Modern Self-Defence: Knee Strikes vs Heavy Punches
You walk into a packed dojo, the smell of sweat and determination fills the air. In front of you, Jeff Chan, founder of YouTube channel MMAShredded and infamous trainer at Glory Martial Arts Center in Brooklyn NYC, stands ready to impart today’s lesson. He exudes a confidence that only comes from decades of dedication to martial arts. Chan’s topic of discussion? Knees vs heavy punches. An intriguing topic that explores the use of core body strength and positioning in self-defence. The front-and-center question: Who wins in the battle of technique and force? Now, let’s get into the heart of the matter. The knee strike, a deadly weapon, harnesses the latent power of your body to deliver a compact yet formidable blow. It’s faster, less noticeable, and requires less energy than heavy punches, which rely primarily on upper-body strength. While heavy punches pack a wallop, they’re often telegraphed and more vulnerable to a counter-attack, leaving the puncher open for a swift and devastating reaction from an opponent. Chan emphasizes the importance of doing knee strikes correctly. Poor form not only reduces its effectiveness but can also cause self-injury. A well-delivered knee strike can effectively neutralize a heavy punch, interrupting the attacker’s rhythm and creating a window of opportunity for a counter-attack. On the flip side, heavy punches aren’t without their merits. With sufficient training, they can be a formidable self-defense technique. Indeed, the power and impact of a well-executed punch can be a game-changer. But in the battle of knee versus fist, according to Chan, precision, speed, and less energy exertion give the knee strike the upper hand. It’s essential to remember that the effectiveness of a move doesn’t only rest with the delivery but also with timing and technique. As Chan notes, “a well-timed knee strike can mitigate an incoming heavy punch, but timing and execution are everything.” As with any martial arts technique, understanding one’s body mechanics and efficient energy use greatly enhances the effectiveness of knee strikes and heavy punches. Practicing these moves helps to build muscle memory, ensuring they become second nature in a real-life self-defense situation. Though MMAShredded’s video serves as a valuable guide, nothing beats hands-on training. Chan’s Glory Martial Arts Center provides this opportunity, allowing students to train directly under a seasoned professional, honing techniques and building confidence. In conclusion, while knee strikes provide a quick, forceful response to heavy punches, it’s essential not to discount the effectiveness of a well-placed punch. Martial arts is about finding the balance between multiple forms and understanding when to use each one. It’s about training, discipline, respect, and mastering your own body. As MMAShredded says, “Train hard, stay safe, and always keep learning.” After all, the road to mastering martial arts is a continuous journey.Remember folks
, the wisdom here isn’t who wins in a fight between knees and fists. It’s about finding your strength, perfecting your technique and utilizing it in the most efficient, effective way to defend yourself. Words to train by!MMA Block
MMAShredded is a YouTube channel owned by professional MMA fighter, Jeff Chan. The channel produces fitness content majorly centred around MMA. Jeff Chan provides insight into his training regimes, fighting techniques, and diet/nutrition. His dedication and expertise make MMAShredded an invaluable resource for MMA enthusiasts and aspiring fighters.
Jeff Chan Block
Haha that backfist was unexpected
You’d kill him in a kickboxing match for sure, don’t even need to mention MMA.
bro punching hard af should have knocked him out Jefferson
From my personal experience knees win.
1) knee bone is super hard. Just a little contact to the rip can create a bruise. I've experiences this myself in sparring.
2) knees to head gets you knocked down easy and nose broken super easy. Not to talk about the cuts
@Jeff just curious have you considered wearing knee pads? So you could actually throw knees without hurting your sparring partner too serious.
I'm very hesitant to throw real knees in sparring, because of risk of injury
I like you but that guy has mean punches
looked very fun
is this muay thay or kickboxing? or MMA w/o the grappling part?
always amazing work – jeff do you have option for people who want to train in thailand that will already be there and don't need the accommodation ?
Whatever lands at the right possible moment is my thoughts on that question 😂
Always love seeing the hard sparring
In this case liked the knees more th.
It gives a different distance control (pushing back, or dragging opponent with a sweep, for example), and it's difficult to manage (since more stamina is needed for kicks than punches), specially if you don't lay on simple round kicks, but variety.
Good job 👍.
Roll them overhands please sir
I know by now I am getting repetitive, but your head movement is 👍 👍
👍🏽
Reyes for sparring is crazy🤦♂️🤦♂️😭
Mortal Kombat voice
CHAN WINS!
Looks like kicks won this one.
If you're going to the head and make sounds like that wear headgear, and better yet, go lighter to the head. This is a regular sparring class, not training for a 6 figure One Championship fight.
Why don’t you use headgear?
I still think you over do it in sparring even-though I think you are very good.
W spar. So technical every timw
Rare footage of my man Jeff actually getting hit.
You can see he was not snaping but his body type makes everything look and feel heavy, i have a sparring partner with the same body type, dude looks lean but you talk to him and learn he is actually 10kg heavier than you.
👊🏾
Love the knees, this was a tough one for sure. But im ptetty sure the people here are oblivious to how many leg licks jeff landed. Jeff had the man wanting to fall😂 great work jeff. True champ.
Damn, dude is also using those Mexican Reyes gloves 😅 that shit hurts to get hit with
Awesome sparring. Hard but never too hard. The smile from both of you at the end of the fight is absolutely priceless 🙏
Your boy is head hunting a little bit 😂
Easy fellas! We get one brain and it only gets dumber.
Knees are def more dangerous than hard punches. Generally speaking!
One thing I’ve noticed is that not only does Jeff have a good chin, he also roll with the punches quite well when they touch him. You’re so light on your feet I rarely see you walk into a shot
Jeff Chan wins.🤣💪🏽
who wins? nobody, depends on the fighter, the strategy, the set up etc etc
speaking from my own exp, you win some you lose some.
Nah man that's too hard for me. Fuck that. Going that hard to often is no bueno. Unless this is your homie I wouldn't do this.
It's like a spear vs a gun
Knees win if person who knees controls the other persons head and arm. If not then punches win
Why do you let it escalate? I hate when I'm going light and the other guy wants to go 100%. Makes me want to knee them in the face
Ahhhh, it’s been way too long since I’ve seen a Jeff Chan escalated spar! 🤣🙌
…and, as is usually the case, totally the other guy’s fault, and you’re still being kind long after he literally tries taking your head clean off 🤷♂️🙏
They go too hard to the head. I thought u were smarter
Well if u throw a knee and get punched on the chin and get knocked out I think we know who wins.
You're both honestly really great! Wish I could train with you
Love seeing sparring where it looks like they’re about to knock each out and then when it ends, you can see the smile on both their faces when they touch gloves
Jeez I want to be good enough to spar like that 🤩
That kid needs to learn how to spar, it's about TECHNIQUE not power. Hell, being that clumsy you're no better than a regular guy trying to fight in the streets🤦♂️
Don't you get headaches jeff???