I always found the exchange of ideas and concepts helped me grow as a Martial Artist. Before I was a World Champion I would get together with all of the top fighters and pick up ideas as well as improve and perfect my techniques on “real world proponents”. This is how I grew, in a community of fighters. In the past you needed to be “in the fold” to get this inside knowledge but today with the development of the internet and instantaneous communications you can have it on demand.
Welcome to a new and ongoing avenue to gain information from me, I am a former World Karate/Kickbox Champion, my name is Joe Lewis. I have developed a definitive and comprehensive study into how to magnify the inner will and self-confidence of today’s martial artist.
My lesson plans are designed to keep you ahead of the curve--- a balanced blend between the ideas of the traditional “old school” masters and the cutting-edge technologies of today’s top martial art trainers. Let me know how you like this first of an ongoing “Tips from the Top” series
For study: Click on this fight between Ray Mercer Vs Remy Bonjasky.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EXkcYul1LRo
This short clip illustrates a classic matchup between two world class fighters---both champions in their day. One is a boxer and the other a full contact karate/kick boxer. The disciplines of each are not as important as are the attributes (mental skills) that each exercises or fails to exercise.
TACTICAL LESSON 101:
(1) Do not stand straight in front of a good kicker and allow him to get set at his chosen range.
(2) Against a good lead-off kicker---you MUST fire first or move side to side, not in and out. A good kicker controls the distance in a vertical plane---do not play an in and out game with him. You must know how to move up and down (dipping, crouching, ducking) or side to side (angulations). Against a good kicker, you need to get inside the pocket, step off on an angle (turning him) and then hit him.
(3) Note that the taller kickboxer, Bonjasky, denies Mercer access to the pocket. Remy knows that Ray is not going to kick because he is wearing boxing shoes (no kicks allowed with laces). Never allow your opponent to detect what you are going to do---or NOT do.
(4) The ultimate key to fighting is to control your opponent. If you allow or let your opponent exercise his will---fire or shoot---then HE is in control. When you force or make him fire or shoot, then YOU are in control. Study the clip---Mercer lets him kick.
(5) Old saying: When in doubt, stick and move…..or, step back quickly and observe. Whenever an opponent fires a quick unexpected technique or shoots, you always drop with a quick half step back with your rear foot---then you roll defensively (inside or outside) OR you stabilize your opponent using either hand. You just do not freeze and get hit. If you do---this means you are not focused.
(6) Never enter the ring not being properly focused. Watch Mercer as Bonjasky triggers the kick. The actions or non actions of one’s physical performance are an exact reflection of the actions or non actions of ones mind. Mercer’s reaction is almost non existent. This means he was thinking (conceptualizing) instead of observing his opponent.
Mercer appears as if he is almost too focused on preserving the dignity of his stance (typical trait of classical practitioners) than he is on not getting hit. He was not into that proper level of attention called pre-consciousness. This state of mind using precision mental skills is almost a lost art. Of the five levels of attention, this level allows the fighter to appropriately use reflex timing---that which enables one to react instantly without any thought.
The Joe Lewis Fighting Systems offers drills that can easily be taught to develop this mental faculty.
P.S. One MUST learn to protect the lower chin and neck area with the rear hand at all times. Study my defensive rhythm set drills on my private lesson series on http://www.joelewisfightingsystems.com/ web site.
All JLFS members can download each new monthly lesson offered on our web site to enrich this type of knowledge and easily integrate this material into their own system or teaching method.
“I have learned that a man has the right to look down on somebody, only when he is helping him to get up.” Gabriel Garcia Marquez
Joe Lewis
Former World Karate/Kickbox Champion
United States Marine Corps
(Member of 1st U.S. combat unit in Viet Nam---8th Marine Brigade)
“Get your training tips and cutting-edge curriculum ideas from the same place I get mine.” Joe Lewis
About Me
- Joe Lewis
- is the only four-time U.S. National Champion and the only three-time International Champion. Mike Stone and Lewis are the only ones who won the big three in the same year--The World Championships, the Internationals, and the U.S. National Championships. (There just were no Tae Kwon Do tournaments in his earlier fight career and the Traditional Japanese tournaments would not let any "outside fighters" like Mr. Lewis compete in their events.) Lewis was a 2-time U.S. National Kata Champion----never defeated. He was twice voted the "Greatest Karate Fighter of All Time" by his peers, both in North American and again in Europe. Lewis was the first martial artist to win a world championship in two sports, Karate and Kickboxing. Troy Dorsey, his Friend, became the second. His greatest career achievement was working with Tom Tannenbaum, the senior Vice-President of Universal Studios, (world's largest at the time) to put sport karate back on National TV in 1974. It had been black listed by all major networks for nine years, since its last airing in 1965.
