PSF Striking & MMA

We felt the heat tonight! Drink water 🚿

Wish Jackson a happy birthday! Him and his dad moved here a month ago to do all of our programs. We are happy to have him and his family. I can tell his dad cares about him. Jackson is competing in 9 days at Globall Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) in South Carolina at a renown Upstate Karate gym owned and operated by UFC star Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. This is the USA Youth National Championship. It’s serves as a qualifier for the U18 USA National Team.

Let’s go Jackson!

Wish Jackson a happy birthday! Him and his dad moved here a month ago to do all of our programs. We are happy to have him and his family. I can tell his dad cares about him. Jackson is competing in 9 days at Globall Association of Mixed Martial Arts (GAMMA) in South Carolina at a renown Upstate Karate gym owned and operated by UFC star Stephen “Wonderboy” Thompson. This is the USA Youth National Championship. It’s serves as a qualifier for the U18 USA National Team.

Let’s go Jackson!

BOXING COMBINATION SHORTHAND GUIDE

Hey guys,

I wanted to explain the boxing combination shorthand you'll see on the whiteboard during class. This is a system boxing coaches use so we don't have to write long descriptions for every combination. It saves time, keeps things organized, and helps us fit more information on the board.

Important: This guide is for boxing only. Some of the concepts carry over to kickboxing, but I'm not covering kicks, knees, or other kickboxing techniques here.

Punch Numbers

Punches are numbered 1 through 6.

Odd numbers = Lead handEven numbers = Rear hand

1 = Jab

2 = Cross

3 = Lead Hook

4 = Rear Hook

5 = Lead Uppercut

6 = Rear Uppercut

Example:

1-2-3= Jab → Cross → Lead Hook

Separating Techniques

You'll see punches separated by hyphens, commas, or spaces.

Examples:

1-2-3

1,2,3

1 2 3

The important thing is that there is a clear separation between each movement.

Defensive Abbreviations

Defensive movements are written using abbreviations.

Some coaches use slightly different terminology, but the concepts are generally the same.

S = Slip

R = Roll

Pu = Pull

B = Block

C = Catch

Pa = Parry

When a defensive abbreviation appears before a punch number, it means you're defending that punch.

Examples:

Pa1 = Parry the jab

B2 = Block the cross

Pa1-B2 = Parry the jab, then block the cross

Body Punch Abbreviations

If a punch has no letter after it, assume it is going to the head.

If a punch has a "b" after it, it goes to the body.

Examples:

1b = Jab to the body

2b = Cross to the body

3b = Lead hook to the body

4b = Rear hook to the body

Generally:

Hooks to the body go to the sides/ribs.

Straight punches to the body go to the front of the torso.

Putting It All Together

Example:

B3b-6-3-2b-B2

Translation:

Block the lead hook

Lead hook to the body

Rear uppercut

Lead hook

Cross to the body

Block the cross

Additional Notes

Extended Number Systems

Most of the time we'll only use punches 1-6.

Some coaches may also use:

7

8

9

These often represent overhands, rising punches, or other specialty punches depending on the gym.

Footwork

Not everything will be abbreviated.

If I want a specific movement, I'll usually just write it out.

Examples:

Pivot

Step Forward

Step Back

Circle Left

Circle Right

Left-Handed Fighters (Southpaws)

Southpaws will perform the punches from the opposite stance, and that's completely fine.

If you're hitting mitts:

Throw the combination exactly as written.

The pad holder should adjust for the puncher's stance.

For example, if a southpaw is hitting and an orthodox fighter is holding pads, the holder simply presents the opposite pad when necessary.

Final Note

I realize this is a lot of information at once, and I don't expect anyone to memorize it all immediately.

This is simply a reference guide so you can better understand what you're seeing on the whiteboard. The more you use it, the more natural it will become.

Great MMA class today everyone!

Striking class mon-thur at 5pm
MMA Class Fri at 6pm!

Come join us!

PSF Striking & MMA is so proud of Chelsea! She is graduating nursing school as a Registered Nurse on Saturday. She’s been juggling being a mom, nursing school, training, work, and life. Every day she trains, her little 5 year old son trains next to her on the other side of the room in the kids jiujitsu program. Chelsea moved here 2 years ago. She left her life behind in California because she thought so much of Pedigo Submission Fighting that she wanted to move here and be part of the family. Chelsea, you are family now!

As a jujutsu gym with many students interested in mixed martial arts, I believe it’s important for them to clearly understand the key differences between jujutsu and MMA — and more importantly, how to approach MMA the right way.
That’s why I created these Six Pillars of MMA. They serve as our North Star for how we train and compete in mixed martial arts. These principles help bridge the gap between pure jujutsu and the unique realities of MMA.
Feel free to share your thoughts or questions.

1. Be Strike Safe:

Perform every technique with constant awareness that strikes are always a threat. Modify or avoid pure grappling/jujutsu positions and entries (deep half guard, certain guards, basic single legs, etc.) because they expose you to punches, elbows, and knees in MMA. Positions and movements that are safe in other arts often aren’t here.

2. Position First:

Prioritize maintaining and improving position over risky submissions, finishes, or low-percentage moves. Giving up position is punished brutally in MMA because bad spots get you hit or controlled. Take calculated risks only when position is secure or the reward clearly justifies it.

3. Dictate Where the Fight Takes Place:

Actively control the battlefield — stand-up range, boxing pocket, clinch, against the fence, or on the ground. Force the fight into areas that favor your strengths and exploit your opponent’s weaknesses. Use the cage as a weapon when appropriate.

4. Manage Distance:

Master control of range across all weapons. MMA has far more variables than any single discipline, so constantly maintain, close, or negate distance. Prevent opponents from enforcing their preferred range while setting up your own entries and combinations.

5. Treat MMA Like Its Own Martial Art:

View MMA as a unified combat sport with its own rules and realities, not a loose collection of striking + grappling. Adapt and integrate tools from boxing, wrestling, kickboxing, and jujutsu holistically. Make your strikes set up takedowns (and vice versa), emphasize clean transitions, and operate everything under MMA-specific constraints. (GSP-style dominance through context, not pure athletic carryover.)

6. Manage Intensity and Pressure:

Control the tempo, rhythm, and emotional climate of the fight. Know when to rush, when to pace yourself, when to agitate, and when to calm things down. Manage your own energy while imposing pressure that breaks the opponent’s will and gas tank.

Everyone stopped 1/2 way through boxing class tonight to watch Kathleen’s son get promoted tonight! Kathleen was doing the boxing class until we all stopped to admire this promotion and family moment. It was too special to ignore! A few other kids were promoted and their parents were there. Afterwards they had pizza and everyone was happy. It’s the human and family moments that are the best part of the team! Congratulations!

Boxing class last night— class M-F at 5:00pm!