Module 1. Targeting and Striking. Opening. Introduction. Disclaimer. By: Malcolm bale. Fightwize Self Defense

Transcription

1 Module 1 Targeting and Striking Opening Introduction Chapter 1: General Chapter 2: Let's Get Started Chapter 3: Stances Chapter 4: Targeting Chapter 5: Striking Chapter 5b: Maximize Effect Chapter 6: Practice Chapter 7: Conclusion Chapter 8: Review Chapter 9: Other Products Disclaimer By: Malcolm bale Fightwize Self Defense

2 Introduction Section 1 - Preface Section 2 - Introduction Section 1 - Preface I have been involved in combative arts since the early 80 s. I was first involved in competitive Boxing and Karate, but in 2001 I became involved with a style of Jiu- Jitsu that deals specifically with Self Defense. It took a slight mental adjustment and time to realize there is a significant difference between Martial Arts and Self Defense. I often wandered what would be the best Martial Art for Self Defense but came to the conclusion that Self Defense itself was the best art to learn for Self Defense. Many Martial Arts do give you an excellent foundation but there is a real need to simulate realistic conditions and establish a new mindset. In training, we cover aspects that are simply not covered in most Martial Arts, a realistic approach to attacks and countering with very simple techniques and strategies, virtually all people are physically capable of carrying out. If you do some research, you will find a specialized course or find a club that will dedicate some of their time specifically to learn Self Defense. I have had the fortune or misfortune (depending on how you choose to look at it) of experiencing some very brutal attacks. I know the feelings that run through your body and mind, your life flashing before you. I know the feeling when complex motor techniques become useless, legs turn to jelly, loss of peripheral vision and so on. I have avoided, escaped and fought my way to safety. Most of all, I have always learned a new lesson from my own experiences and the experiences of others. Training in competitive combat sports is great and teaching competitive fighters is fantastic, but teaching practical techniques and strategies to people with no previous skills or belief in oneself, is far more fulfilling. To watch a person develop and realize that they can make a difference is where the real satisfaction lies for me. This course of E-Books has taken the most important, easy to learn concepts and strategies to give you a good foundation in Self Defense. Targeting and Striking is a fundamental aspect that you can use in any physical confrontation. I have kept the language and terminology as simple as possible as I see no point in trying to make simple concepts appear to be complicated.

3 I cannot complete this section without mentioning my Mother; she is the very reason that I practice Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense today. Having endured some very tough times, she decided to learn Jiu-Jitsu as a form of Self Defense and to cut a long story short, put those tough times to rest. My Mother died several years ago, but through teaching today, I feel that it s a good way of keeping my association alive. I know that she would be very proud today, to know that we are still helping men, women and children through the teachings Jiu-Jitsu and Self Defense. I have a Second Degree Black belt in Jiu-Jitsu but all too many people get caught up in the color of a belt. It is a belt that I am very proud to wear and has great meaning to others who practice the same art. However, a belt on its own is not a true representation of an instructor, especially in self Defense. It is through first hand experience and experiences gained through training in very high stress conditions that give a very practical understanding of what we teach. I know that anyone who walks into our training hall with or without any formal training still has something to teach us. If someone has been in a situation where the rest of us have not then they have an experience that we do not. If they are willing to share that experience with us then we certainly have a lesson to learn. High levels of physical fitness are not a requirement for you to start training but personally I do like to apply some regular effort to my health and fitness. I believe that it gives us an edge for life in general. I like to maintain a good level of fitness year round and occasionally take it a step further. I have had some very serious injuries over the years and I do believe that keeping a healthy body has helped in my recovery each and every time. I have included some of the training techniques we use in Fightwize Fitness. I encourage you to practice on your own, practice with friends or family, practice safely and have fun with it too. If you can get yourself to a course, even better, as training with some like minded individuals with experienced instructors at hand will help your confidence to soar. Finally, I want to thank everyone who has made it possible to produce this information. My family, friends, teachers, Instructors and students.

4 Section 2 - Introduction Self Defense is not just about learning a few techniques, however, learning how and where to strike is an essential aspect that you should become skilled at. We all have instincts for survival passed on from our ancestors and we are all very capable of fighting to survive. You must have belief in yourself, even if you do not realize it yet, you are more than capable of defending yourself against an attacker. The human body is very fragile in places, it is not difficult to debilitate another person if required to do so in Self Defense. Self Defense must be simple to be effective. Under the extreme pressure of an attack, most people are simply not capable of carrying out complex or fine motor skills. All of your actions must consist of gross motor skills or very simple movements that everyone is capable of. The techniques we teach are very simple, they have to be simple to be effective under pressure, techniques will differ slightly from person to person due to personal interpretation but basically everyone, young or old is capable of performing our techniques. A First lesson to learn in Self-Defense You are important! The most valuable possession you will ever have is you. No-one has the right to hurt, intimidate or harass you. You have a right to protect yourself and you are well worth fighting for. How far will you go to protect yourself? Will you really do whatever it takes, even if it means jamming your fingers deep into someone s eye sockets to save yourself? Most people would do whatever it takes to save their children; you must find that same emotion and use it to save yourself. The Second most important lesson in Self Defense Understand that your mind is your most valuable tool so keep it sharpened. In Self-Defense we use our mind to control panic and fear, use our brain to assess a situation and to judge the most appropriate action to take. We use our brain to make choices and making choices is a big part of Self-Defense. Learn to trust your gut feelings; they re usually based on facts filed away just below your conscious level. If something does not seem right, then it probably isn't. Don't just trust your gut feeling but act on it. What is it that will make you get home today? Is it to see your Child, Mother, Father, Brother, Boyfriend, Girlfriend or even a pet? If faced by an attacker, tell yourself that this person standing in front of you is not going to deny you the right of seeing them again and you WILL do whatever it takes to get home to them.

5 If running or walking away is not an option, escape is your next option. Not all situations require a physical response but you must assess your situation quickly. If the situation does involve a physical retaliation, then you should look to make this encounter as brief as possible. The longer it goes on then the odds may be swinging against you or the attacker may even have accomplices local to the scene. General body language is important, staring at the ground, hunched shoulders, hiding your hands in your pockets and making yourself small, carries the message- I m weak and vulnerable. Women get targeted as easy prey so having strong body language decreases the risk of being a target. Make eye contact with people in a way that lets them know you ve seen them (would-be criminals are far less likely to do anything if they think they could be identified). Our system is made up of a few simple concepts. It is far easier to learn a few concepts than to learn a different technique to counter each different type of attack. Following a few simple rules, you can grasp these basic concepts. You will gain a good feel for some of the basics of Self-Defense. Knowing how and where to strike will make your actions far more effective. Pre-fight strategy is a very important yet very underestimated and overlooked stage of a conflict. Good pre-fight strategies will help you diffuse or de-escalate situations but failing that, body language and verbal strategy is crucial in setting up your own attack. Generally, we are far too nice as people, if someone has crossed the line and attacked or attempted to rape you, they have lost all rights to be treated like a human being. You must do whatever it takes to defend yourself! Visualize! Go through many possible scenarios in your mind. Analyze many different situations in your day where an attack could possibly take place. Devise a plan as to how you would react. This would help you to be proactive rather than reactive, thus avoiding panic, if you did find yourself in such a situation. You may not have experience in a situation but you have at least been there in your mind. There are very few items of equipment that you actually require to train at home or with a club. One item in particular that I would recommend you to consider a Striking Shield; you can practice a wide variety of strikes at full speed and power with a partner and lessen the risk of injury to each other. You need to practice techniques slowly at first. You must also practice striking at full power! Targeting and Striking is part of a system. You need to have a general understanding of many other aspects of Self Defense. For this reason, we have also covered Ground Fighting, Escapes, Take Downs, Hold Downs and the Weapon of Opportunity through similar informational books. You could say that Self defense is a system of systems and each one compliments the next.

6 General Information Overview Section 1 - Keep it Simple Section 2 - Awareness Section 3 - Martial Arts vs Self Defense Section 4 - Fear Section 1 - Keep it Simple Keep it simple Self Defense I m sure you must have heard this statement a number of times but there is actually so much more important reasons as to why Self Defense must be simple. Many people will assume that this is just to make techniques simple to remember. The more complex a technique is and then more steps involved, will make it much harder to carry out under stress. Most people simply cannot process complex motor skills when they are placed in a high stress situation, therefore, your techniques MUST be simple to be effective under pressure. What is the kind of simplicity we re talking about here to justify a techniques being classed as a gross motor skill? Let s look at a few examples. Okay, if you can reach over your shoulder and touch the middle of your back with your hand, then you have all the skills and mechanics required to perform a rising elbow strike to the jaw or nose. Now how simple is that? Let s look at a few everyday, gross motor actions that can be compared to simple strikes. If you can take your right hand and reach over your left shoulder, just like the action of grabbing your seat belt when you first get into a car, then you have all the motor skills necessary to perform a front elbow strike. The fact that you can perform these typical everyday actions; shows that you have the motor skills required for some simple yet devastating strikes.

7 Every day, we open the kitchen cupboards and reach in for a cup, glass, can or something similar. This reaching action is the exact same mechanics required to perform an open hand strike. Anyone who wears lace-up shoes will lift their knee and place it on step to tie their shoe laces, this raising of the knee is the very same mechanics required to perform a knee strike, or a stamping kick to the instep. If you can kick a ball, then you are more than capable of performing a very effective shin kick These comparisons may well sound too simple and that is exactly the point. Take a few simple, everyday actions, add a few little pointers here and there and you have some very simple effective strikes that you are already more than capable of performing. Section 2 - Awareness Bad things sometimes happen to good people. Don t think that it couldn t happen to you because it could. We hear of things happening all the time and by just being aware that you are a potential target is a big step. As Towns and Cities continue to grow, so do their problems. This gives us all a far greater need to learn Self Defense. Survivors of Violent Attacks have one thing in common; they knew something was wrong before it happened. Trust your instincts, if something appears wrong then it probably is. Don t just hear your Gut Feeling but act on it too by taking evasive action if necessary. Have a Plan! Avoidance should be your first goal but if for some reason this has failed you then your next option should be escape. Avoidance is very much controlled by your awareness which can be enhanced by increasing your Self Defense knowledge through reading and research. Fighting should be a last resort but once you have made that decision, there is no holding back.

8 Compare predators on the streets to Predators in the wild, they are not looking for the biggest, boldest, strongest animal to bring down but one that looks weak, injured or isolated. Right now you may well live in an area where you feel safe and consider it unnecessary for this type of course but will it always be like that? Is the area expanding with new people bringing different ideas and values with them? Will you leave that area to travel for work or even fun? It could be very valuable just to learn some new ideas. Open your mind and look at the situation from a broader point of view, there s no harm in being prepared for the unexpected. You will require different level of awareness depending on where you are but generally when you are out and about, stay switched on, be aware of anything that is a little out of the ordinary. Try not to get trapped in your own little bubble and be aware that there are people outside of your world. When you visit new areas, be aware of possible exits or even objects around that could be used in your defense. Keep your eyes and ears open to anything that seems a little unusual. Recognize who the enemy is; learn to recognize their movements, even rituals that are common amongst certain types of attacker. Women are likely to encounter a different type of attacker than those that men are likely to face. Generally women are much more likely to take-on men such as muggers or rapists as opposed to other women. If we know the potential enemy, then we have a far greater chance of overcoming them. Whether we like it or not, there are people out there whose intentions are not always good. Maybe you ll never come across people like that but then again maybe you will or maybe you already have. It could be in the workplace, in the home, on the street, in a bar or even on the road, it really could be anywhere. Don t switch off, that s just the type of people that predators look for. Often times, you do not even have to look beyond your own family members. We hear reports of domestic violence on a daily basis. Not all situations require an immediate physical response. However, you must quickly assess the situation, gain verbal control without being aggressive if possible. Be aware of your body language during a confrontation. If you have been selected by an attacker it means that your avoidance or awareness slipped. Now you are face to face, be passive, even look and sound weak, as it will heighten your attacker s ego and confidence. In your mind you are actually preparing to rip him to shreds but your body language and words are saying the opposite. As you look submissive and weak, your unexpected strikes will have far more effect.

9 Take up space! Look confident and swing your arms when walking, look like you know where you are going even if you don t. Strong Body Language not only affects how others see you but it increases your own confidence. Looking confident will make you less likely to be selected as someone s next victim. An attacker does not want to be identified or hurt in an attack. Predator type attackers are not looking for a fight but an easy kill and when the intended victim fights back ferociously, the Predator will often abort. There is a great deal of deception that accompanies criminal minded people; generally the greater the crime, the greater the deception. Not all attackers will fit that stereotype associated with The Bad Guy. People often mention that height difference would cause a problem but when stop you think about it for a second, people who are trying to be intimidating and aggressive will usually bring their face right down to your level (exactly where you want them to be) so height should not be a factor. All the other targets in the mid body and leg areas are still available for you to strike too. Criminals do not want to be identified, hurt or caught. If you show early on that you are willing to fight back then predator types of attackers will most likely abort their task. Never be taken to a second location! The reason that an attacker would try and take you elsewhere would be because they cannot carry out their intended actions where you are now. Do everything you can to avoid being taken elsewhere. Section 3 - Martial Arts versus Self Defense I would never disrespect one fighting art over another. However, I do recommend that you look into the various types of Fighting Arts available to you and ensure the one that you choose satisfies your criteria. Decide whether you want to focus on a traditional art, a competitive sport, keep fit, a family recreation or purely for self defense. If it s Self Defense that you want to learn, then be sure to choose a system that at least dedicates some time specifically to Self Defense. Go and watch a few sessions and see what you think for yourself, then talk to the instructor. Just because someone is considered an expert in the Dojo, in a particular style; it does not necessarily mean that they are an expert in Self Defense. In some cases they may well be but the two do not go hand in hand

10 Traditional Martial Arts often dedicate a great deal of time to Patterns of movements called Kata which are sequences of techniques, simulating a person taking-on one or more opponents. Often they involve speed, power, great poise and flexibility. These can be a good training aid but offer little assistance when it comes to practical modern Self Defense. The very fact that some Martial Arts have the word traditional in their title, indicate they have not evolved. There are many styles of Martial Arts specializing in different aspects. Some styles specialize in kicking, others in punching or throwing or even joint manipulations. Many arts do not prepare you for when an attacker comes in close contact or takes you to the ground as these may not be techniques that are allowed under the rules of a particular style. In a street attack, anything goes, an attacker does not follow any rules. Self Defense must be fully functional, which means it must be useable by anyone. We must be able to teach techniques and strategies to a complete range of people ranging from my Brother, to my Mother and Grandmother. Many Martial Arts curriculums will certainly not allow for this. For a moment, picture two competitive Martial Artists in a tournament facing each other. They have prepared for weeks or even months, physically they are in great shape. Let s take away the referee together with the rules that he was there to enforce, now anything goes, they re not restricted to the same variety of moves that their art or style is restricted to. Take away the protective gear such as gloves, the foot pads, padded head gear, groin protector and mouth guard. Take away the matting and replace it with concrete, let s add some brick walls and remove the lighting. Take away the crowd and anyone else who may have been ready to jump in and break them apart. Change the sporting arena to a back alley, a back lane, maybe a kitchen, a bedroom or even a lounge and let s make available all the weapons in each of these environments: glass, steel bars, screw drivers, knives and other items that you may not even recognize as a weapon. There is a different type of mind set required for a street encounter that is not necessarily covered by the average Martial Arts class. In many cases it may not even be such an organized stand off but more likely it will be initiated with a blind sided attack, a mugging or even an attempted rape. Change the odds and replace one of the fighters with another who is fifty pounds lighter so it s no longer a match fight, change the attacker to two men or more. In Self Defense, there is no luxury of a match fight where you have paired two fighters of similar size and experience.

11 Many competitive Martial Artists may well be in great physical shape but are they prepared mentally for such a street encounter? In most cases, the answer is no. Many experienced martial artists have gone to pieces in a street fight mainly because of the mind set required and also, what works in the training hall may not be practical on the street, especially if space is restricted. Martial Artists know when they are going to be fighting in a competition, therefore they can physically and mentally prepare. An attack on the street can happen in an instant. It is this surprise that causes people to panic if they are not always prepared. There is no preparation time given for a street attack. It may happen when you least expect it, when you least need it or when you least want it. For this reason we have to train under difficult conditions such as having one arm tied behind your back to simulate an injured arm, put marbles in your shoe to simulate an injured foot, have multiple attackers and so on. If you have reached high levels of stress situations in training, it will help you handle the stress of an attack. Violent situations are often glamorized by Hollywood with a hero using an array of fancy techniques against numerous attackers with an assortment of weapons but the reality is anything but, it s bloody, gruesome, dirty and often ends in death. Those lucky enough to survive, may end up with broken bones, smashed in faces, or any number of serious injuries, in many cases causing physical and mental scars that may never heal. In conclusion, I would say, if you are looking to learn Self Defense, then take a Self Defense Course or find a combative art that trains specifically for Self Defense. Section 4 - Fear Consider for a moment what it is that makes us feel afraid. The fact that you may get seriously hurt, disfigured or even killed by this person standing in front of you can cause you to feel terrified. You have loved ones; Children, Husbands, Wives, Brothers and Sisters or others waiting for you at home that you may never see again. These thoughts are rushing through your head causing confusion and panic. Now tell yourself that this goon standing in front of you is not going to deny you the right to get home to your loved ones, the people you need and who need you. Everyone has a driving force, something that they will fight for. If your children or other loved ones were attacked in front of you, then you d certainly throw yourself in the path of danger for them. If you don t do something now to save yourself,

12 then your kids, other family or friends may well be growing up without you anyway. YOU ARE GOING HOME AND YOU WILL DO WHATEVER IT TAKES! If it requires you sticking your fingers deep into someone s eyes, tearing the ears, smashing a nose with your forehead, cracking ribs with your elbows or even grabbing someone s wind pipe, then so be it. Start thinking more along the lines of what you will do to them rather than what they might do to you. During a confrontation it is normal to experience an injection of adrenalin; this can often be mistaken for fear. The body shivering, the legs feel weak, losing bowel control, the mind going blank and a general feeling of numbness is all associated with adrenalin as your body prepares itself for fight or flight. Adrenalin can give you added speed and strength so although you may not think so at the time, it really is there to help. Remember, you are worth it! If you were ever attacked, don t just worry about what they may do to you, let s get prepared, do some training and then you can worry more about what you might do to them! When you have actually made that decision to fight, there s no holding back, it s you or them. Escaping or surviving this situation is not about any fancy techniques but your hunger and instinct for survival. You know that you would do whatever it takes to save your children or another loved one, find that same emotion within and use it to protect yourself You may be fighting for your life so give it everything you ve got! Fear is an Emotion, therefore it can be controlled. People such as servicemen are working in the face of danger every day. People jump off cliffs, out of planes, swim in the ocean depths, handle poisonous and dangerous animals, etc. Often times they must learn to control the paralyzing effects of fear. The very fact that they can learn to do that, it shows it s possible to control fear.

13 Targeting and Striking Introduction Overview Section 1 - Avoid or Escape Section 2 - Action vs Reaction Section 3 - Maximize Your Effect Section 4 - Practice, Practice, Practice Section 5 - Conclusion Targeting and Striking is a great starting point for physical technique. Stick to the basics and keep practicing until you become very confident at them. Discovering how and where to strike is a fundamental aspect of Self Defense. You will seriously increase the effectiveness of your strikes by applying some of the simple strategies laid out throughout this book. Read it through from cover to cover before even trying any of the techniques and strategies. Avoid or Escape! Would you choose to hang around to see how you faired in a situation where the odds are stacked against you? If there s a front door take it, if there s not then take the back door and if there are no doors then make one. Any opportunity to avoid or escape a situation should be taken if the situation allows. You do not want to be the guy remembered for taking on 6 guys and didn t make it. Avoid, Escape and Attack should be your options, in that order. Your increased awareness will help you to avoid many situations; if you do find yourself in a situation then escaping is your first option. If escape is not an option and deescalating is not working then you fight with everything you have. Take your training to another level. Build on your foundation by learning some Ground Defense, Escapes, Take downs, Hold downs and more but first let s learn how and where to strike. You never know what situation may arise so training has to vary to cover many possibilities. Setting up your strike is an important skill to develop. A passive stance is an important part of the set up as it does not telegraph your intention to strike;

14 catching the assailant off guard will also make your strike more effective. A passive stance also indicates to any bystanders that you are the non-aggressor. You can create an opening to strike verbally too, for example, asking a question that will engage the brain of your assailant momentarily can be very effective. Fight fire with water not fire! Being passive in your reaction to a verbal assault can help to diffuse or de-escalate a situation. On the outside you want to look and sound passive, calm or even submissive, but inside you are planning the demise of your attacker, should the situation become physical. Techniques are simple to learn but will take a little longer to perfect. It is through repetition and teaching to others that makes you ask yourself the necessary questions to help you really understand the techniques. When you are learning, don t be in too much of a hurry to rush on and cover the next techniques. Take your time and allow the concepts to be absorbed. Your passive look will make the attacker over confident and unsuspecting of a physical retaliation from you. Unexpected strikes have a far greater effect. Action vs Reaction The attacker can have the upper hand from an action reaction point of view, he knows that he is going to attack but your brain will have to process what it is he s doing and then decide what it is you re going to do as a reaction and then send out the signals to the muscles to make them move as required. This is the very reason we recommend the interview stance, defensive stance, to keep at a safe distance or even to be pre-emptive. Distance and Time It makes sense that the closer you are to your attacker then the less time you have to respond to their movements. Then obviously, the greater the distance, the more time you have to react. Keep at a safe distance, a distance that you are comfortable with and will give you time to react. There are two basic types of strike; the first type is a distraction, using your closest tool to the closest target. Distractions are speed strikes intended to create an opening for your next move. The other main type of strike is a power strike, using your body by rotating hips and shoulders to maximize the effect of striking. Maximize your Effect A single strike is not effective for most people. Practice multiple strikes in different combinations as it is generally your second and third strikes that start getting through to your intended targets.

15 Repeated double strikes can be totally devastating. An example of a double strike is an open hand strike followed immediately by an eye gouge in the same movement or an open hand strike followed by tearing at the ear. Multiple double strikes will cause a total sensory overload. It is the use of these types of strike that help level the playing field. It s a simple strategy but must be practiced, there is no set routine as every situation is different. These strikes can be made effective by anyone. The level of force you use in a real Self Defense situation must parallel the level of danger. Serious situations require serious measures. Avoid being lured into a standard fight situation at normal punching and kicking ranges. You want to set yourself up by looking passive or submissive and then explode into short fast strikes to initiate your own assault. Shout loudly as you strike, this serves many purposes, firstly you may startle the attacker, you may also attract attention to yourself so someone may come to your aid. You may be creating witnesses who may come in handy if you have caused physical harm to your attacker in Self Defense. Shouting also tenses up your abdominal region, so if you happened to be struck by the attacker at that same time then you are much less likely to be winded by it. Be Pre-Emptive, you do not need to wait to be hit in order to defend yourself. If you feel that the threat is serious then you can defend yourself appropriately. Waiting to be hit first could be a fatal mistake. Practice, Practice and more Practice! It is important to train and practice in a way that you would like to react if you ever did face a real situation. If you are always pulling your punches two inches away from hitting the target in training then the chances are that your natural reaction under pressure may well be the same. In training get your attacker padded up so you can react with some real full on blows. Practice delivering your strikes from the passive stance. The stance disguises your intention to fight back. Your unexpected strikes will have more effect on the attacker. Practice striking from different positions in relation to the attacker. For example, you may want to practice with the attacker starting at your front, side, rear, on your knees or on the ground. Make it part of a regular workout to get together with others and practice techniques. Team up with a few other like minded friends and have some fun

16 with it. There is also a great deal that you can practice on your own, if you do not have others available When training with a partner, don t let your training partners always be compliant, ensure that they give resistance and make it difficult, you must do the necessary work to make the techniques work. Use a striking shield to practice striking from different positions. Techniques must be simple enough to be performed under pressure. Practice these techniques with friends and family. The more you practice the more natural they will feel. Also practice your newly learned skills in different places, the kitchen, bathroom, living room, or garage etc. If you spend much of your time in small rooms or spaces then don t limit your practice to the large open space of a gym. You must practice in environments that are applicable to your everyday life. In conclusion, you will find all the striking techniques to be very simple. Follow the simple guidelines and with some regular practice, your striking will become very effective. A physical response is not always necessary, assess your situation very quickly and decide the best action to take. If you can avoid or escape a potential situation then do so, if a physical reaction is your only option the give it everything you have. Your life may depend on it! Stances Overview Section 1 - Defensive Stance Section 2 - Interview Stance Section 3 - Defensive Actions Section 1 - Defensive Stance (Passive Stance) If someone has confronted you, your hands should come up straight away. Step back a small step with your dominant side, same shoulder and leg back. (i.e. your right side is back if you re right handed), this allows you to generate more Power with your dominant hand or foot as you strike.

17 Tuck your chin to protect your throat and chin. Keep your hands high, creating an obstacle to help protect the face and body. This stance will feel uncomfortable to start with, but the more you practice it; the more comfortable you will feel with it. Your legs should be staggered to give added stability, widening your base, your knees very slightly bent to further help stability and balance. This Defensive Stance gives good position for self protection and position to strike. It allows you to move quickly into positions to strike or defend. Stand in a comfortable position in readiness before any physical attack has begun, feet shoulder width apart, hands open at about chest level and elbows tucked in. Keep an eye on your Assailant, looking approximately at chest level where you can see movement from both their hands and feet. You are now in a safer position, aware and ready to protect yourself. Your elbows are tucked in, protecting your body and your hands are close to your head should you need to move them to quickly protect your face. This stance does not advertise that you have any kind of training so you can still use the element of surprise to your advantage. Unexpected strikes have much greater effect. The Defensive Stance

18 Interview Stance The interview stance can be used when you are in conversation with another person. Maybe you are just a little unsure about this person so you stand in such a way that you are more protected and ready to defend yourself quickly should the need arise. You should keep your hands at about chest level and use them in making gestures as you talk. You can adopt such a stance even if you are holding small objects such as a pen, brush, book, bag etc (These objects could also become a weapon of opportunity). This stance is very discreet, disguising your aroused level of awareness. Even when you are talking to friends, it is good practice to adopt this stance, even recognize in your mind all the various targets on a person that would be available and the types of strike that you could use to access them. This stance not only arouses your level of awareness but compare it to say, standing with your hands in your pockets as many people do, where you could be struck without managing to even raise your hands to protect yourself. As with the passive stance, keep an eye on your potential assailant, looking approximately at chest level where you can see movement from hands and feet. You are now in a far safer position, aware and ready to protect yourself. This stance does not advertise the fact that you have any kind of training, so you can still use the element of surprise. Unexpected strikes have more effect. The Interview Stance

19 Defensive Actions Just like any Self Defense techniques, blocking must be simple too. We encourage you to be pre-emptive and strike out before you have been hit. The threat or of an attack is enough to justify you defending yourself. Don t wait to be hit and then retaliate, it could be too late. If the situation does not allow for you to be pre-emptive then you may have to block or defend against the attacker s strikes. We have a natural instinct to flinch in order to protect ourselves; this is a simple reaction that we can build on in training. In Training, study your attacker s motion; see what movements telegraph their strike or their intention to strike. The more you do this, the better you become and you begin to identify attacks very early. Practice at varying speeds and ensure that your training partner simulates his natural striking motion. If a physical attack has already begun, don t try to stay at that normal punching and kicking range but flinch and step in. Do not step in and do nothing, this is when you have to explode with a barrage of your own strikes. The alternative to not getting in close to strike is to get way from the situation altogether. If you are already in a passive stance, your hands are close to your head area. When you flinch, you can raise your hands a little higher and drop your chin towards your chest. In Martial Arts, you will see a whole variety of strikes used for different types of attack; rising blocks, inside forearm blocks, outside forearm blocks, downward inside blocks, downward outside blocks, defections, parries and more. It s hard enough to remember all the blocks, let alone deciding which one will suit which attacker and reacting with it in a split second. Reacting with a flinch cuts out all that time, being pre-emptive or striking as soon as you see the attacker make a move, cuts out any reaction time. How about if the attacker attempts to kick? One way to foil kicks is to lift your front knee, once again a very simple tactic but can be very effective. Do not just lift the leg then do nothing but be explosive and step in with a barrage of those close strikes. Avoid getting into a standard fighting situation, exchanging blows at a normal punching and kicking distance. You do not want to get into this conventional type of fight situation but instead when you make your move, go ballistic striking out with a series of short strikes, palm strikes, elbows, knees etc at close quarters.

20 Flinching A flinch is something we do naturally so encourage and develop it. Practice these movements on your own or with a partner. An effective reaction to an attempted kick is simply to lift your knee.

21 Targeting Overview Section 1 - Tools and Targeting Section 2 - Primary and Secondary Targets Section 3 - Effects on Targets Section 1 - Tools and Targeting Your body is equipped with several tools: Head, Elbows, Forearms, Knees, Fists, Hands, Fingers, Shins, Feet, Butt, Hips Anything goes! Strikes can be used in various ways, practice using different tools to access the different Primary and Secondary Targets: Eyes, Throat, Nose, Face, Ears, Groin, Solar Plexus, Ribs, Knees, Shins, Instep Everyone, regardless of size, has these weak points. For practice, look for possible targets on people as you are talking to them or even if you re just sat watching someone. Consider the various strikes that you could use to each of the targets that you have in mind. The best strategy for striking is use whatever you ve got, it does matter if the type or style of strike is out of some text book or not, if it works for you then use it. Your closest tool to the closest target is a good way to initiate a combination of strikes. It gives the perception of speed. For power strikes rotate hips and shoulder into the strike. Practice your strikes by using combinations! Getting close to your assailant and continuously striking targets with different double strikes as those targets appear is very effective. However, every situation can be different, so standard combination of strikes may be effective for one situation but not for another. People s reactions differ slightly when struck, so the targets that open up each time will differ too. Imagine giving an open hand strike to your assailant s nose, as a reaction his head will probably lean back suddenly and his hands raise to protect the area.

22 His face may be protected now but other targets open up. If you were to now punch to the exposed solar plexus for example, the hands would move to that area and the assailant would now lean forward to protect the mid reason, as a result, certain targets become protected and others become exposed. Give some thought yourself to the effect that certain strikes would have and the resulting reaction from your assailant, what strikes you would have available to follow up with. Take note of the advice given throughout this chapter to discover which are the simplest targets to access and the effects of striking them. Section 2 - Primary and Secondary Targets The eyes and throat are the two primary targets that, when struck can be totally debilitating. Without his eyes, the attacker cannot see and therefore cannot fight. Without his throat, the attacker cannot breathe and therefore cannot fight. These are very fragile areas, it does not take much force to cause serious damage. A serious or life threatening situation requires the use of drastic measures. All other targets shown are secondary. 12 Simple and Effective Targets

23 The Eyes, Nose, Throat, Solar Plexus, Groin, Instep and Shins serve as a great starting point to targeting; they are all very simple, effective targets that are easily accessed with various types of strike. These targets do not require pin-point accuracy as the area is sensitive Although the eyes and groin areas may be very effective in close quarter fights, do not concentrate solely on them as targets unless you are in a very close quarter position such as being held. We have an instinct to react at lightning speed to protect against strikes aimed at these targets. Practice various strikes to each target, and find which ones you are most comfortable with. Use protective gear in training or practice using very light contact. Light contact is still enough for you to feel some of the effect without causing any lasting damage. During practice, add padding and a visor to the acting attacker so that you can up the amount of force that you use. If possible practice your strikes on a punch bag, the more you practice the more natural the movements will feel. Section 3 - Effect on Targets Eyes Fingers to the eyes can cause permanent damage or blindness. Even light strikes to the eyes will cause a lasting damage. If your situation is serious and you really feel that your life is in danger you have to do whatever it takes to save yourself. Throat The throat is the other primary target after the eyes. Strikes to the throat can collapse the trachea resulting in death if immediate medical attention is not at hand. Again, light strikes to the throat can also be debilitating. I repeat the statement, if your situation is serious and you really feel that your life is in danger you have to do whatever it takes to save yourself. Nose (Infra Orbital Nerve) Strikes to the nose can cause a loss of consciousness due to trauma to the cranial nerve and a loss of sensory and motor functions. Lesser strikes can cause the eyes to tear, blurring the vision of your assailant. Jaw Strikes to the point if the jaw can cause the head to turn suddenly resulting in a brain shake that will render a person unconscious. On top of a possible dislocation to the lower jaw, strikes can also break teeth by the lower jaw crashing into the upper jaw. Side of Neck (Brachial Plexus Origin) Strikes to the Brachial Plexus can cause a loss of consciousness from a trauma to the main arteries and nerves, also leading to loss of sensory and nerve control.

24 Mid Chest (Solar Plexus) Strikes to the Solar Plexus can cause a loss of consciousness due to a trauma to the stomach and liver, in turn affecting the nerves in the region, results in loss of function of the internal organs of that area. Ribs Strikes to the ribs can traumatize the many nerves in the area resulting in unconsciousness, there is also the possibility of breaking the ribs themselves. Groin Strikes to the groin will traumatize the nerves in the area, giving great pain and leading to unconsciousness. Outer Thigh (Lateral Femoral) Strikes to the lateral femoral can also lead to a loss of consciousness from cramping of the muscle in the thigh and a loss of function in the leg. Inner Thigh (Anterior Femoral) Similar effect as outer thigh. Shins Kicks to the shins cause a great deal of pain in the area, a great distracting tactic. Instep Stamping to the instep can cause some of the tiny bones to dislocate or break, resulting in great pain or even unconsciousness. The above are all very effective targets that can be struck with many types of gross motor strikes. Striking Tools and Techniques Overview Section 1 - Fingers to Face and Eyes Section 2 - Open Hand Strikes Section 3 - Fingers to Throat Section 4 - Head Butt Section 5 - More Fingers Section 1 - Striking Techniques The following will give you some ideas as to some of the many simple strikes that you can use.

25 Fingers Tear at the face and eyes. Open Hand Open hand strikes to the chin or nose are fast and effective from a good stance.

26 Fingers to Throat Your fingers can be used by grabbing or striking to the throat. Head Butt Target the nose or cheek bones or even the collar bone.

27 More Fingers! Tear at the ears, eyes and hair. Overview Section 1 - Biting Section 2 - Knee Strikes Section 3 - Foot Stomp Section 4 - Simple Kicks Section 5 - Simple Kicks Section 6 - Elbows to Front Section 7 - Elbows to Rear and Side Section 8 - Forearm Strikes Section 9 - Forearm Strikes

28 Biting Can be used as an effective distraction to set up other strikes or to break free from a hold. There are possible consequences of transmitting infection from the attacker if the skin is broken. If it s your only option you decide. Knee Strikes Can be used with great effect to groin or thigh.

29 Foot Stomp These are very simple and very effective. Scraping down the shins on the way to the foot is a slight variation. Simple Kicks Target the thighs, knees or the groin.

30 Simple Kicks Such as a front kick is executed by lifting the knee and extending the foot. Target the knees, thighs or groin. Elbows to Front The ribs offer an ideal target for elbow strikes.

31 Elbows from Side & Rear Elbow strikes can be effective from many positions in relation the attacker. Forearm Strikes Swinging the forearm against the side of the neck is a super effective strike and very simple to perform. Your arm should be kept very slight bent to avoid a hyper extension.

32 Forearm Strikes Can also be performed by pushing your forearm away from you. Punching is a striking technique that is very overused and over-rated. Some people are phenomenal punchers but most people are not, they risk hurting themselves more than they would the attacker. If your hands are already open in a passive stance, it is much faster to initiate strikes with the open hand or fingers. Many people also try to punch too hard with the first punch and this advertises the intention, making it easy to block or evade. Look to carry out continuous combinations of short strikes; overload the sensory system in the head and face area. Overview Section 1 - Hit and Run Section 2 - Increase The Effect of Your Strikes Section 1 - Hit and Run Be Pre-Emptive! Remember that you do not have to wait to be attacked in order to defend yourself, provocation is enough. If you really feel threatened enough by

33 someone then you have the right to defend yourself. If you wait to be attacked, it could well be too late. Action is quicker than reaction! Hit and Run is the simplest method of physically defending yourself. Maybe the pressure, confusion or adrenalin has affected you to a point so you cannot recall even simple techniques. You have to remember here that you must strike back to weak or sensitive areas with everything you have. No physical attack on you goes unanswered; respond with combinations or a barrage of strikes. The Hit and Run, Stun and Run, Flash Bang strategy or whatever terminology you wish to use, it s all the same. Flash Bang is a concept used by Military and Police Forces. It is a device that may be used to clear a room for example. It s thrown into the area required and makes a very sudden bright flash, followed by a very loud bang and lots of smoke. It s used with great effect to startle and create confusion before sending personnel to take care of a situation. We can use a similar concept to deal with an attacker. Think of yourself as a small grenade, so when your pin is pulled you explode with everything you have. Strike in combinations as one strike from you will be blocked, two strikes might well be, but three strikes and beyond become almost impossible for the average person to stop, especially if they are well aimed strikes delivered with ferocity. Switch your strikes between various targets. Always aim for those weak and sensitive areas where you will get maximum results. The eyes, throat, nose, ears, solar plexus, groin, femoral nerves, shin, instep and so on. Palm to head, palm to nose, and elbows to mid section mixed in with kicks and knee strikes are very effective. Striking with the closest tool to the closest target gives the perception of speed, rotate your hips and shoulders into strikes to maximize power and effect. Shout as you strike startling the attacker, attracting attention and creating witnesses to the assault. If it s a predator type of attack then this may well be all that s required for them to abort as they were not looking for a fight but just an easy meal, a quick kill or frill. Whatever type of attacker it is, react quickly, get the confrontation finished with as quickly as possible and get to safety. When you practice, ensure to experiment with different combinations. See which combinations you feel most comfortable with and which ones you think are most effective for you. If you practice striking regularly enough, your methods of striking can become instinctive. Practice shouting out loud phrases like Let go or Leave me alone. Shout anything that is going to attract attention and let other people know that you are the one being attacked. Shouting out may attract help or may become vital evidence if you end up being the one who causes serious harm to the attacker.

34 Section 3 - Increase the Effect of your Strikes There are many simple strategies we employ to increase the effect of striking; Look to use a distraction by striking to a sensitive area such as the shins, this takes away from the attackers mind whilst it is occupied with pain. A distraction creates a window of opportunity for further strikes to other areas. Utilize larger muscle groups and learn to use your body mechanics effectively. Rotate your upper body at the hips and shoulders, utilizing some of the larger muscles in your waist, back and shoulders when striking. Target weak and sensitive areas. Everyone, regardless of size has weak and sensitive areas on the body. You are capable of inflicting more serious damage to another person than you could probably imagine. Brace the Target This can be done when the attacker is against a wall or floor, or you can brace the target yourself by holding the person or limb in place whilst striking. This prevents them from evading your strike. Pulling the target toward your strike, causes a collision effect, creating more power at the point of impact. Strike through the Target! Don t aim just at the Target but about 6 inches past it. Time on Target! Don t pull your strikes back too quickly. Your strike is kept in contact for a count this helps create a maximum transfer of Energy. Striking with a larger surface also gives a better transfer of energy. Strike several times to the same target. Targeting a motor nerve can cause such a sensory overload that it will shut down the limb it supplies. Shouting helps you focus your energy into your strike. Shout as you strike as this not only startles an attacker, it alerts any people around you and also helps channel you fear into aggression. Shouting out may attract the attention of people in the area that may come to your aid or create witnesses to the attack. Shouting tenses up your abdominal region, reducing the risk of being winded by a strike. It also helps to focus your energy into your strike. Use the element of surprise, acting suddenly and giving a loud shout while striking (eg Let Go ) right in the face of the attacker has good effect. The shout not only startles the attacker, it also signals to people in

35 the area that you are in trouble; it also tenses up your abdominal muscles which is useful if you were to be struck at the same time and finally it helps you to focus on your strike. You ll learn how to execute techniques correctly as they often aim at weaknesses in the attacker. It is by utilizing some of the strategies mentioned previous, that makes it possible to overcome larger, stronger people. Here is some more general information regarding striking. Avoid punching to the head if possible. It s very easy to damage your own knuckles and fingers as the head is so hard. There is also the risk of someone transmitting nasty infections, even HIV or hepatitis via puncture wounds from the attacker s teeth to the knuckles. You can strike just as hard with the open palm of your hand with much less risk of injury to yourself. When working with sensitive areas, pressure points or motor nerve points, full on strikes would cause lasting damage and even light strikes can have an effect on people, sometimes there is even a delay before the reaction. Be careful in training as striking these areas can have serious consequences. Be warned that strikes to the throat could cause permanent damage to the throat and even result in death so this must be treated very cautiously in training and only used in a true Self Defense situation. The same caution is necessary with strikes to the eyes, you must treat this with total caution in training and only use firm strikes in a real Self Defense situation. Concentrate on your offensive techniques rather than on being reactive to whatever the attacker might throw at you. Use distractions, if a distracting strike does not get you free from the assailant, it will at least loosen their grip on you, giving you a window of opportunity to strike or escape. Rotating the body in pulling or striking, makes use of some of your body s larger muscles in the back, waist and shoulders. Be pre-emptive whenever possible, you do not have to wait for an attacker to strike or grab and then respond. Know what strikes and targets you are going to use before the encounter begins. Be explosive, let rip with all you have. Initiate combinations with fast strikes using your nearest tool to the nearest target. Keep striking in quick succession as openings appear. The picture here shows how to increase the effect of a knee to the thigh by pulling the attacker onto your strike.

36 Tearing at the face, eyes and ears, the attacker will become more concerned as whether he will see or breathe again than about whatever he intended to do to you. Practice Overview Section 1 - Using a Striking Shield Section 2 - Using Headgear Section 3 - Training Alone Section 1 - Striking Shield Use a padded training aid such as a striking shield to practice your strikes on a regular basis. You really can practice many of the techniques shown throughout this book. The shield is lightweight and small enough to allow your attacker to move around as you practice. Round kicks, Front Kicks, Shin Kicks, Stamping Kicks, Knee Strikes, Elbow strikes, forearm strikes, punches, finger strikes and head strikes. Practice applying all of the the strategies to maximize the effect of your strikes

37 Knee to thigh Knee to groin Shin kick Kick to Thigh Kick to Thigh Front kick -Knee, Thigh or Groin

38 Section 2 - Practice using Headgear Use headgear, complete with a visor to practice those fast strikes to the face and head. Note that hard strikes can still render your acting-attacker unconscious, even with the use of headgear, so use this with care. You can also practice those close quarter strikes to the head, finger scraping, elbows, thumb strikes, head butting and open hand strikes. Open Hand to Jaw Grab and Fingers to eyes

39 Tearing at the Ears Open Hand to Nose Forearm to side of Neck Elbow to Jaw

40 Elbow to Head, Neck, Back Forearm Strikes Knee to Head Keep away from that standard fight positioning and get in close where you can strike with good effect using fingers, elbows, head etc.

41 Be aware of your closest tool to the closest target on the attacker to initiate your combinations of strikes. Anything goes! Your strikes do not have to be fancy or look pretty. Elbows, forearms, knees, fingers and open hand strikes are all effective at close quarters. Practice combinations of strikes, practice doubling up the strikes, such as that open hand strike becoming fingers across the face or fingers to the eyes. As your attacker is protected with the headgear, they will not feel the effect of your blows, therefore, they sometimes need to simulate a realistic reaction after being struck. Mirror Section 2 - Training Alone When you train alone, use a mirror to check your technique. Look at your stance, watch yourself practice the stances and techniques. Look for flaws in your technique and do your best to fix them. Are you maintaining a good stance whilst striking? Are you targeting primary or secondary targets? Are you rotating at the hips and shoulders to gain greater effect?