Bdang's training theory thread

So I’ve been reading on some fighting strategies, there is a school of thought that states something along the lines of constantly hitting with little or no defense whatso ever.

I’m not talking about crazy wild monkey attacking but methodologically continuously attacking, linking one attack into another and into another and into another… kinda like a never ending combination, everytime you attack you move 1 step closer (unless they are not moving back) when you get close enough you go into elbow combinations as they are quick and damaging. This fighting style starts off from a side stance and when close enough to do elbow combinations, it becomes slightly less sideways.

Whats the general consesus on this strategy? Lets pretend we live in a world where everyone fights standing up and theres no take downs. Would this strategy be effective?

It sounds like you’d get tired really fast, and depending on who you were fighting you’d either get countered hard, or it would turn into a comical girly slap fight.

Knock out or be knocked out. Its a good way to gas out and look silly, if your the one who gets knocked out of course.

You would be playing into the hands of an effective counter striker.

Hmm I hadn’t thought about gassing out hehe but yeah, I guess you wouldn’t be able to go the distance fighting like that. You probably wouldn’t go past the first round haha But lets pretend theres only 1 round and its not a long round either.

Counter punching - hmmm I think you are right… it would definitely play into the hands of a good counter puncher. Assuming he can punch you before you close the distance after your punch.

If you are only training to attack at all times, what do you do WHEN (not IF) the other person performs an effective counter? You won’t be prepared to defend yourself and it would be a quick journey to the mat. Anyone that believes that they are the ultimate fighter and would never have to work on defense is in for a rude awakening.

So my opinion is ‘no way, not effective.’

So basically you want to know what it would be like to be Butterbean? Start eating now, because only overwhelming size and strength will let you prosecute this idea.

Besides, what happens if you are attacking over and over with the wrong stuff? You fly all hands at me my usual strategy is to cover up and start on your legs and about the fourth or fifth time my shin finds your thigh you won’t chase me so good any more.

Try to use this strategy with kicks AND punches, especially high kicks, and you’ll gas out in seconds, not a minute.

So basically you want to know what it would be like to be Butterbean?

YouTube- Genki Sudo vs Butter Bean

I was thinking more of the days when Butterbean only did 4-round boxing exhibition matches, since OP specified no grappling.

I think the idea is to attack and try and get into elbowing range, so you really only punch once or twice before you narrowed the gap enough to start raining elbows from every angle. Even if you block elbows - it’ll be painful as hell and you can’t cover up all angles, you’d likely move back, which is when the person will throw a punch and at the same time close the gap and rain elbows once again.

But as stated above, a good counter puncher will most probably dismantle this type of fighter fairly easily and quickly.

Here is a better strategy:

Pressure your opponent, not necessarly always throwing punches and kicks, just keep the pressure on, jab around, stay a mini-step away from the pocket, feint, throw an occasional 1-2 and leg kick and keep looking for an opening.

Once you have it then bullrush in for 3-5 seconds, if you got him down, good for you, if you didnt its better to back off not to tire yourself and keep on the pressure, looking for another window and actively resting.

Assuming you have really good stamina, this is a feasable way of fighting

think Aleks
YouTube- Aleksander Emelianenko vs Eric Pele

Ignoring the gassing out, I doubt every single attack will land. Someone could just literally circle to the right/outside and the attacker would have to keep compensating for this. And he’s not even throwing anything.

On top of that, what if the other dude has the same exact strategy? Or what if he’s the brawling type? Then you’re still fucked.

This might work if someone’s mentality was always to block and only attack when there’s a break. People block a few and then start throwing back, even if they’re still getting hit. You seem to be ignoring the fact that the “defender” cannot attack.

So your asking if someone who has no defensive skill is able to win using nothing but aggression in a fight where the attacker: Cant take down, Clinch, doesn’t have the reach advantage, Doesn’t know how to stop elbows, cant circle, cant counter punch, and is not a good defensive boxer… Then yes, the answer is your tactic will work…good luck!

Knock out or be knocked out.

Something like the Lawler vs Lytle fight. Entertaining, but generaly not a sound strategy.

you can do it if you are fighting with someone that you are so sure he is so tired, cannot defend himself effectively anymore, and you want to finish him off.(which means you ve been fighting for some time)
(Then again better to remind you, there was a fight named Arlovski vs Fedor)

Or again, you may have an opponent, which again you are VERY sure he is not as good as you(or someone easily distracted, gets scared or something like that), and you don’t want to give him a chance(no surprises) and quickly finish him off.

Other than that I don’t think thats a good idea at all.

And lets say you ve started to do it.Unless you see that this strategy is working %100 percent you should give up quickly so you don’t waste any more energy, or you dont get KTFOed.
I mean lets say you flurried the guy with 4 punches, he blocked all, or you landed only one and it was not a good one at all.(My point is his def>your att)

What is the context for this all-attacks-all-the-time strategy? Is this for a real fight, or sport fighting?
If it’s sport fighting, I think it’s risky at best and stupid as a general rule. There are virtually no top level fighters that just attack all out with no defense at all. These guys can get the flashy KO, but against smart fighters they get beaten down by virtue of their one-dimensional tactics. Even the guys that typically move forward and put pressure on their opponents use defenseive tactics as well (I’m thinking Clay Guida, Nick Diaz types).
If we’re talking street fighting I would think it may be a good idea to just go balls out and attack. Assuming you’re fighting for your life I think you’d be best off to try and nullify your assailant via superior firepower. Even a drunk can throw some dangerous punches - why not put him on the defensive, at least enough to make him pause and reconsider?

Why do you think hitting a brawling drunk dude in the face would put him on the defensive?

Sounds like something they tell you in “reality based self defense” classes :S

my fight strategy used to be something along what the OP descibed, it lasted for one fight before i altered it and went something like this:

I drop him in the first minute and then stand there humiliated for the other two and a half rounds because i’m too gassed to fight anymore… i’m just lucky the guy wasn’t a hard hitter or I would’ve gone to the mat instead of a loss on points. moral of the story is dont be a douche and learn to fight.

I don’t mean pop him in the face once. Isn’t the premise here to attack until the fight ends?

I’m saying attack relentlessly as opposed to trying to make it into a boxing match.

As much as it pains me to post this .gif, it’s a perfect example of what an all out attack without thought for defense could bring. One could say that Wanderlei did well with his style before this, but a big part of The Axe Murderer’s success was due to reputation. The average martial artist simply cannot instill fear the same way PRIDE era Wand did.