Recently I visited a bookstore to check out their martial arts and fighting section. While the selection was very limited, I did find several books worth recommending. Below is a short list of the standout books I recommend.

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This shadow boxing drilling session is focused on honing in on jabs from both sides and lead front snapping kicks. By mastering the jabs and front snapping kicks you'll be able to keep distance, maintain range, disrupt their rhythm and setup further power shots. This shadow boxing drill will help you.

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In this training session, the focus is on one single powerful exercise: Zercher squats.

This single movement targets your legs while engaging your entire upper body, which is the perfect for wrestling, grappling and fighting.

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I know you're tired. I'm tired. Everybody's tired. So what? No one cares.

It doesn't matter how tired you are, how exhausted you are, how depressed, how sad.

What matters is that you get in here and put in a hard training session at whatever pace you can.

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The following drill will improve your precision, speed, timing and coordination using a simple setup: a tennis ball with an elastic band threaded through it. You can create this yourself (which is what I did) or get one on Amazon. Here's how to set it up and execute this drill.

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This shadow boxing drill focuses on isolating and drilling specific strikes for repetition, targeting technique, form, speed, power. The strikes you'll work on are lead elbow, rear elbow, rear knee and switch knee. Follow this structured, round-based drill to improve your elbows and knees.

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In this post, I'll walk you through 2 simple yet highly effective setups to help you land your power shots: the cross and the lead hook to the body or head.

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Two identical workouts can feel worlds apart.

One day, you're cruising through it, hitting faster, punching harder, lifting heavier. The next, you're struggling to get through the first set, the first round, the first minute.

That's just how training goes...

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To gauge your upper body strength and track your progress, periodically perform a maximum pull-up challenge. This simple test involves doing as many standard overhand pull-ups as you can in a single set without stopping. Here's how to do it and why it's a great way to measure your upper body strength and endurance.

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The question I often see is "Should I deadlift?" The answer is: "Why wouldn't you do deadlifts?"

Deadlift is one of the best full-body strength exercises you can do. It's simple, effective and builds the kind of strength that carries over into real-world combat.

Let's break it down.

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Deadlift day is here and I'm going to walk you through the key stretches I do to get my back, hamstrings, quads, calves ready for the session.

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Intense training, especially in the humid summer months will take a toll on you. You are sweating excessively, losing sodium, electrolytes, minerals.

Drinking water during your workouts will keep you going, but it's not enough for post-training hydration to replenish the electrolytes you've lost. To recover properly and get your energy back, you need something more substantial.

Here are the 3 best natural post-training hydration options.

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I hate being idle. Waiting around or getting stuck in traffic. But even then, you can always be doing something. That's why you should always carry metal grips. I've got a few of these, each with different resistance levels: 150, 200, 250, and 300 pounds.

So here are 3 simple ways you can use metal grip strengtheners to make the most of your downtime when forced to be doing nothing and instead be building a strong grip.

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Extend the life of your boxing gloves and shoes while keeping them free from moisture and dreaded funky smell, especially during summer.

All you will need is packing paper or newspaper.

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Get ready for an intense Kettlebell Snatch Challenge.

This 20-minute challenge that also doubles as a training session will push your cardio, build endurance and develop strength through one powerful exercise - Kettlebell Snatch.

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Single leg squats or pistol squats are one of the best exercises to build leg strength, coordination, agility and balance.

They're very difficult but essential for fighting. From kicking to takedown defense, pistol squat involves squatting down on one leg with the other leg extended straight out in front.

In this post I will break down a progression to help you build up to a full single leg squat or pistol squat.

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Everybody talks about having a sauna to go to get a good sweat going.

You don't need a sauna if you have outside, especially outside in the summer.

Summer is your sauna. Summer sauna training!

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To elevate your striking game, this shadow boxing drill with a mirror is a simple yet powerful tool to improve your technique.

All you need is a mirror.

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Today, on July 4th and while most are taking a day off, you should be out here putting in a training session.

When nobody else is out there training, you must show up and train. And when everyone's back training, you push even harder. The goal isn't just to outwork others (that's a given) but it's also to outwork your previous self.

Every. Single. Time.

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This round-based time system is one of the most effective ways to structure your training sessions. It can apply to shadow boxing, hitting the heavy bag, working the speed bag or even grappling, wrestling or sparring.

The round based system provides structure and clarity. You know how long each session will last, how many rounds you'll complete and the exact rest periods between them. This allows you to focus on the work, whether it's cardio, endurance, technique or freestyle drills – all without wasting time.

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Feints are one of the most powerful yet underutilized tool in fighting.

They are designed to create openings for your strikes. By mimicking a strike or movement, you force your opponent to react, exposing spots for you to hit and land. Not only do feints help you land precise strikes, but they also help to drain his energy physically and mentally, making him hesitant and timid over time.

In this post, I'll break down 6 essential feints, explain how to execute them and give you a practical guide to drilling them through shadow boxing and heavy bag.

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If you watched Holloway vs. Gaethje fight from UFC 300, you saw a brutal 3-punch combo that Hollow threw to KO Gaethje.

This combo targets the body with 2 hooks then finishing with hook to the head. Hitting the body first forces your opponent to drop their hands, leaving their chin wide open.

In this post, I'll break down this combo, give you some variations and show you how to drill it.

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Unleash Your Inner Fighter with Combat Solo: Heavy Bag & Shadow Boxing Drills.

Transform your training with “Combat Solo: Heavy Bag & Shadow Boxing Drills”, the ultimate program designed to build fight-ready power, speed, cardio and technique. All without a gym, coach or training partner.

Whether you're a beginner, intermediate or pro, this program delivers functional, real-world fighting skills through solo heavy bag and shadow boxing drills.

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If you're a beginner learning to punch correctly or have experience but looking to refine and fix bad habits, this slow-and-pause shadow boxing drill will help you build proper muscle memory, correct mistakes and improve technical form.

Here is how this drill works and how to implement it.

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One of the best ways to improve your striking technique, footwork and start putting together seamless combinations and transitions is to do shadow boxing flow drills.

It has helped me build muscle memory, refine movement, technique, and increase speed and precision with my strikes. It’s a drill you need to constantly re-introduce into your training rotation.

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Pull-ups are a cornerstone for fighters, building upper body strength, grip, endurance and functional power for punching, wrestling and grappling.

This complete dynamic movement engages the pull and squeeze mechanics critical for fighting.

Let's dive into 16 pull-up variations that every fighter should incorporate into their training to improve their strength and endurance.

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This 5 minutes routine done every morning will start up your day to make you feel stronger, sharper and ready to deal with anything.

All it takes is 5 minutes. No gym and no-equipment required. Bodyweight only.

Push play, listen to the instructions and do this quick 5-min session upon waking up.

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Want to know how to begin conditioning your shins for kicking?

This post is all about a drill to help you sharpen and condition your shins for kicking.

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Want to learn a fight-changing technique that's simple, effective and downright brutal?

In this post, I am breaking down one of the most underutilized kicks in MMA and a total game-changer for self-defense.

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Stop "working out" and instead start TRAINING!

Each session needs to make you punch faster, kick harder, grip stronger, choke tighter and last longer.

Introducing "Solo Fight Training Routines to Develop Fight Strength, Cardio, Endurance & Explosiveness".

Training routines designed to transform you into becoming ready fight ready to defend, protect and dominate. This isn't about looking good; it's about becoming hard to kill.

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Burpees are one of the best bodyweight exercises you can do.

They are difficult so a lot of people skip them. But it's the last exercise you should be skipping because Burpees mimic the closes movement to a high intensity of a fight - changing levels. Sprawling as if you are defending a takedown and getting back up to your feet. Then by adding the pushup and a jump squat, you work on your strength, explosiveness and fight cardio.

These 12 variations are some of the best ways to level up your training: cardio, strength, explosiveness and grit.

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Got a killer drill for you that'll turn you into a sharp, aggressive, forward-pressure fighter -straight out of the K1 Dutch kickboxing playbook.

It's called 1-2-3, and it's all about throwing crisp, powerful strikes to cause damage, whether you're hitting the bag or shadow boxing.

Curious how it works? Hit the link below for the full breakdown.

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Ever wondered how a simple salad can supercharge your energy? I've got a secret recipe straight from the motherland - a Russian salad I've loved since I was a kid. It's my weekly go-to, packed with just 5 ingredients: tomatoes, cucumber, onion, olive oil, and sea salt. Quick, easy, and a nutrient powerhouse!

What does a salad have to do with training? Everything. Quality food = good nutrients = energy.

Curious how it's made?

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What if you could sharpen your strikes, fix your mistakes and make flawless execution feel automatic - all in one simple drill?

The result? When it's go-time, you'll move with zero hesitation - pure, effortless skill.

Curious how it works?

I've put together a quick post with a video breakdown that walks you through step-by-step...

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Want to boost your punching power right now?

In this post, I'm sharing a drill you can start today. It's all about putting in reps to develop and work on your power.

This isn't about the "how" of throwing punches with perfect body mechanics - that's for another time. Here, I'm focusing on the "what": a practical drill you can do on the bag to build the power you need. It's all about repetition and throwing power shots.

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I'm breaking down 3 combinations inspired by Jose Aldo, all featuring his signature rear roundhouse kick to the legs.

Let's start...

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Want to land knockout punches effortlessly? This one simple setup will pay you 100x forward, guaranteed.

It's the ultimate key to landing any power shot.

And it never fails.

The secret?

Let me break it down for you.

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I have a solo fight training drill using a rope to improve your head movement, footwork and striking all at the same time.

There are 2 parts to this guide.

• Part 1: footwork and head movement only
• Part 2: footwork, head movement and striking

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10 round system you can implement right away to help you master your 4 fundamentals punches and 4 fundamental combinations.

This can be done in shadow boxing or on the punching bag.

Your fundamental four punches you need to start with and always comeback to are:

• Jab
• Cross
• Lead Hook (Head)
• Rear Uppercut

Here is the 10-round system to make you to put in the reps and master your fundamentals...

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The problem most have is being too immobile, too stationary and when they do move, being too slow.

And you have to train to be light on your feet so you can move into position quicker, move out so you don't get hit and get into new angles to hit from before he has a chance to respond.

All this comes from being light on your feet...

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Striking Fundamentals Vol. 2 is now available.

7 essential punches and 15 different combinations to finish fights.

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There are only 5 footwork movements you need to know and master.

That's it. Just 5. No more and no less.

If you master these 5 you'll become untouchable.

In this post I'm going to show you what they are...

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There are 4 (+1 bonus) best bodyweight exercises you can do whenever you re short on time and traveling.

These can be done without any equipment and all can be used to hit a training session to maintain technique, sharpness, strength, cardio and endurance for fighting.

Let's get into it...

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One of the best ways to become better and improve your skill is to isolate. Putting constraints on your drilling and training.

This means only throwing specific punch, kick, combination, takedown, transition, submission or working only defense, offense or counters.

So instead of using all the tools you have, instead you focus on one or selected few.

One of these limitations and constraints is drilling same side lead strikes...

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Been asked: "What do you like for footwork drills for kickboxing?"

Don't separate boxing footwork drills or kickboxing footwork drills or wrestling footwork drills. Combine them all into one. Fighting footwork drills.

As far as footwork drills go, here is what I do. There is a progression but I start off by drilling in isolation...

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"You can't be a fighter if you are afraid of anyone. You've got to be in it to know what it's like."

Got to love old school mentality and training.

Who is Bartley Gorman? And what is the mindset of a bare knuckle Gypsy boxer?

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You need to train to reach a level of exhaustion and then keep going past it.

Many guys make a mistake when they get tired - they stop. You can go a lot longer than your mind is telling you. Your mind is telling you to stop but your body can keep on going.

I'm going to break down what do and what to throw when you reach a level of exhaustion.

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You must build brute strength in your legs for fighting.

There are 3 different Zercher movements you need to be doing: Zercher Lunges, Zercher Deadlifts and Zercher Squats.

And in this routine it's all about Zercher Squats.

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What is the difference between power punches vs flash punches vs check punches?

In this post I'll break down what each of these are and when to throw them for maximum effectiveness in a fight.

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Always stress being perceptive, seeing openings and making split second decisions faster.

All this comes from fighting and training...

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The outside training grounds is the one you've seen me use the most in the videos.

Let me walk you through the ALL the training grounds I use and show you around.

Here is an exclusive Unleashed training grounds tour...

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Upper body strength is a must for fighting. You'll be pulling, you'll be pushing and you'll be squeezing.

And this training routine is focused on building maximum upper body strength with two bodyweight exercises.

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The outside training grounds is the one you've seen me use the most in the videos.

Let me walk you through the ALL the training grounds I use and show you around.

Here is an exclusive Unleashed training grounds tour...

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Your legs are first thing to go and get tired when you start fight training.

You become fatigued and stationary. It starts bad habit of never moving. You need to start doing a lot of circuit plyo work.

I will show you one of the training routines you can implement right now...

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There is a big misconception and wrong information about using shadow boxing with weights.

• Does shadow boxing with weight help you build speed?
• Should you use weights to shadow box with?

I've been using shadow boxing with weights but not for the reasons most think. I'm going to break everything down what you should use it for and what it actually helps to build...

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This fight cardio circuit has it all.

It will help you build strength, endurance and explosiveness...

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You will need to build upper body strength and endurance for fighting. This will apply for boxing or grappling. There is nothing better than simple bodyweight exercises like pull-ups and push-ups.

Here is a perfect training routine for building fighter's upper body...

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Most important punch you have in your arsenal is THE JAB. And I've talked a lot about using the jab.

But there are 6 mistakes you need to avoid when throwing the most important punch. Because what NOT to do is just as important as what to do.

Here are 6 jab mistakes you need to avoid and how to fix them...

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Today's training routine is focused on building fight cardio using Burpees, pull-ups and a punching bag all done as a circuit.

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Blitz forward while punching and move backwards while countering. Forward blitz is aggressive. Backward countering is defensive. Both use footwork and punching at the same time.

I'm going to show you how to charge forward, cover distance and throw punches at the same time. And also how to retreat backwards while throwing counter shots at the same time...

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"Fighter's Footwork Training Program" is now available.

Become untouchable - develop fighter's footwork to move and punch while moving.

You will learn how to use your footwork to get yourself into positions to hit from and get yourself out tough positions to avoid getting hit. Most importantly, you will learn how to punch while moving.

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Street fights are quick, unpredictable and chaotic. You won't have time to pace yourself for 3 or 5 rounds.

You will empty your gas tank within first few seconds and then you have to continue to fight. Will you have the cardio, strength, speed and power to continue past 60 seconds?

Here is a drill you need to introduce into your shadow boxing and punching bag training to help you develop the speed, aggression and cardio to go all out in short intense burst and then keep going...

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Build punching power and endurance in this 3-part circuit using sledge hammer, battling ropes and slam ball.

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The jab > cross is one of your quintessential 2-punch combinations.

It's the fundamental fight combo and one of the most powerful 2-punch sequences you have.

In this post and video breakdown I'll show you how to use the jab to set up your cross to consistently land on target using a freestyle drill...

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When you drill, you are isolating a specific movement, punch, kick or combination in order to instill the technique and body mechanics into your muscle memory. So you can throw it when it matters without a conscious thought.

There are 3 different ways to do this: Slow, Flow, High Pace.

This will give you ability to master any punch, kick, movement and combination. You can apply the same principles to grappling and submission.

I'm going to break each of these down and show you how to do this with individual punches and with combinations...

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"Should I learn how to fight out of both fight stances: orthodox and southpaw? Or should I stick to one stance, my dominant fight stance?"

Primarily you're going to be fighting out of one fight stance, your dominant fight stance: either orthodox or southpaw.

But you do need to be able to also switch to your opposite fight stance when needed.

I will breakdown how to become the best in your dominant fight stance while also maximizing damage from opposite stance...

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Just added FREE bonus audio to the "Sprawl and Brawl: Solo Cardio Training Program".

It was inspired by Sakuraba. An MMA legend who fought in Pride Championship and became known as the "Gracie Hunter". He was known for his unbelievable cardio, having fought 90+ minutes in a single fight. That's in addition of having to fight multiple fights in the same night.

In early 2000s, Sakuraba had a training program showing his fighting method. In one of the drills he shared calisthenics based cardio session. He would do a bodyweight exercise switching to a new exercise every 5 seconds on a round based system.

I got inspired to create something similar for you to implement. So I created an audio for you to use.

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It's not secret fighter's knowledge, that the jab is the most important punch you have.But you can start landing jabs more consistently with one single adjustment.

Double up on them.

In this post and video I will breakdown 3 most effective double jab variations you can begin to drill and throw...

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Pull-ups are one of the best exercises for upper body. It will help to build key strength for wrestling, grappling and punching.

However when you reach a certain level, standard pull-ups without any added resistance become too easy. You don't feel you are actually working until you get to 10+.

You can add weighted vest or weighted belt to increase resistance and this will work.

But I have a better solution for you...

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Flexibility and mobility is the most underused, underdeveloped and undertrained aspect of training and fighting.

Lack of it affects everything. Your speed, power, movement. You will get tapped easier due to lack of full range of movement. You can't kick as high, kick as fast or generate the full power in your strikes.

In this post I will breakdown my 10-min flexibility and mobility session I do every time I train...

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Fighting is all about tension and relaxation. You need to be able to go from one to the other in a split of a second. This allows you to be fast, have the snap and the whip needed to land and not waste a lot of energy while you do it.

Most of the high level fighters have this. One of them is Floyd Mayweather. There is a drill he does that will help you develop this flow then explode ability. I will breakdown Mayweather's drill and how can do to implement it on the punching bag

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There are fights that you must watch as they have important fight lessons to teach. Such a fight is Joshua vs Ngannou.

It was a very short fight, only 1 1/2 rounds but it packs in a lot of fight lessons. Things you can take away immediately and begin to apply into your own training and drilling.

The fight came down to perfect execution of fundamentals.

In this post and video I will breakdown everything Joshua did to win the fight. Most importantly, things you can take away from it and apply to your own training...

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"Sprawl and Brawl: Solo Fight Cardio Training Program" is now available.

It will help you to develop and maintain fight cardio to fight at high pace.

Best part of this program is it can be done anywhere, anytime, you only need 15 minutes, 4x per week with no equipment necessary and it can be done at any skill level...

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What does it take to develop suffocating death grip?

The type of grip when you get a hold of someone's wrist or when you grasp hands together and squeeze, no one is able to break it.

Developing this type of suffocating and unbreakable grip comes from specific set of exercises you need to implement into your training on regular basis.

In this post I'm going to show you what they are and how to train it...

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In a fight there is usually an aggressor.

The one who comes in heavy handed, pressuring and pushing. Especially in a street fight.

All you need to do to combat this are 3 things: move laterally, constantly jab and throw a power cross or overhand.

Let's break each of these down in detail so you can execute this when it matters.

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"Do you have any tips or drills for head movement when working the heavy bag?"

There is no difference when you are working head movement on the punching bag than when you are working head movement in shadow boxing, speed bag, rope drills, pads or sparring.

You transfer how you're moving and what you're doing from one to the other. You keep the same technique, movement, flow and pacing as  you transition from shadow boxing, to pads, to speed bag and to sparring.

Let me give you some specific tips to implement as you drill head movement on the punching bag.

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Jabs win fights.

There are 3 types of jabs you need to start using:

• Snapping jab
• Pawing jab
• Power jab

I'm going to breakdown each of these jabs, tell you what they are used for and how to throw them.

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"Brawl a technical striker and out strike a brawler. The one who can impose their game better - wins."

In Topuria vs Emmett fight that took place in Jacksonville, FL on June 24th, 2023 - Topuria was a better striker. The fight was a clear match up of styles. Topuria being a technical striker and Emmett being a brawler, a power puncher. Topuria put on a technical striking masterclass in the fight and showed how to beat someone who processes one-punch KO power.

In this breakdown you will learn how to be a more technical striker and beat a brawling power puncher.

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What does it mean to "lead with a jab" or "leave with a jab"?

It simply means this:

• Lead with a Jab: before you deliver your combination you lead by throwing a jab first, setting up your combination
• Leave with a Jab: after you are done throwing a combination, you throw a jab while moving out of range or while getting an angle

Let's break this down further on why and how to use this more effectively.

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There are 5 ranges of fighting you need to get good at.

These 5 ranges take you from outside to kicking to punching to clinch/wrestling to grappling.

Each of the ranges is its own discipline. You'll have to get good at them all to be a complete fighter. But you NOT only need to be able to fight in each range, you also need to flawlessly transition from one range into another.

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