In this text we shall look at various techniques for self defence, using some of the Jeet Kune Do (JKD) principles to protect yourself. Different scenarios, this time, from the last but the techniques stay the same.
Of course, the best thing if you can is just plain....RUN....or....GET AWAY!
“Live to fight another day...” so they say, and whilst their is a lot of truth in that, I believe it’s good to have some knowledge on how you can get out of tricky situations if, god forbid, they ever arises.
A few things to think about.
Close Quarters
Blocking - imagine, if you will, that you have a knife in your hands (hand neutral, blade pointing down). You’re in a room. From your waist, raise the hand - any hand - and stab the top corner of the room (Left hand, Left corner..Right hand, Right corner), then from neutral (hand by side), stab the bottom corner of the room (Left hand, Left corner..Right hand, Right corner).
Standing side on - rarely do we stand face on to our opponents. Why? Face on creates a bigger target to hit. Side on reduces the size of the target. Remember.....YOU are the target!
Pendulum Stepping - used in boxing and Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) forms. It’s a rhythmic back and forward motion, standing side on remember...where the back leg is pushing forward and the front leg pulling back. Used to control distance of your opponent’ attack - they try to punch/kick when your forward then you push back on the front leg, making them miss. Simple!
Distance
Punching - Fingers clenched, thumb on the outside. Standing side on, using the pendulum motion. Fist is vertical. The concept is to punch through the target. Like you are punching an extra 2-3 inches through whatever you are hitting.
Fist neutral at waist height, punch straight, rotating the front hip as you do so and stepping forward. Hard technique to master, at speed. It should be one fluid motion.
Finger jab - with fingers outstretched the hand reaches further than a fist. Think of your fingers as a blade in fencing. From a defensive stance, bring the hand out, fingers straight, slightly curled in to form a blade-like shape. Extend and hit the target in a quick stabbing type movement.
Kick - many variations. Groin kick has individual rotating hips, moving weight onto back leg and leaning back. This develops the angle in which to snap out the front foot and hit it’s target.
Defense Against A Choke Hold
It’s that someone, again, coming at you. They’re looking aggressive, and reaching to grab you by the throat.
Plenty of options here.
As they grab you by the throat, grab hold of their wrist, with your left hand. This helps to relieve the pressure on your neck, making it easier to breathe. Whilst doing this, finger strike to his eye using your left hand. Follow this up, immediately, with a knee to the groin using your right knee. Left leg, try to set your foot up against his leading leg. This will stop him, or her, from trying to kick themselves.
OR.....
As they grab you by the throat, side step, thus changing the angle and relieving some of the pressure from the neck, and front kick them to the groin.
Defense Against Rear Stranglehold
As that person - again! - grabs you, with their arm round your neck. You move, angling yourself slightly more to the right, giving you the space to give a left elbow strike to their ribs. Keep the angle and keep hitting with the elbow.
Economy of motion.
OR....
As that person - again! - grabs you, with their arm round your neck or shoulders. You move, angling yourself slightly more to the right, giving you the space to give a left hammer punch (punching down, leading with the pinky) to the groin. Keep the angle and keep hitting with the hammer punch.
Oh, and just a quick word. Groin shots, of any denomination, will work on either sex...believe me, just because a woman hasn’t got a penis and testicles doesn’t stop it from hurting. Less painful, sure, but certainly not pain-less!
