The Dirtiest Sparring Tricks and Tactics

The Dirtiest Sparring Tricks and Tactics

Self-Defence 47 Comments

In the video “The Dirtiest Sparring Tricks and Tactics,” Icy Mike from the YouTube channel Hard2Hurt, welcomes fellow martial artists and enthusiasts for a candid discussion on covert strategies and underhanded tactics used in sparring. These seasoned practitioners reveal their crafty approaches; not necessarily nefarious, but definitely tricky, designed to wrong-foot even the savviest opponents. Their professions range from distracting feints to exploiting nuances within the rules. Taking responsibility for the craftiness, Icy Mike sums it up, “I cheat. I cheat at everything. Everything I do is dirty.” The banter-filled exchange is not just entertainment, it’s a crash course in trickery in martial arts sparring. Some might call it cheating, but for these guys, it’s all about being one step ahead.



Modern Self Defence: A Look Into the Dirtiest Sparring Tricks and Tactics

As much as martial arts is a noble discipline promoting respect and honour, there is a practical, more brutal side to it especially when it’s about self-defence. Today, I’ll discuss an interesting video by ‘Hard2Hurt’, a YouTube channel run by Icy Mike. The video, uploaded in November 2022, sheds light on the “Dirtiest Sparring Tricks and Tactics” that martial artists resort to during practice or real-life encounters. Our guide through this video is Icy Mike, an expert known for his no-nonsense, evidence-based approach to self defence. Joined by other martial arts enthusiasts like Kevin Lee, Gabriel Varga, and Sensei Seth, he dives into the nitty-gritty of ‘dirty’ fighting. The key premise here is what Icy Mike refers to as “cheating” – or as he prefers to call it, dirty tactics. Anyone who’s spent time sparring knows these tactics could make the difference between a successful escape and a dangerous encounter. One of the first tricks discussed is surprisingly simple. During a sparring session, when an opponent is bumped into, they’d naturally relax and start to walk away – providing an opportunity to strike. This emphasizes the principle of always being ready and to protect oneself at all times. Next, Icy Mike and his cohorts talk about psychological warfare – deceptive tactics like pretending to be tired or fixating on a distraction. This misdirection can allow for an unexpected attack. Sudden attacks when the opponent’s guards are lower occur frequently and are key tricks used during sparring. One more interesting strategy involves subtle methods to displace an opponent’s footing. A simple step on the foot can massively shift an opponent’s balance, possibly disarming them completely. Also, using positioning to disadvantage an opponent – for instance, manipulating the opponent’s head or arms in a clinch situation – is discussed. A particularly clever trick, which Icy Mike admits to being rather crafty, involves using a rear collar tie to land a punch that the opponent doesn’t see coming. Here, the ability to misdirect and surprise the opponent provides a clear advantage. Now, what’s worth noting is the keen sense of improvisation displayed by martial artists in battle. For instance, one fighter uses his missing finger, or ‘nub’ as he calls it, to a surprising advantage, applying pressure in unexpected ways during a clinch. Towards the end of the video, more nuanced techniques are discussed, like pinning the opponent’s neck during a Kimura lock, or using grappling techniques coercing pain out of opponents. In conclusion, these so-called ‘dirty’ tactics are actually smart strategies that provide martial artists with an edge in certain situations. They signify the importance of improvisation, misdirection, and anticipation in self-defence. Remember, martial arts isn’t just about executing the perfect punch or kick, it’s about adapting to the situation at hand, sometimes using unexpected tactics to ensure one’s safety. Are these techniques dirty? Perhaps. But in the battlefield of survival, what matters is the effectiveness of your strategies. Stay safe, keep practising, and remember to adapt as you go.

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Hard2Hurt is a YouTube channel dedicated to self-defense, fitness, and fight science tutorials. Owned and operated by Icy Mike, an experienced fighter and personal trainer, the channel embodies his passions and extensive knowledge on combat and fitness. Seen as a reliable resource, it continues to inspire and educate its subscribers.

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47 Comments

  1. 5:20 that's not illegal because you're not hitting them with that part of the glove, you can touch your opponent anywhere & there is no rule prohibiting you from punching yourself, but the ref could still pull you up on it because it's a slippery slope, if you place your hand on their groin & knee your own hand, is that illegal?

  2. There is something i would like to call: “grapling`s falesy of light sparring“: it`s where grapler easily can dominate against any striker if he is not a noob himself during light sparring ,cuzz under conditions like that strikers will not use or do any demage or have any stopping power while grapler during light sparring sessions will be using any amount of force he wants creating iliusion that any grapler can whipe floor with any striker…

  3. JD is giving me flashbacks of Erik Paulson CSW videos, I've actually got taps from bending ankles around my knee like that catch wrestling style. Seatbelt and Crucifix neck cranks were always my favorite bully moves. One of my favorite "dirty moves" is planting your head under the jaw in a collar tie and then stepping through with an outside trip, when you hit the ground your head becomes a battering ram that will knock your opponent senseless and even sometimes out

  4. With respect…. IT'S BY ACCIDENT! BY ACCIDENT! Please people! It's like nails on a chalkboard to us.
    What happened in the US (and it's seemingly only in the US) that lead to people starting to say "on accident"? It's just so wrong. Always has been. Like, forever. I know you think it's the opposite of "on purpose", and there is logic there, but sadly that's not how language works or the plural of moose would be meese… and it isn't… tough titties.

    I know it's not cool to care about grammar these days, and maybe you're way better than everyone else because you don't care about upholding the integrity of your language, but it's become so common in the US now that frankly, to the rest of the world, it just makes you all sound really dumb (which I'm not saying you actually are).

    So do yourselves a favour guys and say, "by accident", and we can all go back to being friends.

    Rant over. You're welcome.

  5. I would sometimes during sparring slip behind my instructor as protection. 😂 I'm laughing just typing this. And because our martial arts studio was in a community center we had tables and those metal folding chairs near the entrance. One time during knife defense I grabbed one of those chairs like a professional wrestler 😂 😂😂😂 and the instructor allowed it because he said in the real world you use whatever weapon is on hand. 😂 😂 I wish you all could see the look of the guy who's supposed to be the knife attacker 😂 😂 😂 he was like "WTF" and here I am with a folded metal chair 😂😂😂😂

  6. Why dirty sparring in the first place? Shouldn’t sparring be not risky and just honing skill? Do dirty against a board. It hurts just as the real thing 🤣

  7. Years ago, I trained with a girl who loved to snap a front kick low and hook her toes under a cup – rake it back and let the elastic of your underwear snap it back into your junk.

    Doesn’t work with every kind of groin guard – but when it works, it suuuucks

  8. When I was more active I loved to snipe mma glove punches with elbow blocks. Breaking all those little fingies if people put any power into their punches 😈

  9. I did that "Hangman"-technique once on a guy that i had fair-enough reasons to dislike, but whom i had never met in person.

    The beauty of it is that whilst in a crowd of inebriated people it looks like a friendly hug, especially when coupled with something like a loud merry "yeah iv'e heard about you but never had the pleasure…".

    It's risky though, for him and for me since it is up to me to handle whatever antics crazy guy pulls in response.

    One never knows.

    That specific anecdote ended well, he composed himself and uttered something along the lines of "thanks for not fighting".

    The Swedish penal system should have locked him up 20 years ago while he was still earning his infamy, but his ultimate fate was never mine to decide.

    As an addendum; Manipulating cervical vertebrae is never a party trick. Learn the anatomy, practice whichever technique you favor, and know that no matter how good You are, even well-deserving people are subject to Murphy's law. Depending on Your jurisdiction, said law can boomerang back and bite yourself aswell.

    Be mindful.

  10. I love the stomp/push! I teach that one!

    My favorite trick is to start talking about food.
    "Food" is a trigger for the vast majority of humans – much of the time.

  11. Mike should sell training dummies in his likeness 😂😂 although it would be more appropriate for juvenile students considering the height differential lmao sorry bro. As a fellow Mike, I appreciate all you do. Great content!

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