Kicking and Balance

Years ago, my balance problem became really evident in karate class. At the sensei's command, we all stood on one leg, and I struggled to stay upright. The harder I struggled, the more tense I became, and the harder it was to keep from tipping over.

That's why this video from Vladimir Vasiliev (Systema, the Russian Martial Art) caught my attention. I will have to try this out.

Kick Target above Ankle for Self Defense

I believe low kicks are safer than high kicks. Also, they're easier for those of us who do not train as often as we should.

That's why I was interested in the following tip I received in an email from Jeff Anderson of ISQC:

I was talking a little while back with Russell Stutely, Europe's   
leading expert on "pressure points" for street fighting.

I asked him, "What's the #1 spot on the human body you'd hit if 
you wanted to take out a larger, stronger attacker?"

Russell's response was...

     "There's a 'secret pressure point' on the inside of each 
     leg, just a few inches above the ankle bone.

     Stomp on that spot and it will bring ANY man to the ground, 
     screaming in pain."

I was shocked that something so simple could be so devastating!

But I took my boot and lightly struck myself there.  The response   
made me shudder at the thought of someone really nailing me there   
with their foot!

Bottom line...memorize this spot!


I tend to shy away from sweeping generalizations about bringing "any man to the ground in screaming pain. There are always exceptions. 


Nevertheless . . . an ultra-low kick to a painful target . . . sounds good to me.

Knee Spike

Continued from "Palm Heel Chin Jab"
Today I have a link to a video that will show you how perform a knee spike. It comes from Ted Truscott's Defend Yourself 101 page. Warning: Tattoo Girl practices with a bare midriff. Depending on your family's specific sensitivity & values regarding these things, a parent may wish to preview the video.



I've picked up some useful tips from both this video & the one in "Palm Heel Chin Jab".

Sucker Punch, 6 (From Reaction to Action)

Continued from "Sucker Punch, 5 (Defense Against)"

In summary so far, defense against the sucker puncher requires:

1. Perception of surroundings and acknowledgment of reality (vs. denial);
2. Non-challenging defensive posture;
3. Line in the dirt;
4. Startle response launches combat wedge technique.

Everything up to this point is designed to protect you from the initial assault. But if you do not follow up the combat wedge technique, you have only postponed an inevitable beating. If your wedge is powerful enough to drive that assailant back or throw him off balance, you may be able to get away.

If not, you must strike with palm-heel, edge of hand, knees, elbows and feet until you open an opportunity to escape. My book, 12 US Military Combat Techniques That Could Save Your Life explains and illustrates a dozen of the most simple and effective blows, in the best tradition of WWII combatives. In any case, the combat wedge is generally going to be your opening move, not the closing.

Once more I give you a link to a video clip by Tony Blauer. In it, he demonstrates that the combat wedge is simply a Bridge to the Next Move. (You may find some of his language offensive.)

That about wraps it up for the sucker punch. If you would like to review from the beginning, go to "Sucker Punch (Overhand Right)" and follow the links through this series of posts.

Rear Kick

I have started to practice a rear kick, just a few reps each morning after our walk. This particular version is actually a snap rear kick, and it's for when someone grabs you from behind. For the moment we will bypass such questions as: "Why didn't he whup you upside the head to disorient you before grabbing you," and, "What lapse of alertness on your part allowed the orc to come up behind you like that?"

I practice this rear kick with my back against the heavy bag. The bottom of the bag is adjusted to groin level. Then I snap my heel up to contact the bottom of the bag. I try to maintain my back in contact with the bag because leaning forward to gain kicking height may not be an option in an actual encounter.

This version of the rear kick does not need to contact with a lot of force. It's not the heavy strikes, but the quick sharp ones that cause the most distress in groin shots.

If I continue to practice the snap rear kick, I expect joint mobility to increase. As this happens, I plan to raise the bag an inch or two at a time, in case I'm grabbed by someone with longer legs.