you have to make a deal with him -- which can be surprisingly expensive -- and maybe even cut the gym in for a percentage.

This can quickly add up, and unless you are a professional or have hopes of turning pro at some point, the costs can become prohibitive.

Of course, if you're like most of us, you know that you could be much better than you are now if you only had access to some private boxing instruction.

And while you're dreaming about what might be, you might as well wish for a world-class trainer like Freddie Roach or Kenny Weldon to be the one who gives you these lessons. Imagine how much you could learn from an instructor of that caliber; you'd be unstoppable!

Guess what? You don't have to put your dreams on the back burner and settle for second-best!

With video coaching, you can have private boxing lessons with Freddie Roach and others, right in front of your TV. These days, your DVD player is almost as important as your local boxing gym because it is the key to learning the tricks and techniques that can turn you from a dud into a stud.

In the sport of boxing, information can be hard to come by. Most trainers hoard their knowledge and tricks; they only give it to the fighters who show massive amounts of potential, or to those who are willing to pay good money and know how to keep their mouths shut. Trainers know that their information is like money in the bank, and they keep as much control over it as possible.

But now, thanks to the internet and to online retailers like Amazon.com, you can buy boxing lessons from the world's best trainers for less than the price of a session with the trainer down at your local boxing gym.

Did you know that you can get a one-hour lesson with Freddie Roach for around $10? How can you pass up a chance like that?

What's more: you can find lessons tailored to your skill level. It doesn't matter if you're an absolute beginner or a fighter who is ready to learn some advanced moves; there are boxing instruction DVDs that are perfect for you.

So don't be afraid to set your sights a little higher. Why waste time and opportunity going through the motions at the local boxing gym when you can learn from the best? You'll still want to go to the gym, but now it'll be to work out and to spar rather than just keeping your eyes and ears open and hoping to pick up some tips from the ones who are better than you.

Take charge of your sport and make yourself the one who others look to for information.

Is heavybag training making your punches weaker?

Do you get the feeling that you’re not hitting the punching bag as hard as you should be?

Are you flailing away like a deranged chimpanzee without making the bag move very much at all?

If so, you’re not alone. Lots of people use the heavybag inefficiently. They may get a good, sweaty workout, but they’re not building any of the skills that’ll work for them in the boxing ring or on the street.

It’s the guys with solid technique on the punching bag – the ones who make it “jump” when they hit it – who feel like the Incredible Hulk every time they leave the gym. Their punches crack like thunderclaps and all the spectators turn to watch them go through their heavybag rounds.

If nobody is turning to watch you work the heavy bag, chances are you have bad habits that are robbing you of speed and power.

It all starts with footwork. Unless you can move with the bag and effortlessly keep yourself in proper punching range, your shots will be as weak as water.

But footwork isn’t the only part of the equation. Proper weight transfer is essential too. Are you sure you’re not a “one legged fighter”? Lots of weak punchers are…

Finally, you’ll never feel like you have a couple of sledgehammers attached to your fists unless you pivot properly when you punch. The pivot gets everything aligned so the most body weight possible lands right on the end of your punch.

Do you want opponents to just shrug off your combinations and bombard you with their most powerful stuff? Of course you don’t. That’s why you have to work on your technique first, before you try to kill the heavy bag.

But I’m not telling you anything you don’t already know, right? It’s obvious even to non-boxers that if technique is flawed, results will be disappointing.
However, there’s a point to all this. Read on…

Since you read this far, odds are you feel like there is a definite problem with your technique. But if you’re working out at home, with hardly anybody around to teach or critique you, you may not even know that you have problem with your punching form. And if you work out in a boxing gym, but you still think you haven’t learned correct form, the same problem rears its ugly head.

You need good, clear instruction on the fundamentals of form and technique. Whatever your personal situation, you’re obviously not getting it.

But the good news is you can have it. It’s as close as your computer or your TV set.
These days, with the advent of video coaching, world class trainers like Freddie Roach, Kenny Weldon, Jeff Fenech, and Christopher Getz are as close as your DVD player. You don’t need to pay some inarticulate trainer in a dirty boxing gym for halfhearted advice that won’t really help you. Instead, you can get clear, well-presented information straight from the best of the best.

And best of all, you can get it whenever you want, just by hitting the “play” button.

Boxing training DVDs don’t take the place of good workouts and personal coaching; nevertheless they’re indispensible because they fill in all the blanks for you.

You’ll never again have an excuse for not knowing a move down to the smallest detail.

Knowledge doesn’t necessarily equal power, but it certainly equals potential. Add in some hard work and ambition and you’ll have all you need to feel like a new man!