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Home » Martial Arts

Martial Arts

From Underground Bareknuckle Fights to the Biggest MMA Stage in the World, with Denis Kang

September 8, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Denis Kang, MMA fighter

In the early 2000s Denis Kang was one of the top MMA fighters in the world with wins over Minoru Suzuki, Murilo 'Ninja' Rua, Akihiro Gono and Marvin Eastman. In this interview, Denis opens up about: The mindset shift that took him to a 22-fight undefeated streak... How he dealt with the death of his fiance while competing for the biggest MMA organisation in the world... How … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: Denis Kang, History, Interviews, Martial Arts, MMA, MMA training, Pride FC, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Video

Ramsey Dewey on MMA Training and Self Defense

August 26, 2024 by Stephan Kesting

Ramsey Dewey on The Strenuous Life Podcast

Ramsey Dewey is an MMA coach now based in Shanghai, China. I really enjoyed our conversation, including How wearing headgear in sparring actually makes things WORSE for your brain His controvesey with Master Wong Why China could take over MMA What self defense 'experts' get wrong What happens to martial arts that don't spar Ramsey's experience on The Ultimate Self Defense … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: Martial Arts, MMA, MMA training, Ramsey Dewey, Self Defense, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Video

Chiropractic Back Care and Martial Arts (Podcast)

January 25, 2022 by Stephan Kesting

Martial Arts Back Pain and Chiropractic Care

In episode 353 I chat with Troy Schott about martial arts, recovering from back injuries, and living healthy. In a world full of woo I really appreciate his thoughtful, skeptical and scientifically informed approach to health. Chiropractic Back Care and Martial Arts, with Troy Schott (Video Format) Here's the video version of episode 353 of The Strenuous Life Podcast Some of the … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Injuries, Martial Arts, Podcast, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Troy Schott

A Revelation That’s Helped Me ‘Win’ More than 10 Street Fights

May 27, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

Winning street fights by not fighting

Today's video (and podcast episode) is story about the first time I 'won' a street fight by realising that the other guy - an older, shabbily dressed, homeless man - was almost certainly mentally ill. A good street fight is one that you walk away from or de-escalate, because even if you KO the other guy you could still lose (as I discussed in my Death After the Knockout article. Be … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: Martial Arts, Self Defense, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

Are You in a Jiu-Jitsu Cult?

February 2, 2021 by Stephan Kesting

BJJ and Martial Cults - a conversation with Matt 'Aesopian' Kirtley

I've wanted to talk with Matt Kirtley for a LONG time because of his BJJ background, but it just so happens that he's done a ton of research into cults and cult-like practices, so we went off in some pretty interesting directions in this one! Some of what we talked about in episode 310 of The Strenuous Life Podcast includes... Red flags that you might be in a jiu-jitsu cult Changes to … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: BJJ, Carlos Gracie, Cults, Interviews, Martial Arts, Matt Kirtley, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting

My Path from Kung Fu to Jiu-Jitsu (Podcast)

October 27, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

A podcast about my path from kung fu to jiu-jitsu

On today's episode I'm interviewed by Randy Brown on his podcast about my journey through Kung Fu and how I found jiu-jitsu.  Lots of nuggets about training safely and effectively in this one! Follow Randy on Youtube, Instagram or check out his website. Tweet me @StephanKesting, check out my Instagram: @Stephan_Kesting, and get on my email newsletter - I use it to put out a TON of good … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: BJJ, Interviews, Kung Fu, Martial Arts, Randy Bro, Schools, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

Five Tips for Training During Coronavirus Lockdown

April 14, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

5 strategies for training BJJ during covid

As I write this most clubs, dojos and training groups all over the world have shut down for a very noble cause; to flatten the coronavirus curve By shutting things down we're slowing (not stopping) community transmission of this virus, which in turn prevents the medical system from being overrun all at once and allows the system to manufacture and stockpile masks and other personal protective … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Grappling Techniques, Health & Nutrition, Podcasts Tagged With: BJJ, Cardio, Conditioning, Grapplearts DVDs, Grappling Dummies, Martial Arts, Nutrition, Self Defense, Solo Drills, Strength Training, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

My First Martial Arts Teacher

February 28, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

Stephan Kesting and Frank Hatashita

When I was 8 years old I presented my mother with an ultimatum. I handed her a crayon-written note, "I want to go Judo.  It is not fighting.  I want to go NOW or I will go on strike." I was pretty serious about this, but Mama Kesting wasn't going to be that easily bullied.  Needless to say I didn't get to go to Judo that year. In fact it took another 3 years of campaigning before I was … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Training Tagged With: Frank Hatashita, Gi, Judo, Martial Arts, Teachers, Teaching

5 Critical BJJ Skills for BJJ Self Defense

January 17, 2020 by Stephan Kesting

A lot of people don't know that I actually run TWO sites.  There's this one, Grapplearts.com, of course, but then there's also SelfDefenseTutorials.com. One of the most popular articles on that site is called The 5 Most Important Self Defense Lessons from Jiu-Jitsu... https://selfdefensetutorials.com/5-quick-lessons-on-grappling-for-self-defense/ To help spread the word I recently ranted … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Competition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: BJJ, Martial Arts, Self Defense, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

How Many Coaches Do You Need To Be Serious About Martial Arts?

December 22, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

The four types of martial arts coaches

The days of learning from just one instructor if you're a serious martial artist or MMA competitor are over. Nowadays you need at least four different coaches... A jiu-jitsu coach A striking coach A wrestling coach A conditioning coach I go into more detail on this topic, including for whom this applies and for whom it doesn't, in the following video and audio podcast episode … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Self Defense, Training Tagged With: BJJ, Conditioning, Martial Arts, MMA, MMA training, Striking, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video, Wrestling

Mindset and Motivation in the Martial Arts and the Rest of Life

June 8, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

brett piperni taekwondo podcast

Brett Piperni has spoken about mindset and motivation on the TED stage and I was very happy to get him on my podcast because he shared some great tips! I particularly his approach to creating 'have-to' situations in life. His story is that he was a nationally ranked Taekwondo competitor when he came down very serious illness that threatened his life and left him crippled. Multiple … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Brett Piperni, Interviews, Martial Arts, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

New Self Defense Focussed Module for Your iPhone or Android Phone

January 14, 2019 by Stephan Kesting

The Self Defense Guard for iPhone and Android

People have been asking for me to include more self defense material on the Grapplearts BJJ Master App. And, as always, your wish is my command! The Self Defense Guard - a 2 module instructional for iPhone and Android - is now the newest module with the Master App. I did this instructional together with BJJ black belt Elliott Bayev. In it you'll get the techniques and strategies from … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Grappling Techniques, Instructional Videos Tagged With: Android, Closed Guard, Elliott Bayev, Grapplearts, Grapplearts BJJ Master App, Grapplearts DVDs, Ground and Pound, iPhone, Martial Arts, MMA, Open Guard, Self Defense

Rehab and Prehab for Martial Arts

December 14, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

It was a pleasure to talk with Dr Mark Cheng about injury rehabilitation and rehabilitation today on The Strenuous Life Podcast. Mark has worked with lots of combat athletes in all sorts of martial arts disciplines. He has also trained with some really good instructors, some of which I know personally. Here are just some of the things we cover in this podcast... The process of … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Health & Nutrition, Interviews, Podcasts Tagged With: Dan Inosanto, Injuries, JKD, Kung Fu, Mark Cheng, Martial Arts, MMA training, Rehab, Sparring, Striking, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Podcast Episode 181: Why is Sparring So Hard? (Audio + Video)

December 8, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

Ritchie Yip is the brains behind The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass, and in this episode he and I sat down to discuss the path to kickboxing mastery. Too many beginners feel great when they're hitting the pads only to have everything fall apart the very first time they spar.  Sparring can be a completely different beast from just drilling technique, and the transition can be incredibly … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: Drills, Martial Arts, MMA training, Ritchie Yip, Sparring, Striking, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video

Brand New Instructional – The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass

December 4, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

Precision Kickboxing Masterclass

What's a grappler like me doing getting involved with a project like The Precision Kickboxing Masterclass that officially launched today? Totally valid question... First of all I trained in Muay Thai, Jun Fan JKD, and Kajukenbo for years. And dabbled in Savate, Capoeira and Boxing. I like to think that I was pretty good at striking back in the day. One of the things I learned is that … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Instructional Videos, Miscellaneous, Self Defense Tagged With: Grapplearts DVDs, Martial Arts, MMA, MMA training, Ritchie Yip, Self Defense, Striking

Grappling and the 5 Ranges of Fighting

November 23, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

grappling and the other fighting ranges

I've said many times that BJJ is a fantastic sport and fitness activity, but that at it's core it's a martial art. And it being a martial art means that you have be able to use it to defend yourself. Now it's pretty hard to beat BJJ and submission grappling as a martial art at close range. The ability to move up the positional hierarchy, getting to more and more dominant position, is a HUGE … [Read more...]

Filed Under: For Beginners, Mixed Martial Arts, Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: Martial Arts, Self Defense, Striking, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Video, Weapons, Wrestling

Podcast: Exposing Martial Arts Frauds with McDojolife!

October 19, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

Podcast about martial arts frauds with McDojoLife

Rob from McDojoLife has been relentless in his attempts to expose martial arts frauds, exposing everyone from from chi-based knockout masters to ninjas who practise bending joints in the direction they are designed to bend. Honestly some of the videos he's shared with people over the years have been hilarious for all the wrong reasons! (Scroll down for some of my favourite videos!) In … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Miscellaneous, Podcasts, Self Defense Tagged With: Interviews, Martial Arts, McDojoLife, Self Defense, Sparring, The Mental Aspect, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting

Do Dirty Fighting Moves Work in Grappling?

October 16, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

DIRTY TECHNIQUES IN GRAPPLING

Have you run into that guy who thinks he can eye gouge his way out of your mount, groin punch his way past your guard, and bite your ribs from side control? Well, today's video is for him! Now it's true that on the street you may need to pull hair, gouge the eyes, kick the groin, grab the throat. Then, if all that doesn't work then you'll need to start fighting dirty ;) But a martial … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Podcasts, Self Defense, Training Tagged With: Martial Arts, Self Defense, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training, Video

Kata is Useless for Combat, Prove Me Wrong. A Discussion with Iain Abernathy, 7th Degree Karate Black Belt.

September 30, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

iain abernathy karate application podcast

In some ways this podcast about the usefulness of kata was destined to happen... In the last couple of years several people suggested that I should talk to Iain Abernathy, an expert in the application of karate kata, because I am generally quite dubious about the utility of karate kata and kung fu forms. Then I published a controversial video on Youtube called "Why Kung Fu Forms and Karate … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: History, Iain Abernathy, Interviews, Karate, Martial Arts, Shotokan Karate, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

Podcast Episode 65 – Interview with Sensei Ando Mierzwa, Is Martial Arts Training for Everyone?

June 10, 2018 by Stephan Kesting

I think you'll like this one: in this episode I speak with Ando Mierzwa (Sensei Ando) who is a black belt in Tae Kwon Do and Kung Fu San Soo with extensive experience in BJJ, Aikido, and Shotokan Karate.  We talk about levels of realism in training, tribalism in the martial arts, the fighting arts as a tool to feel some control in a chaotic universe and much more. To listen to this conversation … [Read more...]

Filed Under: Interviews, Podcasts, Training Tagged With: Aikido, Ando Mierzwa, BJJ, Grapplearts, Interviews, Kung Fu San Soo, Martial Arts, Sensei Ando, Shotokan Karate, Stephan Kesting, Tae Kwon Do, The Strenuous Life BJJ Podcast with Stephan Kesting, Training

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