Hey Crew,

It's Friday and time for this week's Legends newsletter;

buncha stuff today...

First, info on our newest ESP RAW DVD (volume 160).

This one is full of some serious old-school boxing & wrestling meanness.

This week's Video Clip is
a teensy (but evil) detail on the use of the Rolling Palm when hitting your snap downs. Big thanks for taking the slaps to Louis Gerdon from the crew of uber-coach and excellent human being Kris Iatskevich.

Lots and lots of evil details to be unloaded at the upcoming Western Warrior Boot Camp. You are coming to that right?

This week's article is an advance chapter from our upcoming book Boxing Like the Champs. Today's meanness is a brilliant tip from the fearsome Sandy Saddler.

And last, but not least, check out the ESP RAW Subscription service info. You can save yourself some money on this volume of RAW ($5.50 to be exact) and pick up 3 more volumes of RAW absolutely free. And become a member of the Vale Alliance absolutely free.

Thanks everyone and have a great weekend!

Sincerely,

Mark Hatmaker

Extreme Self Protection

Hammer Hook, the Whip Hook and the Crunch Hook

ESP RAW 160

Hammer Hooks, Whip Hooks, & Crunch Hooks

Beating the Double Wristlock (DWL)/Kimura

This is a Combination Man/Combination Woman two-fer. We've got some sneaky old school boxing and wicked wrestling meanness to toss your way.

First, let's unleash the beast that is the Lead Hook, your go-to power bomb off of the lead side.

We'll cover the 3 ways to throw H-A-R-D F-A-S-T lead hooks.

The Hammer Hook used by sluggers the world over, the Whip Hook which is a beautiful development for some lighter weight classes, and the wickedly beautiful unusual mechanics of Brazilian Champ Eder Jofre's Crunch Hook.

Put all three of these tools in your lead hand and you've got the start of a wrecking machine!

As for our wrasslin' portion of the program, if you been wondering why we've been emphasizing the Reverse Lever over the Double Wristlock (DWL)/Kumura? [And if you don't know how to hit the Reverse Lever yet, jump aboard the RAW crew and it will be your new BFF.]

Well, for one, the Reverse Lever is so TIGHT, you just gotta love it, but for two the DWL is easily countered. It is for this reason we won't do video clips of the escape material, we must keep some secrets for the RAW crew.

We'll cover the 4 Principles of Beating the DWL, and then proceed to see how they apply in so easy it's nuts variations all over the body.

We'll cover the standard beat for the standing DWL, the Rear Body-Lock DWL that the formidable Renzo Gracie lost his elbow to in his classic match vs. the great Sakuraba.

We'll hit the mat where it really matters and bust that Cross-Body DWL easy as pie, bust up 2 versions of Dorsal DWLs, knock it off inside 1/2 guard, and smoke it in the bottom scissors (guard) position.

Again, no video clips of this stuff as I must remain true to my crew (we will hit it at The Western Warrior Boot Camp). I will give a hint, the Reverse Lever is still involved, but not the way you think.

It's a mind-blower and stupidly simple.

This volume (as with all volumes of RAW) comes with a printed syllabus for inclusion in your training notebook.

ESP RAW 160 can be had this month for $32 (S & H included--Domestic & International) at the end of the month the price goes to $42 Domestic/$52 International. [Of course, it's only $26.50 for the RAW Crew.]

To pay only $26.50 for this DVD + receive 3 other RAW DVDs for free and gain free membership to the Vale Alliance, subscribe to our ESP RAW DVD Service.

Connecting the Foot to the Fist

Hey Crew,

Here is a preview from our upcoming book Boxing Like the Champs. It will feature dozens of lessons of historical boxing tips and tactics from the rip-roaring bare-knuckle days of pugilism up to the modern glove era.

And in case you were wondering, yes, we will be unveiling some of these at the Western Warrior Boot Camp. [And ditto for historical wrestling tips from an companion book.]

SANDY SADDLER & CONNECTING THE TOE TO THE FIST

Let's look to the featherweight great for another lesson, this one is so simple it almost feels like a throwaway tip, but if you work it for a week or two with diligence your eyes will open to "Why didn't I know this from day one?"

OK, we've already covered the fact that many saw Sandy Saddler's rough and tumble style with its occasional lapse into less-than-inside-the-lines tactics as lamentable. Detractors and appreciators alike seldom point to Saddler as a graceful boxer, but no one disputes that he was a great fighter all the same.

He is often appreciated for his grit and his power but seldom do you hear him referred to as one of the great defensive geniuses of the ring. Well, allow me to be the one to tell you that there is a subtle little bit of defensive (and offensive) genius in Saddler's stance and movement, a brilliant little trick that can keep that lead hand in almost perfect position to defend or fly out with a ready offense (particularly when using either the slashing inside or slashing downward jab covered in a previous lesson.)

The good news for us, is that this tip is so easy to learn it's almost laughable.

What is this tip?

Saddler stood and moved as if his lead hand was connected to his lead foot.

When he was standing tall with a narrow stance, that fist was tucked close to the body.

When he hit a wide stance or was in active movement we see that hand move out with his lead foot.

The key to the whole thing is when the lead hand is not being used to hit or to defend it is ready to do either, and to make it ready to do either Saddler-style is to envision a vertical pole protruding from the big toe of the lead foot. This pole is always on a strict vertical axis and never tilts in any direction.

Put that lead hand on top of that pole and voila!

CONNECTING THE FIST TO THE TOE

Here are a few drills to get this under our belts.

MIRRORWORK

Get in front of the mirror and hit a few rounds of offensive and defensive movement...
All the while striving to keep that lead fist on top of the pole when it is not in use.
Tip: Go thru as many wide and shallow footwork iterations as you can to seat this concept.

BAGWORK

Hit the same drill on the bag.
Often we fall back into old habits when we get primarily offensive with the bag.
For several rounds bang while paying attention to the pole-position.

TAKE IT TO THE PADS

Same here, whenever you or your coach catch your hand out of pole-position call it and get it where it needs to be.

This is such a simple concept I am shocked it isn't used from day one in training. We all hear "Get those hands up!" but seldom do we hear addressed how to actively and effectively position that lead hand when on the move.

Big tip of the hat to Mr. Saddler!

To become a RAW Subscriber and receive Vale Alliance membership absolutely free, as well as pick up 3 RAW DVDs for free click the RAW Subscription button on the RAW Crew page.

To join the Vale Alliance or for even more details about what you'll receive as a member click here.

The Western Warrior Boot: Levels I, II, & III

This Boot Camp covers hardcore old school pugilism, grueling takedown and clinch work, wicked ground and pound, and devilish bone-snapping jugular squishing submissions.

But that ain't all...

Add to this mix real-world chaos drills for street self-defense and tactical operative response. Sensory impairment drills, awareness drills, handicapping drills, plus many others from The Outer Limitsvocabulary.

Plus...

Tried & true historical warrior conditioning, you know the fun stuff that was used by warrior cultures of days gone by. You will work hardihood and stamina drills used by the Spartans and the Mimbreno Apache. You'll experience challenging strength work in the Roman Legionnaire and Knight tradition. Plus many intriguing ideas culled from the Viking sagas, the Celtic warrior ethos, and many other fierce traditions.

We will be pushing limits, testing limits, breaking limits, and setting new horizons.

To foster that warrior camaraderie...

This Boot is a Team Event. Whether you come with partners in tow or form squads upon arrival these squads will "compete" against one another in all aspects: Combat Drills, Technique Execution, Warrior Conditioning Challenges, everything. The idea is to create camaraderie, foster a no man left behind ethic, and have teams plan/strategize/conspire as they coach teammates through different skills and drills.

Think you ain't ready?

Sure you are. All tasks will be scalable to the individual. No man or woman is left behind in the Western Warrior Boots. The only ones left behind are those who don't bother to show up and then ask "What's it like?"

That's no way to live a life. Get out there and taste it, get out there and do it, Crew!

The Western Warrior Boot Camp is offered in 3 Tiers, you pick and choose your own level of HOO-RAH!

Level 1-Is all day Saturday, February 27th, 2016.
Level 2-Is all day Saturday & Sunday, February 27 & 28th, 2016.
Level 3-Is all day Saturday- with intermittent "emergency" sessions throughout Saturday night, and all-day Sunday. In this version you will camp right there in the gym, sleeping on the mat.

Each Attendee will earn a shirt denoting their level of accomplishment.

This inaugural Boot will be held at Coach Bill Whitworth's beautiful facility.

Red Dragon Martial Arts

284 South Daisy St.

Morristown TN 37813

If the above all-in-one Western Warrior Boot speaks to the warrior inside you here's the price of admission.

Level 1: $75 ($65 for RAW Crew or Vale Alliance members.)

Level 2: $110 ($95 for RAW Crew or VA Members.)

Level 3: $150 ($125 for RAW Crew or VA Members.)

Click the button below to hold your place with at $30 deposit:

And yes, you can choose to upgrade at any point on Day 1, or build to your Level II, & III Trifecta at future camps.

Well, are you ready to train, drill, move, and live like a Warrior?

To become a RAW Subscriber and receive Vale Alliance membership absolutely free, as well as pick up 3 RAW DVDs for free click the RAW Subscription button on the RAW Crew page.

To join the Vale Alliance or for even more details about what you'll receive as a member click here.

Western Warrior Boot Camp Info

Video Clip of the Week

Rolling Palm Snap Down

Hot Deals

It's New Year's Resolution time, in aid of that here's a deal we're running for the entire month of January.

Come aboard the ESP RAW Crew Service (just $26.50 per month/$36.50 International) and you'll get...

One ESP RAW DVD every month. [Either the featured volume or your choice from our back library of 150 titles.]
15% off of all products and services in our store (Western Warrior Boot Camp Attendance included.)
Free membership in The Vale Alliance.
Free access to 6 Combat Conditioning WODs per week.
Free access to 6 Days per Week of Combat Drills of the Day which cover Boxing, Wrestling, & Street work.
Free access to the No Second Chance Book of Assignments our massive workbook of interactive readiness drills.
Free access to The Vale Alliance forum where you will find instructional and historical material from myself and Coach Kris Iatskevich.
Free access to Coaching Conferences via email, messaging, or phone.
3 Free RAW DVDs of your choice as a sign-up bonus.
And-for the 1st 3 months of 2016 we'll include an additional volume of RAW (your choice) absolutely free with your 1st 3 months of membership. So, that's 2 per month thru March, Crew.

Again all of the above benefits for just $26.50 monthly ($36.50 International) far less than most every gym fee in the world.

If you are resolving in the New Year to train harder, to box with edges (elbows and illegal blows), wrestle like a beast, and indulge in the warrior spirit past and present-come aboard crew and we'll go on this journey together.

All the best in the New Year!

Mark Hatmaker

Seminars

We'll be in St. Louis on April 9th for our team-up with Danny Hoskins and the Native American Warrior Arts Crew for some blade-work with Danny, rough and tumble from me, and Rik Brown will be there as well swinging some bad-ass mace.

To register or for details click here.

We'd love to come out your way. If you'd like us to come to you, see our Pick An Adventure Info and we may just come to you far cheaper than you'd imagine (I'm easy when it come to new friends and fun stuff.)

Legends Newsletter Archive

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