The Best Self Defense Sequence Ever
For Those Who Don't Feel Like Working Particularly Hard
Here's the comment section...
Humans like to talk about things.
256 responses to “The Best Self Defense Sequence Ever”
Leave a Reply to Paul Breaux Cancel reply
Helpful Links:
© Copyright Fight Smart - 2026
Nice vid Trav. I think the basic idea of this video is integrating empty hand and firearms in a very particular, life-threatening, situation where making space to draw is critical. I think it would make it would make your video even better if you defined the situation. For example, a few of the other commenters that have worried about the legality of this should know that you could only employ this sequence in the USA if you were truly in a life and death situation and in almost all jurisdictions you would have to be in a place where you couldn’t successfuly flee. You might not wind up having to shoot but it better be a situation where a district attorney or jury would agree that you might have needed to shoot. Otherwise you would go to jail for sure, 100%. So what situations might warrant this? They all have to happen up close and you have to be cornered, literally or figuratively, other wise you would make space for a draw by running rather than kicking. For example, if a
psycho ex husband or ex wife had you cornered with a knife or club and was initiating an attack to murder you or your children (e.g grabnstab), this sequence might be a good option. It might even be useful in some cases if they had a gun as long as you could get off to the side a little before drawing. As you mention in your knife defense course an oblique kick might be better. This sequence could also be viable if you are being pursued by an amgry mob for some reason and you can’t out run them. They are just about to catch you and stomp you to death or worse. In that case, thrust kicking the guy in front and drawing like you’ve shown would be a pretty good idea. Maybe you have to shoot them or maybe they back off and give you an opportunity to get away. For those of you in places where you can’t carry weapons (in most of the USA, training and a permit is required) just know that if someone over here thrust kicked and drew their weapon on, for example, an annoying panhandler or someone they just wanted to bully, that is a felony like assault with a deadly weapon, attempted murder, kidnapping etc. Also, yes life-threatening violence is very rare. The majority of us that carry make every effort to make our odds of being in a bad or violent situation even smaller.
Trav … our Real World Survival Sensei!
Front kick seems effective
But I like to fight from one side of the body
A very unusual and creative combination, which seems very practical. But as an Englishman I found it hilarious. The idea of doing the kick, then pulling out a gun and shooting them is surreal.
Nice vid, Trav. *Ahem* XYZ, my friend…And I actually rewound to see if you were actually in your undies, haha. Anyway, good video. Thanks.
Perhaps an even more important reason to not attempt to thread your trigger finger through the trigger guard is that it is the only precision, small muscle movement step in the process, everything else consisting of gross muscle movements. The problem here is that you will most likely not be in a position to consistently perform precise, small muscle movements in the heat of the moment, especially while in the midst of a series of other gross muscle movements, and when you fail to immediately thread your finger through the trigger guard (and even if you succeed) since your brain has learned a movement as a sequence of steps, your brain will have a tendency to freeze up at the moment of failure, and prevent the execution of the other steps in the sequence until such time as you either succeed in accomplishing the failed task or you cognitively modify the initial reaction and force your body to recommence the process.
All of this takes valuable time, time you don’t really have.
Waiting until all the major gross body movement steps are already completed frees up the brain to focus on the single, small muscle movement, increasing the chance of success, AND preventing you from freezing up while still within striking range of the assailant. If you freeze up now, at least you have created additional distance between you and your attacker, and you have a few extra moments to recenter and accomplish the task.
Thanks Trav, you make it as simple as ABC, but first “XYZ”
Hi Trav. I have been training and teaching martial arts for over 35 years. I must say the videos and instructions I have seen on my E-mail have validity. Thank you for reminding me of some things that I have forgotten over time. I am always interested in any information and others point of view on Martial Arts.
Since you mentioned an Olympic Wrestler, what’s a good defense against a suplex after you’ve already been grabbed?
Actually, I don’t carry a weapon myself, I am a weapon. I’ve used the front kick on several occasions in pass street attacks, and it works for me every time, Usually because the idiots are not expecting It and I am also trained in how to kick, spare ribs anyone. Awesome technique though, respect.