🥊✈️ The Knockout Wasn’t the Lesson

In partnership with

Hey Warrior,

The punch was clean.

The knockout was fast.

And the real threat? That came after the body hit the floor.

Let’s break it down.

This week’s scenario looked simple on the surface.

One punch. One collapse. End of story?

Not even close.

Because as the bouncer hit the concrete, his attacker’s buddy was drawing a gun.

Things could have ended up way worse.

Recap

Monday – Scenario Snapshot

We kicked things off with the Nightclub Knockdown.

Looked like a textbook de-escalation at first—until it wasn’t.

The bouncer let a smaller guy talk his way inside his bubble.

No hands up. No awareness. One moment he’s leaning in, the next he’s unconscious on the concrete.

But the real gut-punch?

His attacker’s friend had a gun drawn before the knockout even finished.

Tuesday – Fight Intelligence

We pulled back and focused on one thing… scanning.

Not just looking, but seeing.

Hands, posture, spacing, intent.

You’ve gotta train your eyes like you train your strikes.

The bouncer’s biggest mistake wasn’t missing the punch, it was missing the setup.

He had tunnel vision on the mouth in front of him and never clocked the danger brewing on his flank.

Fatal mistake? Not this time. But it could’ve been.

Wednesday – Technique Drop

We went deep on intercepting a straight punch with our own same side movement.

It's punch-as-parry.

You're not blocking, you're cutting the line while staying aggressive.

Bonus? That slight twist off-line protects your head.

And if the punch isn’t straight, you’re already halfway to a 360 defense.

Efficient, brutal, and built for chaos.

Thursday – What-If Options

We ran some alternative ways to handle the straight punch.

There is no one best way, just the best way for you.

We looked at…

• The inside parry with an immediate counter
• The slick boxing slip
• The lean-back redirect

Each works… in the right context.

But none are perfect. That’s the point.

This isn’t a sport—it’s a mess.

Your job is to stack options and build instincts that hold up when everything goes sideways.

Tactical Reflection

Let’s be real—most of us would’ve leaned in.

When someone’s talking low and looking calm, it’s easy to believe the threat isn’t real yet.

We want to be reasonable. We want to de-escalate. 

But de-escalation doesn’t mean de-arming yourself.

Could you spot the friend reaching for the gun?

Could you have kept your hands up without escalating things further?

Would you have caught the weaving motion right before the jab?

Now here’s the real question…

…Could you teach someone else to spot that?

Next Week

We’re shifting levels—literally.

We’ll dive into:

• Recognizing takedown setups
• Defending when your feet leave the ground
• Fighting back when the floor’s your enemy

It’s messy. It’s raw. And it’s coming Monday.

Before You Go…

Every move you make teaches your attacker something.

If your hands drop—they learn.

If you don’t scan—they learn.

If you freeze—they finish.

Rewatch the scenario. Replay the decisions.

Then run your own “what-if” drills until your response is instinct.

Stay dangerous,
– Paul Simoes

P.S. Missed this week? Don’t sweat it—just don’t stay behind.
👉 Watch the scenario & catch up here