Diary / Training Notes

When I began working with my client from Cotswold Karate School, a martial arts teacher deeply committed to improving his teaching methods, we focused on using Muay Thai personal training to enhance the existing elbow strike techniques in karate. This cross-training approach has opened new doors for both of us, especially in how his students can better incorporate elbow strikes into their sparring. Recently, we wrapped up a session that introduced the K-block and various comb

Teaching boxing remotely presents unique challenges, especially when focusing on defensive skills that require precise timing and body awareness. Recently, my teacher clients from Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub in Denmark joined me for their fourth hour of Remote Online Boxing Training. This session focused on defensive work, breaking down the layers of defense and integrating footwork drills to build a solid foundation.

When my client expressed a desire to improve his triangle choke, I knew this session would take us deep into the world of Submission Grappling. The triangle choke is a powerful submission move that can turn the tide of any fight, but it requires precision, timing, and control. In this lesson, we focused on breaking down the triangle choke from guard, along with related techniques like the Omoplata and the arm-bar. These moves are essential tools in any mixed martial arts pers

Mastering the double-leg takedown is a key milestone in wrestling personal training. This technique is a fundamental move that can quickly change the momentum of a match. In my client’s eighth hour of training, we focused on sharpening this skill through targeted drills and sparring games. The session not only emphasized the mechanics of the double-leg takedown but also the defensive counter, the sprawl. Here, I’ll share the structure of the lesson, the sparring activities we

When my couple clients returned for their third hour of Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training, we focused on a critical but often challenging position: the half-guard. This lesson built on their previous session, where we explored half-guard fundamentals on open ground. This time, we took it to the wall, or cage, to simulate real fight conditions where movement is limited. The goal was to sharpen their ability to defend and attack from half-guard when space is tight and option

Boxing footwork can make or break your performance in the ring. One of the most effective movements to improve your agility and positioning is the L-step. This morning, while working with my teacher client from Drum Martial Arts and Fitness in Galway, Ireland, we focused on fully integrating the L-step into boxing footwork through a series of shadow boxing drills. These drills not only sharpened technique but also enhanced fluidity and balance.

Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) demands mastery across multiple fighting ranges, each requiring unique skills and strategies. During a recent hour-long session, my client and I explored all the major ranges of MMA sparring. We structured the training into focused 3-minute rounds, covering boxing, kickboxing, shoot-boxing, clinch work, and ground fighting from both top and bottom positions. This approach offers a comprehensive way to develop well-rounded skills and sharpen transition

Hour seven of my client's Wrestling Personal Training course brought us onto the single leg takedown. There are many different ways to execute this technique, but for the purposes of this basic lesson we concentrated on two. They were taught using a series of constraints-led games following our warm-up.

My long-time couple clients returned for their weekly Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training session on Monday (23.02.2026), where we explored the use of the half-guard in MMA. We are on their second lesson of this particular course. The half-guard has had an interesting journey in this particular sport.

My senior client entered the sixth hour of his current boxing course. We are going through the finer details of basic punches. Last week we covered the jab; this week it made sense to look at the next straight punch: the cross.

Teaching martial arts is a continuous journey of growth, not just for students but for instructors as well. As a martial arts teacher, you know the value of expanding your skill set to offer richer, more effective training to your students. One way I have seen this happen firsthand is through martial arts teacher training that incorporates techniques from different disciplines.

My clients from Hostlebro Taekwondo Klub, Denmark (chief instructor and instructor), joined me for the third their current course of boxing lessons. We moved more onto some specialised footwork - shift steps, mainly from the peek-a-boo style and v-steps - to switch stances and take angles. After a specific warm-up and shadow boxing, we moved back onto the specific (constraints-led approach) sparring methods.

My veteran client (he has been training with me consistently since 2014) followed on from last lesson by shifting our focus onto knee strikes. We isolated these techniques and then integrated them into every specific sparring round.

Training in Mixed Martial Arts Personal Training often involves mastering various combat sports and techniques. Over the years, I have guided my client through different disciplines, from boxing to shoot kickboxing, helping him build a versatile skill set. Recently, during his sixth lesson in a specialised martial arts cross-training course, we focused on an intriguing sparring method: no-head contact sparring. This approach offers unique advantages that enhance both skill de

Wrestling is a complex sport with many styles and techniques, each offering unique advantages. As my client progresses on his MMA journey, we recently shifted focus from Greco-Roman Wrestling to Freestyle Wrestling during his sixth private wrestling class.

Tonight marked the first hour of a new course focused on the ground-fighting range of MMA, often called "ground 'n pound." I had the privilege to train a couple who have been with me for over six years. Their journey is well documented on my YouTube channel, so be sure to check out their story there. This session was a deep dive into passing a closed guard, blending traditional submission grappling with the striking elements unique to mixed martial arts personal training.

Boxing offers a powerful way to improve fitness, coordination, and confidence at any age. For my senior client, who has been training with me for over a year, boxing is not just a workout but a path to staying active and sharp in his 60s. Recently, during his fifth lesson of the current boxing course, I chose to focus on one of the most fundamental punches in boxing: the jab. No matter how experienced you are, refining the jab remains essential. This post shares the exercises

Training footwork is one of the most challenging aspects of martial arts, especially when teaching remotely. Footwork requires precise movement, timing, and spatial awareness, which can be difficult to convey through a screen. Recently, I worked with the head instructor of Drum Martial Arts and Fitness in Galway, Ireland, focusing on improving his footwork using boxing as a model. Boxing offers some of the most refined footwork techniques among combat sports, and the L-step i

On the 13th February 2026 my client from Cotswold Karate continued his Martial Arts Teacher Training course on isolating and integrating elbow strikes via Muay Thai.

Transitioning smoothly between striking ranges is a skill that separates good Muay Thai practitioners from great ones. Whether you are a beginner or an experienced fighter, understanding how to move between boxing, clinch, and kickboxing ranges can improve your effectiveness and adaptability in the ring. This guide breaks down practical ways to train these transitions, illustrated by a recent training session with a long-term client recovering from a back injury.