The Phoenix Way

The Phoenix Way 🥋 Practical Self Defense
👊 40+ Years Experience
⛩️ Hanshi • 8th Degree Black Belt
👇 Free Training Below
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Discover how ANYONE can train and enjoy mixed martial arts, boxing, self defense and fitness no matter your age, fitness level or experience level… Our program is structured for a complete Mixed Martial Arts experience. Covering all aspects of the martial arts game from the stand up, clinch, takedown to grappling. Our stand up foundation is deeply rooted in traditional Kyokushin martial arts, the

takedowns in Judo and last the ground is Jiu-Jitsu based. Our facility was founded through the inspiration and dream to instruct young and old alike in a positive make it happen environment. We maintain a very high level of quality in our training and our commitment to you is to make you the best you can be.

08/20/2026

When sparring, there’s a time to plant your feet, square up, and fight. But there’s also a time to get off the line.

At some point, standing directly in front of your opponent and just banging it out becomes a game of diminishing returns.

I’m a big advocate of using angles. Step off the line, change the position, and force your opponent to adjust. Those angles create openings—and once I see the opening, I come right back in and attack.

Don’t just trade shots. Create the opening. Use the angle. Then attack. 👊🏻🥋

08/19/2026

In this video, Jake has a tight clinch on me. Instead of fighting his strength and getting rag-dolled around, I take my arm and latch it across both of his arms, locking them down.

From there, I use my palm across his face or chin to create separation, shrug his arms off, regain my position, and immediately come back in striking. 👊🏻🔥

Control the arms. Create space. Get back to work.

08/18/2026

When throwing any spinning kick, stay off your heels.

Keep the supporting heel slightly raised so your weight stays on the ball of your foot. This allows you to pivot quickly, rotate the heel to the target line, and generate a faster, cleaner spin.

Spinning wheel kick, back kick, side kick—it’s the same principle: ball of the foot, never the heel. 👊🏻🔥

08/17/2026

One of the biggest mistakes I see with the spinning back kick and spinning side kick is over-rotating the body.

I can’t tell you how often I make this correction while teaching. People naturally think, “If I rotate more, I’ll generate more power.” In reality, that extra rotation often causes the kick to break down and lose power.

The key is keeping your back and glutes toward the target as you drive the kick through. Your heel finds the target while your hips and glutes provide the power. Once you open the body too early, you start turning the technique into something completely different.

Don’t confuse more rotation with more power. Stay tight, stay aligned, and drive through the target. 🥋💥

08/16/2026

After 40+ years in the martial arts and thousands of rounds of sparring, one thing becomes very clear: the better the fighter, the more you need to mask what you’re doing.

When it comes to spinning techniques, I see a lot of people use a step-over before they spin. Against an experienced fighter, that can be a dead giveaway. You’ve just told them two things: you’re moving, and you’re about to spin.

For my spinning back kick, I prefer no step-over at all. I pivot on the ball of my foot, heel toward the target, turn my head to find the target, chamber tight, and fire.

The real key is masking the spin. I’ll often use hand strikes, combinations, or attacks up high to occupy their attention before I turn.

No step-over. No warning. Mask the spin and let the kick come out of nowhere. 🥋🔥

08/16/2026

POWER SIDE THRUST 🥋💥

When I’m looking for maximum power on the side thrust, I’ll use a deep step behind to load the kick. But here’s the key: the power isn’t coming from the leg alone. It’s coming from the glute and hip driving through the target.

I step deep behind, get my heel pointed toward the target line, and bring my knee up as high and tight as possible. From that chamber, I drive the glute and hip forward first—the foot follows.

That’s where the real power comes from. Too many people try to muscle the kick with just the leg. Instead, think about driving your entire hip and glute through the target.

Glute leads. Foot follows. Power transfers. 👊

08/14/2026

There are several ways to throw a spinning back kick. This variation is tight, compact, and aimed lower into the body.

What I really like about it is how well you can hide the kick. There’s very little wasted motion or big wind-up to give it away. Turn tight, find the target, and drive straight through. 🥋💥

The best techniques aren’t always the flashiest. Sometimes it’s the one they never see coming.

08/13/2026

One of the greatest gifts of a lifelong martial arts journey is the opportunity to give back and impact others.

I’ve been blessed to work with someone like Sensei Chloe, who is talented, hardworking and incredibly coachable. 🥋

If you want to teach or coach, just start. Like martial arts, becoming a great teacher takes reps.

I always come back to my Three E’s: Be Engaged. Be Enthusiastic. Be Energized.

The Three E’s = Your Great Impact. 🙏🏻🔥

08/13/2026

One of my favorite body strikes is the Ash*ta Suzuki. 👊🔥

Think of the hand motion like opening and closing a drawer. The punch travels in a tight, straight line as you uppercut directly into the body.

The power isn’t just coming from the arm. I’m stepping into the strike, dropping my hips, and then driving up through the body. When everything connects, it’s a short, compact shot that generates a tremendous amount of power without needing a big windup.

Simple motion. Tight mechanics. Serious impact. 🥋💥

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170 Patterson Avenue, STE 6
Shrewsbury, NJ
07702

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