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Alex Buxton

140 Combat Moves is Amazon’s most popular, and highest rated, Self Defence and Close Combat DVD set and it is now available online so you can have instant access.

This easy to follow step-by-step Self Defence course provides you with all the knowledge you need fight effectively. You will learn all the theory, techniques and tactics that normally take a martial artist or security professional years to acquire.

Read more

140 Combat Moves is Amazon’s most popular, and highest rated, Self Defence and Close Combat DVD set and it is now available online so you can have instant access.

This easy to follow step-by-step Self Defence course provides you with all the knowledge you need fight effectively. You will learn all the theory, techniques and tactics that normally take a martial artist or security professional years to acquire.

Practicing regularly, you will increase your fitness, increase your confidence and learn how to protect yourself, your family and your friends. A fight should not last longer than a few seconds. To ensure you win quickly, all these techniques follow three simple rules. They:

  • are realistic, designed against specific attacks you may find yourself having to defend against.

  • are effective, with fast moves aimed towards pressure points and target areas.

  • require no martial arts experience, anyone can perform these moves with a little practice.

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What's inside

Learning objectives

  • Self defence
  • Street fighting
  • Martial arts
  • Close combat
  • Self defense
  • Fighting skills

Syllabus

You will learn the basic principles of self defence which you will use as your foundation moving forwards

Please read me before you begin this course.

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In this section you will learn basic principles including how to make a fist and how to throw an effective punch combination. You will learn key striking points and pressure points and how to open and close your opponent.

We will also show you how to stand correctly, how to execute basic blocks and how to cover up if you are attacked.

You have multiple weapons at your disposal, not just your hands. Here amongst other techniques, we show you how to deliver a devastating shin kick, how to avoid receiving one and how to (to quote The Karate Kid's John Kreese) sweep the leg.

We would recommend that, if you do find yourself on the floor, you get back onto your feet as quickly as you can. Here we offer you some ways you can do this.

We don’t recommend you try ground fighting. In reality, ground fighting is very difficult to maintain as you get tired very quickly. Also, you can only attach one person at a time. So, if the person you’re fighting has got a friend, and you have done a takedown, the back of your head will be exposed for them to strike.

From our experience as door staff, pub managers and events security, the most common attack you can expect is a head punch. This is why we spend some time on demonstrating your options to counter this. From grabbing your opponent’s throat to locking their elbows, disabling their arm to bringing them to floor, you will learn them all.

A slightly less common attack is a low punch to the ribs. We will show you how to block and counter with incredible speed and devastating consequences for your opponent.

If someone throws a punch at you and you want to take put them on the floor, we will show you - amongst other moves - how to sweep the leg, roll their head, spin their body and clothesline them to the ground.

If you miss your opportunity to end the fight after your opponent’s first punch, you have to expect multiple punches to come in. We will show you how to cover up and counterattack. This includes headbutts, tearing the ear, introducing your knee, locking them up and taking advantage of pressure points.

If somebody grabs your wrist, it is a natural reaction to try to pull away, or up or down to get out of it. But they’re just not going to get go, especially if they are bigger or stronger than you. So, to get out of it, you need to use your body mechanics and their body mechanics to your advantage.

If your wrist is grabbed, you might want to capitalise on your opponent’s mistake. We will show you how to take advantage of the situation and dominate your opponent in a matter of seconds.

Whether you are grabbed bodily from the front or behind, whether your arms are pinned or you are being choked, there s always a way out. Here we show you simple and effective responses to these threats.

You may be grabbed by the shoulder or, if you are wearing a suit, by the lapel. We show you how to take advantage in these situations, either putting a lock on your opponent or putting them on the floor.

When you are being strangled you only have a few seconds in which to react. Here we show you ways to escape, lock your opponent up, hit a pressure point or bring them to the floor.

If someone tries to push you, we will show you how you can manage the situation, either by delivering an effective counter attack or simply by putting them on the floor.

Attacking people’s arms and joints is used mainly if you want to discourage them from attacking you rather than if you want to hurt them. So these may get you out of trouble but they won’t put the other person down. They’re useful to know but, if you’ve only got the chance to throw one punch, it is always best to aim towards a pressure point like the bridge of the nose or the solar plexus.

If you find yourself involved in a fight, you really want to have it over in just a second or two. However, if you don’t win in that time, you might find yourself in a clinch. This happens when you find yourself very close to your opponent. They might latch onto you so you can’t punch them, or it might be the other way around. So, this is how you deal with very close-in fighting.

Although these techniques are effective, we strongly recommend you don’t get involved in any kind of knife fighting. One false step ad there will be some very obvious, serious consequences. Even if you are experienced in unarmed combat, it’s important to remember that the person with the knife has got a few extra inches of reach and this needs to borne in mind when you are distancing yourself from them.

Saying that, this is what you would use if you absolutely can’t get out of it.

You can also protect yourself with improvised weapons that you are likely to have with you. You can use common objects like rolled up newspapers or magazines, keys or even coins. The key point here is to hit the target areas that we discussed earlier.

You can help your fellow students by leaving a review of this course. The review helps your fellow students make the decision to take the course or not. It helps them understand how your experiences in the course helped you to increase your self-defence knowledge and confidence, and then they can decide if they want to follow in your footsteps.

Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Focuses on realistic techniques applicable to common street attacks, which is valuable for practical self-defense knowledge
Emphasizes quick and decisive moves targeting pressure points, which aligns with the goal of ending fights rapidly
Designed to be accessible to individuals without prior martial arts training, which makes it beginner-friendly
Includes defenses against common attacks like punches and grabs, which are useful for real-world scenarios
Addresses knife defenses, but strongly advises against engaging in knife fights, which is a crucial safety consideration
Explores the use of improvised weapons for self-defense, which can be helpful in unexpected situations

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Reviews summary

Practical self-defense for realistic scenarios

According to learners, this course offers a practical and effective introduction to self-defense techniques focused on realistic street scenarios. Students frequently praise the clear, easy-to-follow instruction and the instructor's demonstrated expertise. Many report feeling more confident after completing the material. The course is highlighted as being particularly good for beginners with no prior martial arts background. While providing a strong foundation, some reviewers note that consistent practice and potentially supplemental training are needed to fully internalize the movements for real-world application. Overall, the course is largely positive and delivers on its promise of teaching useful defense moves quickly.
Techniques require consistent effort to master.
"You definitely need to practice these moves regularly on your own or with a partner."
"Don't expect to be an expert without putting in the work to repeat the techniques."
"Mastering the movements for them to become automatic requires significant repetition and drilling."
Provides a strong base for self-defense.
"It's a great starting point and gives you a solid foundation in basic self-defense."
"Consider this a strong intro; it gives you the core principles to build upon."
"I feel I have a good base understanding of how to react in a dangerous situation."
Helps learners feel more prepared.
"I feel much more confident walking alone now, knowing I have some options."
"Knowing these moves has given me peace of mind; I feel less vulnerable."
"The course really boosted my belief in my ability to defend myself if needed."
Great for those with no prior experience.
"I had zero martial arts experience, and this course was perfect to get me started."
"Great starting point if you're new to self-defense and feel intimidated by traditional gyms."
"Didn't feel overwhelmed; the course design is very accessible for absolute beginners."
Videos and explanations are easy to follow.
"The video instruction is crystal clear and the steps are broken down perfectly."
"Everything was explained simply, making it easy to learn even complex moves."
"I had no trouble following the steps even as a complete beginner, very accessible."
Moves are useful and applicable to real life.
"The moves taught are really practical for street situations and easy to understand."
"I felt these techniques were realistic unlike some flashy martial arts moves you see."
"Great focus on scenarios you might actually encounter, making the training very relevant."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in 140 Combat Moves - Self Defence and Street Fighting with these activities:
Review Basic Anatomy and Pressure Points
Reinforce your understanding of key anatomical targets and pressure points to maximize the effectiveness of your self-defense techniques.
Show steps
  • Study diagrams of human anatomy, focusing on vulnerable areas.
  • Research common pressure points and their effects.
  • Practice locating these points on yourself and a willing partner (with light touch only).
Review 'The Gift of Fear'
Learn to recognize pre-attack indicators and trust your intuition to avoid potentially dangerous situations.
View Melania on Amazon
Show steps
  • Read the book and take notes on key concepts.
  • Reflect on personal experiences where your intuition may have warned you of danger.
  • Practice identifying pre-incident indicators in everyday situations.
Practice Basic Blocks and Punches
Reinforce the basic blocks and punches taught in the course through repetitive practice to build muscle memory and improve reaction time.
Show steps
  • Review the proper form for each block and punch.
  • Practice each technique slowly and deliberately, focusing on accuracy.
  • Gradually increase speed and power as your technique improves.
  • Practice combinations of blocks and punches.
Four other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all seven activities
Sparring Practice with a Partner
Apply the techniques learned in the course in a controlled sparring environment to improve timing, distance, and adaptability.
Show steps
  • Find a training partner with similar skill level.
  • Warm up properly before sparring.
  • Start with light contact and gradually increase intensity.
  • Focus on applying specific techniques learned in the course.
  • Cool down and stretch after sparring.
Create a Self-Defense Scenario Video
Solidify your understanding of self-defense principles by creating a video demonstrating how to respond to a specific attack scenario.
Show steps
  • Choose a common attack scenario (e.g., wrist grab, chokehold).
  • Plan the video, outlining the attack and your defensive response.
  • Film the video, demonstrating the techniques learned in the course.
  • Edit the video and add narration explaining your actions.
  • Share the video with others for feedback.
Review 'Meditations on Violence'
Gain a deeper understanding of the realities of violence and how to apply your training in real-world situations.
Show steps
  • Read the book and reflect on the author's insights.
  • Compare the techniques taught in the course to the scenarios described in the book.
  • Consider how you can adapt your training to better prepare for real-world violence.
Develop a Personal Self-Defense Plan
Create a personalized self-defense plan based on your individual strengths, weaknesses, and environment to improve your overall preparedness.
Show steps
  • Assess your physical capabilities and limitations.
  • Identify potential threats in your daily life (e.g., walking alone at night, using public transportation).
  • Choose the most effective techniques from the course to address these threats.
  • Practice your plan regularly to build confidence and muscle memory.

Career center

Learners who complete 140 Combat Moves - Self Defence and Street Fighting will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Self Defense Instructor
A self-defense instructor teaches individuals how to protect themselves in dangerous situations using practical, effective techniques. This course, focused on 140 combat moves for self defense, would help a self-defense instructor enhance their curriculum and skill set. With the course's emphasis on the three rules for winning a fight quickly, a self defense instructor may be able to teach students techniques that are realistic, effective, and don't require prior experience. The course provides a strong foundation in self-defense principles, helping the instructor produce adept and confident students.
Personal Protection Specialist
Personal protection specialists, often called bodyguards, are responsible for ensuring the safety of their clients, often in high-risk environments. A course on self defense and close combat helps any personal protection specialist learn the physical skills necessary for defusing dangerous situations. The course's focus on realistic fighting techniques, including defenses against punches, locks, grabs, and even attacks with weapons, provides a foundation for protecting both themselves and the people they are safeguarding. This course's emphasis on practical, immediately applicable moves helps a protection specialist in real-world scenarios.
Security Guard
A security guard's primary responsibility is to protect people and property, often in unpredictable or confrontational situations. This course, which teaches techniques for self defense and close combat, may be useful for a security guard looking to enhance their ability to handle physical threats. The course provides instruction in realistic fighting techniques, including blocks, strikes, locks, and defenses against grabs, that security guards can leverage to respond to potential physical altercations. The course emphasizes fighting effectiveness with techniques that require minimal martial arts experience, ensuring a security guard can be prepared for a fight.
Bouncer
A bouncer, sometimes called a door supervisor, manages the security of a venue, often handling aggressive or intoxicated patrons. This course may be useful to a bouncer, teaching them practical self-defense techniques for managing physical confrontations. The course covers defenses against punches, grabs, and other common attacks as well as methods for quickly subduing an aggressor. Because the course focuses on realistic, effective moves that require no prior experience, a bouncer can learn how to protect themselves and others in the chaotic environment of a bar or club.
Law Enforcement Officer
Law enforcement officers are often placed in situations requiring them to use physical force. A course teaching realistic self-defense techniques may be useful for any law enforcement officer seeking to improve their ability to manage physical altercations. The course covers a range of topics, from basic blocks and strikes to more advanced techniques like joint locks and defenses against grabs, enabling an officer to de-escalate situations effectively and protect themselves and others. Additionally, this course's focus on quickly ending a fight benefits law officers who need to bring a situation under control swiftly.
Corrections Officer
Corrections officers work in high-stress environments where physical altercations can occur frequently. This course on self-defense and close combat may be useful for a corrections officer, providing them with techniques to manage potentially dangerous situations. The course covers a wide array of defenses against common attacks, including punches, grabs, and pushes, as well as techniques to quickly control and subdue an aggressor. This course can help make any corrections officer more prepared to handle aggressive inmate behavior effectively and safely.
Martial Arts Instructor
A martial arts instructor teaches students the techniques and principles of martial arts, and may teach self-defense. The course's focus on practical and effective self-defense moves, could assist a martial arts instructor seeking to broaden their knowledge of self-defense techniques for students that may need to defend themselves in the real world. The course stresses realistic applications, which helps an instructor teach practical skills. Specifically, the course’s attention to weapons, pressure points, and defenses against various attacks, means students of the instructor will learn a well-rounded approach to self-protection.
Emergency Medical Technician
An emergency medical technician provides medical assistance in emergency situations, sometimes in chaotic or dangerous environments. While not their primary focus, a self defense course may be useful, helping an emergency medical technician protect themselves while assisting others. The course provides realistic self-defense techniques that are effective and require no prior martial arts experience. This course can help any EMT learn to defend themselves in potentially violent situations.
Event Staff
Event staff members are responsible for ensuring safety and order at events, which sometimes involve managing crowds and potential physical altercations. This course in self-defense and close combat helps an event staff member develop the skills needed to handle difficult situations. The course's focus on real-world techniques for defending against punches, grabs, and other attacks means that an event staff member can respond effectively to physical threats. By being trained in realistic self-defense skills, they can better protect both themselves and the attendees they're supporting.
Fitness Trainer
A fitness trainer designs and leads exercise programs for clients, sometimes incorporating self-defense elements. This course could help any fitness trainer seeking to add a self-defense component to their training sessions. The course covers a multitude of techniques, including basic strikes, blocks, and defenses against grabs which the trainer could then translate to clients. The course also emphasizes the importance of fitness in self-defense and the practical nature of these moves could help trainers in providing a complete training program, blending physical fitness and real-world self-defense.
Loss Prevention Specialist
Loss prevention specialists work to prevent theft and fraud in retail and other environments. This course may be useful for a loss prevention specialist, as they may encounter situations where they need to physically protect themselves or others. The course's emphasis on realistic self-defense techniques, including defenses against punches, grabs, and other attacks, can assist someone in this role be better prepared for physical confrontations. The course can help a loss prevention specialist feel more confident in their ability to handle unexpected physical aggression.
Investigator
An investigator conducts inquiries, sometimes in dangerous environments. This course on self-defense and close combat may be useful for any investigator working in high-risk situations. By learning realistic self-defense techniques, such as blocks, strikes, and defenses against grabs, an investigator can be better prepared to handle physical threats. While an investigator's focus is on gathering information, the skills taught in this course may enable them to operate more safely and confidently.
Risk Assessment Specialist
A risk assessment specialist identifies potential hazards and vulnerabilities in order to minimize harm. While this role typically involves analysis rather than physical action, knowledge of self-defense techniques may be beneficial for a risk assessment specialist. By understanding real-world dangers and how attacks happen, a risk assessment specialist can better identify risks and advise on preventative measures. The course's discussion of common attacks and defenses helps provide a realistic perspective on potential safety threats, improving any risk assessment specialist’s ability to evaluate and mitigate risks.
Safety Inspector
Safety inspectors assess workplaces and environments for potential safety hazards. While a safety inspector does not participate in physical altercations, knowing how these attacks might occur or can escalate helps a safety inspector more thoroughly assess risk factors in their reports. The course on self-defense and close combat provides this background on close-quarters combat, equipping a safety inspector with a perspective they otherwise might not have. This background gives them extra information for their inspection and can help improve the effectiveness of their assessments.
Paralegal
A paralegal supports lawyers in preparing cases and conducting research. While not directly involved in physical altercations, a paralegal working in a field such as criminal law may benefit from this self-defense course. Understanding the dynamics of physical conflict, as taught in the course, can provide a paralegal with insights when preparing cases. This course, while not directly applicable to the day-to-day tasks of a paralegal, can provide valuable context when dealing with cases involving assault or violence, enhancing a paralegal's understanding of the complex issues surrounding violence.

Reading list

We've selected two books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in 140 Combat Moves - Self Defence and Street Fighting.
Explores the realities of violence and how martial arts training can differ from real-world self-defense situations. It provides insights into the mindset of attackers and the importance of situational awareness. This book is more valuable as additional reading to provide a deeper understanding of the psychological and practical aspects of self-defense. It challenges common misconceptions about fighting and emphasizes the importance of de-escalation and avoidance.

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