20 Essential self-defense skills. Part 2

20 Essential Self-defense skills part 2

Basic Strikes

Jab and Cross/Lead and reverse palm strikes

Whether you want to use the Jab and Cross or a lead palm strike and a rear palm strike, you need to know how to effectively and powerfully strike a would-be attacker. Straight strikes are so effective because:

• They are fast and powerful.

• They can disguise the timing and depth perception.

• When they alternate, one goes out the other comes back to shield.

A proper fist is accomplished by rolling the fingers into the palm and wrapping the thumb around the fingers. It is important to strike with the first two knuckles or preferably the middle knuckle. Line up these knuckles with the radius bone in the forearm which will line up with the humerus bone (bone in the upper arm) which will be seated into the shoulder socket.

A proper palm strike is accomplished by opening the hand (fingers up or to the outside of the body and fingers straight or curled in).

To execute a proper straight lead hand strike (Jab), first, you will thrust your lead hand straight out from your shielding position straight to your attacker's nose. Of course, you can aim for other parts of the body but keep it simple let’s just stick with the center of the face. Aim for the center of the face and if you are a little off or if they move you may still capture a piece of them. As soon as the strike is extended to the fullest, misses, or finds its mark the strike should return back to its original position along the original path. Imagine that there is a rail connecting your cheekbones to the attacker’s cheekbones and that your hands travel out and back along that rail. Throughout the strike, keep the elbow directly behind the hand, and don’t let it flare out to the outside of your body.

A rear straight strike (Cross) is executed the same way. It should go straight out from the shielding position and back along the rail. It should be aimed at the nose. Be sure to keep your elbow behind the hand. There are many variants to a straight strike. You can strike with the lower part of the palm with either the fingers curled in or held straight up. You can strike with the knuckles. When punching with the knuckles, be sure to focus on the knuckle of the index and middle finger.
The fist can be vertical, horizontal, or at a natural 45 angle. There are several advantages to all of the above. The advantage of a punch over a palm strike is that it has a longer reach and can slip through someone’s guard easier than a palm strike. The advantage of a palm strike over a punch is that you are less likely to break a hand. There are also advantages to the different types of punches. The vertical punch has a longer reach whereas the horizontal punch delivers more strength. The natural 45 punch excels in speed. We can discuss the physical formula for power but the most important things to remember is that you should learn all variations and use the version that is most appropriate for the target that is presented.

The most common mistakes that people make with their straight strikes include:

• Flaring/bending their elbows and reducing the power of strikes.


• Striking in a curved manner. Not remembering the rail system


• Dropping the hands-down below face level.


• Not striking with the proper part of the palm/knuckles

The intended target area for this strike is any area that is directly in front of you that is softer than your knuckles or palm.

Pro tip: When executing a cross, rotate the same hip towards the front and drive off the ball of the same foot to maximize the number of muscle fibers and power usage. Conversely, when executing a jab, rotate the front hip forward.

Back leg front kick

To execute a back leg front kick correctly think of it as a Cross with the back leg. The striking area is either the ball of the foot or the heel. I prefer the ball of the foot because it increases the reach of the kick by several inches and is easier to kick higher if needed. Common mistakes that people make include:

• Striking with the toes or top of the foot.

• Retract the foot to the starting position.

• Raising the leg straight up in front of you. To execute this kick properly, execute this kick in a four-part step. Step one: Raise your knee up high. Step two: Thrust your foot out to the target. Step three: Draw the foot back. Step four: Set the foot down. With time and practice, these four steps will blend together and be less drastic and in one fluid motion.

Launch your foot at the target at a 45-degree angle slightly raising and bending your knee when your foot is on target; snap your foot out at the target. As soon as you strike your target slightly withdraw your foot and set it down in front of you.

The intended target area is generally the shins, knees, thighs, or lower abdomen/back. Any of the targets can be struck from any direction such as from the front, side, back, or any angle.


Knee Strike

To execute a knee strike properly you should remember the following factors:

• Strike with the patella.

• Strike to the thigh or lower abdomen. The knee to a thigh is 99% effective whereas the
groin is a small package compared to the thighs and not always responsive to strikes. Not everyone responds to this.

• Use your hip flexors to thrust your hips forward.

The intended target for this weapon is usually the thighs and lower abdomen. These targets can be struck from any angle.

Pro tip: A knee to the thigh is much easier to land than a knee to the groin and your opponent will experience pain a higher percentage of the time than they will by a groin strike.

Back Kick

One of the major problems with martial arts/self-defense/combat training is that we start to think that our training mimics reality. In reality, you will likely be attacked from behind. The striking area of the back kick is the heel of the foot. Common mistakes that people make include:

• Striking with the toes or ball of the foot.

• Retract the foot to the starting position.

• Hiking the leg up to the side.

• Some people teach the back kick in a similar manner as the front kick by raising the leg straight up in front of you first. To execute this kick properly, use one fluid motion. Launch your foot at the target directly behind you without hiking your leg up or bringing your leg in front of you first. After striking the target, withdraw your foot slightly but not all the way and set your foot down behind you.

The intended target area is generally the shins, knees, thighs, or lower abdomen/back. Any of the targets can be struck from any direction such as from the front, side, back, or any angle.

Forward elbow

I have never been hit with an elbow even lightly that didn’t hurt. Whether you want to use a traditional forward elbow strike or an upward angle strike, ELBOWS WORK! It is essential that when striking with an elbow you make contact with the bone edge. Elbows like punches can be landed on any target that is presented.

There are many types of forward elbows that include the traditional forward elbow strike, traditional upward elbow strike, traditional downward elbow strike, reinforced elbow strikes, upward angle elbow strike, and the downward angled elbow strike but for the sake of space, we will focus on two. The first is the traditional forward elbow strike. This elbow is thrown horizontally. Tuck your hand to your chest while you bring your elbow to the target from the side.
Many try to land an elbow from too far away. An elbow is a close-quarter combat technique. This may seem odd but the best way to know if you are close enough to connect with an elbow is if you are close enough to kiss. Never lean out of balance to land any strike. There is a reason that stance and movement was the first technique that I shared with you. Without a solid foundation and balance, all other technique crumbles.


Rear Elbow Strike

ELBOWS WORK! I have never been hit with an elbow (even a soft one) that didn’t hurt. Remember that it is essential that when striking with an elbow you make contact with the bone edge. Also, remember that elbows like punches can be landed on any target that is presented.

There are also many types of rear elbow strikes. They include the traditional backward low elbow strike to the body, the traditional high backward elbow strike, spinning elbow, downward circular rear elbow strike, reinforced rear elbow strikes, and the upward rear angle elbow strike, but again, for the sake of space, we will focus on two. The first is the traditional rear elbow strike to the body. This elbow is thrown straight back to the body. Bend your arm like doing a curl and thrust the elbow tip straight back like a spear. The second is the high rear angle elbow strike. This elbow strike is delivered almost like the opposite of a traditional forward elbow strike. Just as you should be in “kissing range” for forward elbow strikes your body will likely be touching your opponent when you execute a rear elbow strike.

Remember that an elbow is a close-quarter combat technique. Pay close attention to your stance and balance when executing rear elbow strikes. Make sure that your stance is solid and stable. Without a solid foundation and balance, all other technique crumbles.

Hammer Fist

The Hammer fist can be delivered vertically (from high to low, or from low to high) or horizontally (from outside to inside). This strike can also be delivered from many other angles and directions but that is for a later time. The striking area is the padded part of the bottom of the hand while making a fist or the forearm.

For the vertical version, raise the fist up slightly and bring it down on top of the target. For the horizontal version, bend the arm inward towards your body and rotate your arm out by the shoulder and straighten out the arm to the target.


Grappling skills

Tabletop principle

This principle is employed in grappling position reversals. The tabletop principle is basically the idea that if a table is perfectly balanced and you remove NW and SW legs or any two legs on the same side, no matter how well balanced it is, it will topple. If any two diagonal legs remain, the perfectly balanced table will theoretically stand. In position reversals, this principle will serve as a guide. When you are in a dominant position and someone tries to reverse/sweep you if you will reach out with a foot or hand in the direction that your opponent is trying to move you may be able to stop the reversal. This is called “posting”.

Rear naked choke (RNC).

From behind your opponent, place one bicep on the same side of his neck. Bend that arm at the elbow and place the radial bone (thumb side) against the other side of his neck. The elbow should be directly in front of his windpipe. Reach forward with the other arm palm side up and grab the bicep with the first arm. Perform a curl with the second arm and slide that hand to the base of the skull of your opponent and then rest your head on the opponent's head above your hand. Tighten both biceps to complete the choke. The bicep and radial bone will restrict blood flow to the brain and cause your attacker to pass out.

Pro Tip: In a life-threatening situation, if your opponent taps to any blood choke (RNC, Triangle choke, etc.), do not release the choke. Let them pass out. Once they have passed out if you cannot retreat immediately, hold the choke for approximately five more seconds. Sometimes the choke is released the moment that someone passes out they will come right back fighting. Holding the choke for another five seconds will increase the chances that they will remain unconscious long enough for you to escape or restrain them and it is unlikely to cause any permanent damage.


Armbar from mount.

When you are mounted on your opponent, capture one arm by grabbing (for example, his right tricep with your right hand) his tricep and pulling it hard to your ribs. Press his face hard into the captured arms shoulder (this is called a cross face) and place your grabbing side foot on the floor. With the pushing of the hand and stabilization of the foot on the ground, swing your other leg over your hand/his face and fall to your back. Squeeze your knees together, curl your legs over his head and ribs, elevate your hips and hold onto the arm to complete the armbar.

Pro tips: Do not remove your hand from his face until your leg is over your hand. When performed correctly, the elbow joint is hyper-extended primarily by the lower body movements and not a pulling motion of the arm. Be sure to have his tricep as close to your belt line as possible for maximum effectiveness. A great way to capture the arm is to convince them to give you that arm by punching them repetitively in the face. However, be careful not to be bucked into a tabletop position.