"Do not punch the head! I want you to punch the body!" There was no bell, only loud pop music on a timer. When the music started he came at me with those two big 18-ounce gloves, growling like a cornered leopard, covering the distance between the edge of the training mat and me in […]
(Photos by Sebastian Troen) All trainers and fighters should prepare as if their fight is the most important in their careers. And it could be – people tend to remember you no further back than your last fight… This article is for coaches, preparing that fighter who has reached a higher level – a professional […]
I was reminded the other day of a student I once had, named Louwtjie. I don't think he'd mind me using his name, as the story I want to tell will indicate one of the joys of teaching martial arts. I was still a first dan instructor in my early twenties and taught in a […]
So many people ask me why I always implore them to train, stay in shape; build some strength and train in combat. The answer is simple and two-fold: You WILL at some point in your life need to handle a physical confrontation – man or woman. You'll be lucky if it only one and it […]
Republished with permission from the author. If you like this article please considering buying the book. See https://www.lulu.com/kobus for details. Photos by Sebastian Troen. So how good is your technique? Since you're a pro, by this time, you should be well versed in the basics. Your technique shouldn't be a problem, right? Well, not always. […]
Photos courtesy of Sebastian Troen Leadership and mentorship is the mark of a true trainer. You can only get the best out of a fighter if you focus on the mental aspects of your training. Many fighters don't know their own potential and other have delusions of grandeur. The way to get through this – […]
One thing that I've been asked as a fighter over and over is how to prepare mentally for fights. As a coach, I spend a lot of time preparing my fighters mentally. It's a non-stop process. This article is for fighters and coaches alike. It's lengthy – but read it out to the end. Consider […]
How long is the fighting life of a fighter? We all know it's not long, compared to say, a banker or a lawyer. What are the average earnings of a fighter over this period? Well, we all know that most fighters struggle to pay the bills, so most have an extra job. Why is his? […]
Ever since I took up training in martial arts at the age of thirteen, I was training for "real life" situations. I think most of us did. We visualized fighting "real" enemies before we visualized title belts. We read about the old masters from Okinawa who fought invaders with makeshift weapons and bare hands – […]