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When my couple clients recently completed their seventh and eighth hours of Submission Grappling Personal Training, we dedicated a special double lesson to two crucial positions: the turtle position and the seatbelt hold. These positions form the backbone of many effective submissions and escapes in grappling. By focusing on these areas through constraint-led games and guided sparring, we were able to deepen their understanding and sharpen their skills with several key submis

Elbows are natural weapons in close combat. Their short range and bone structure make them ideal for quick, powerful strikes that can break through an opponent’s guard. Traditional Karate bunkai often includes elbow movements, but these are usually practiced in solo kata or pre-arranged drills without resistance. This leaves practitioners unprepared for real sparring or self-defense scenarios where timing, angles, and counters matter.

Teaching boxing remotely presents unique challenges and opportunities. Recently, my teacher clients from Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub in Denmark joined their sixth hour of remote online boxing personal training. This session focused on a crucial skill: fighting out of corners. Watching them adapt their living rooms into training spaces with interlocked mats forming a makeshift corner was inspiring. It showed how creativity and clear guidance can overcome physical distance and spa

When a client has trained consistently for over seven years, their lessons naturally evolve. Instead of focusing on one combat sport or technique, the sessions become a blend of universal themes and cross-disciplinary skills. This shift allows for deeper exploration of complex moves and variations that challenge both the mind and body.

Starting a new grappling course can feel like stepping into unfamiliar territory, especially when transitioning from wrestling to submission grappling. My client recently finished his wrestling course and began a Submission Grappling Personal Training program focused on mastering side control. This position is a cornerstone in grappling, offering control and opportunities for submissions or transitions.

Tonight, my couple clients reached the sixth hour of their Mixed Martial Arts personal training course. We have progressed to ground 'n pound techniques and then moved into attacking the turtle position. This session focused on the seatbelt position, from which I introduced several submission set-ups leading to necktie submissions. These techniques build on what we covered last week, where we transitioned from an arm-bar attack from the back to the scorpion necktie. This time

After nearly a year and a half working with a senior client on boxing, today marked an important milestone: the penultimate class in his current course. Over the past 18 months, we have focused primarily on boxing techniques, steadily building his skills, confidence, and fitness. Despite some breaks due to outside commitments, his progress has been consistent and encouraging. Today’s session was designed to layer his training, testing his ability to combine different punches

Boxer in gloves faces a Taekwondo fighter kicking, set against a dark background with orange sparks. Text: "Unlocking Potential" and blog link.

Muay Thai training demands a balance between technical skill, physical conditioning, and strategic sparring. A recent personal training session with a long-term client highlighted how structuring sparring rounds and combining them with targeted strength work can elevate performance. This post breaks down the session’s approach, explaining how alternating sparring styles and integrating posterior chain exercises can build a fighter’s resilience and effectiveness in the ring.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) demands a strong grasp of fundamental positions and transitions. One key position that builds a solid base for many attacks and defences is the seatbelt hold. Recently a client completed his 10-hour Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training focusing on ground positions and moved into attacking the turtle position. This brought us back to one of MMA's foundational systems: Submission Grappling. The next step involves martial arts cross training, allowing ex

When my client and I first started his wrestling personal training journey, we trained through the lens of Greco-Roman wrestling. That style limits attacks to the upper body, which means no leg grabs or trips. Lesson five finished this area of training with the par terre position. Five lessons later, we revisited the par terre position, but this time from the freestyle wrestling perspective. This shift opened up a whole new world of grips, tactics, and leg attacks.

When training mixed martial arts personal training, mastering control from dominant positions is essential. One of the most powerful positions is the back mount, where you have the opponent’s back and can threaten with submissions like the rear choke. Recently, I worked with a couple of clients who had already developed solid skills from the turtle position. Our next step was to explore attacks from the back mount, focusing on transitioning from a rear choke threat to an arm-

Kickboxing blends techniques from various martial arts, and one of the most powerful and versatile strikes is the round kick. For practitioners transitioning from karate to kickboxing, understanding the differences in how this kick is executed can unlock new levels of power and effectiveness. Recently, a group of karate students from Hinnerup, Denmark, continued their remote online kickboxing personal training with a focus on mastering the round kick, specifically the Muay Th

Boxing is a sport of angles, timing, and space control. One of the most valuable lessons for any boxer is learning how to fight effectively from both outside and inside positions. This week, my teacher clients from Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub in Denmark returned for their fifth hour of Remote Online Boxing Personal Training. The session focused on improving boxing skills from the outside, using a structured approach that combined footwork, timing, and tactical awareness.

Muay Thai personal training offers a powerful way to build skill, strength, and endurance. A well-rounded session combines focused sparring, targeted strength exercises, and proper recovery methods. Tonight’s 1.5-hour Muay Thai personal training session provides a clear example of how to structure training for maximum benefit. This post breaks down the key components: sparring rounds, posterior chain supersets, and PNF stretching, explaining why each matters and how they work

Wrestling Personal Training Takedowns are the foundation of freestyle wrestling, and mastering them requires more than just strength or speed. It demands precision, timing, and control, especially in the grip fighting phase where battles are often won or lost. In my recent wrestling personal training session, I focused on combining all three takedowns covered earlier in the course, emphasizing grip fighting, sweeps, and leg tags. This approach helped my client develop a fluid

When couples come to me for mixed martial arts personal training, they often want to learn practical skills that build confidence and teamwork. One of the most challenging yet rewarding positions we focus on is the turtle position. This lesson dives into how to effectively use ground and pound techniques from this position, helping both partners sharpen their offense and defense in a controlled, safe environment.

Recently, my senior client and I focused on developing both hooks, building on the foundation we set with the left hook in previous lessons. This post shares the techniques, drills, and training methods we used to sharpen the check-hook, along with tips on improving bobbing and weaving to make this punch even more powerful.

Man demonstrating martial arts moves on a red mat. Text: Empowering Personal Safety Strategies for Individuals with Special Needs.

Remote martial arts training presents unique challenges, especially when focusing on complex skills like footwork and combination techniques. One of my clients from Drum Martial Arts and Fitness in Ireland has been progressing steadily through online sessions, and our recent work has centered on refining footwork while layering in combination strikes. This approach not only improves movement but also enhances the ability to set up and execute effective techniques like the che