Martial Arts Mastery
The mastery of your own art depends on how well you apply the principles you learn.
Here are some very useful hand to hand combat lessons from a switched on author with some very sound advice.
"He or she who turns and gets the heck out of
there, will live to get the heck out of there
again and again and again."
So, if you can avoid conflict by leaving the 'situation,'
then that's a great course of action.
But if you can't escape trouble ... if conflict would
follow you right out the door ... if the only way to
stay safe is to deal with the situation, then ...
do whatever it takes!
Hand to Hand Combat mastery, Lesson #1
Mastery Lesson #1 -- Don't Play The Other Person's Game!
Bruce Lee was the first to popularize this sound
piece of advice.
It makes sense.
Imagine you're in a bar, on a school yard, or at
the park. A big, hulking giant starts to harass you.
He is blocking your escape.
He takes a boxer's stance. His hands clench into fists.
If you're in a bar, you look over at the boxing trophy
on the wall. Above the trophy you see a photo -- a younger
version of the brute in front of you.
I hope at this point you are not thinking,
'Well, I have had a FEW boxing lessons. I might as well
see what this giant can do.'
If you have a boxer in front of you, don't box.
If you see a guy start to circle you with open hands,
looking to grab your legs and take you to the ground,
you might have a wrestler.
If so, don't wrestle a wrestler.
So, how do you tell what you're up against?
In a future lesson, I'll give you specific instructions
for gleaning a lot of information about your attacker,
even before there is any contact.
For now, just try to avoid playing your
attacker's game:
* If your attacker wants to grab you, be slippery
beyond belief.
* If your attacker tries to take you to the ground,
you stay out of range, and on your feet.
* If your attacker starts to high kick, you force
the distance by working short techniques in close.
And what do you do, if a boxer tries to box you?
Answer: Kick him in the shin or knee!
But that's not fair!
Exactly!
Hand to Hand Combat mastery, Lesson #2
There's No Such Thing As a Fair Fight:
Several Dirty Tactics
"You wouldn't really kick someone in the groin,
would you?"
I am occasionally asked that question by some of
my novice students. I think that they feel it would
be dishonorable to use "unfair" tactics and techniques
in a fight.
First, let me emphasize, there is a difference between
sparring and an actual self-defense situation. In a
classroom session, you may have to set up guidelines
or rules, in order to keep everyone safe. On the street,
you are defending yourself, to stay alive.
Don't treat the two situations as though they were
the same "animal."
They aren't.
Many of the best martial artists are honorable
people. Some even have a gentle nature about them, as
a result of gaining confidence, while disciplining
the mind.
This gentle nature develops with years of constant
training. The "best" of these gentle folk would still
do what it takes to survive in a real encounter.
So, what kinds of techniques would be considered unfair?
Before we get down to specifics, let me give you
some general advice:
* Any move that is illegal in competition, should be
considered fair game on the street. Maybe the reason
it was made illegal is just what you need to really
defend yourself.
* Anything that could be labeled as a "cheap shot."
Taking advantage of your opponent's weakness, injury,
or disability is considered a cheap shot. So is
catching your opponent off guard. And "faking"
or feinting is definitely cheap. USE THEM ALL!
* Taking advantage of your environment is both cheap
and 'unfair.' That's why 'I' wouldn't hesitate to use
anything available to stay safe. Dirt or gravel
in the face sounds effective. Sticks, canes, and even
umbrellas can be used as bludgeons to pound on
an attacker. Get the idea?
Recently, I examined some of the tactics and
techniques I use that might be considered unfair.
There were too many to name.
I realized that a fair bit of my system is based on
taking advantage of the immediate situation any way I
can.
"Any way I can" translates to a lot of unfair tactics.
A few of the tactics that I consider basic, yet
super essential are:
*Obviously, go for the groin. Just think how
awesome you'd be if your goal were to plaster the
crotch, no matter what else happened in the fight.
You might get tagged, but you would reach your goal--
and probably defend yourself in the long run.
*I would head for the eyes with an almost equal intensity
as I would to the groin. Eye jabs are great. You extend
your distance a bit. They are fast. If you actually
succeeded with an eye jab against a serious assailant,
would you have anything more to worry about (except
being sued by the criminal or put in jail for
excessive violence)?
*I step on feet. If I have my foot firmly planted on
the lead foot of my opponent, I know that at
least the front foot won't be kicking at me.
Enough said.
You do realize that whenever you go into "unfair mode,"
you are probably increasing the potential legal damage.
In today's society, throwing "any sort" of kick or
punch will probably attract some sort of legal repercussion,
let alone an "unfair" technique.
Just keep in mind that a lot of times you can't plead
minimal force in the eyes of the court ... if you do
something that seems unjust. I am not the first to
notice that justice in the courts can easily
be skewed by perception.
Be careful.
Bonus Unfair Tactic:
*Use a control maneuver in between two series
of damaging blows. Huh?
Here's what I mean: Usually, a wrist lock
or an arm bar would be thought of as a
controlling move to bring a sequence to a
controlled close.
Instead, I continue wailing on my opponent
"after" I gain control.
I have my initial strikes -- after all, I
wouldn't try to respond to my opponent's
attack with a lock before I countered with
strikes of my own.
After doing some initial damage to my attacker,
I am ready to try some sort of joint lock. OK,
I lock my attacker. Am I done? Not a chance.
Now that I have some more control, I can
really start to defend myself. I don't even
pause between the lock and when I start to
pound,in theory....(Get more details on
Devastating Wrist Locks)
***Caution***
Yep, this is an unfair move. And you might be
in real trouble with the law.
You went beyond minimum force, and not only that, but
the attack might have been considered over, if you
stopped after you got control, and then started
a "new attack," (in the eyes of the law).
Figure out your own limits. Know how far you could
be pushed, before you'd "do whatever it takes to survive."
Avoid conflict at "almost" all costs. Take responsibility
for your actions. Be ethical. Be moral. Yet survive.
And have a nice day :-)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In the original ezine, I felt the need to print the
following quotes, with a bit of explanation about
sneaky maneuvers:
####################################################
Martial Arts mastery Quote of the Week:
I don't want you to get the wrong idea from the
above article.
I am not advocating that you give up martial arts
practice and just rely on "sneaky" maneuvers for self
defense. Even my unfair tactics require a lot of practice,
It takes precision to be able to trap my opponent's
foot with my own foot. It also takes precise timing
to be able to execute a successful boxer's feint.
And wrist locks aren't easy to put on someone,
unless you own my book ;-)
Unfair moves without practice, are nothing more than
poor choreography for a cheesy martial arts movie.
Morihei Ueshiba, the founder of Aikido said:
"Progress comes to those who train and train.
Reliance on secret techniques will get one
nowhere."
FYI -- I found a quote from the 1600s. I thought
it relevant:
"When acting in a time of order, one should act
with propriety. When acting in a time of confusion,
one should adapt to circumstances."
--Hung Ying-ming
One tactic I might use would be to throw something at
my attacker(s). Sure, I might go for whatever loose change
I found in my pocket, but I might also be inclined to pick
up an object from close by.
And throwing is the subject of mastery lesson #3.
Why throw?
* You might be able to end the fight before the attacker
ever reaches you. [Beware legal ramifications]
* You might disarm the attacker, if he's wielding
a weapon.
* You could gain some necessary escape time.
* Making an attacker pause to deal with a
thrown weapon, might give you the needed instant
to attack successfully.
So, how do you practice throwing an object, when you
have no clue what objects might be available in your
time of need?
Break your possibilities into categories. Maybe you
could consider "Frisbees, balls, and javelins."
In other words, you could practice throwing flat objects
like a small picture frame or compact discs, by spinning
them like a Frisbee.
Then, you could practice your throwing accuracy with
tennis balls.
Just aim for a spot on a wall. In a pinch, you'd be
ready to throw anything from a battery (C or D cell??)
to a rock the size of a golf ball.
By javelin throwing, I mean a spear technique. Use it
if you had to hurl a long, narrow object.
Are there other categories you could consider?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Bonus Throwing Tip #1
Tip: Have You Lost Your Marbles?
Quinn, my daughter, was just under three years old,
when I wrote this article....
She loves to play, and she is even learning the idea
of cleaning up after herself when she's done.
Unfortunately, she isn't the best with her marbles.
My feet seem to find them in the middle of the night.
When I walk around the house in the middle of the
night, I rarely turn on a light. I am very accustomed
to negotiating my way through the dark house without
tripping or bumping.
But I don't inch along long like a ninja feeling every
pebble beneath my feet. Instead, I stride confidently
down the hall, until I step on a *&%$#$% marble!!
So, what does this have to do with martial arts?
Glad you asked. I pick her marbles up and put them
in my pocket.
Yesterday, I was working on our garage. While I was
taking a break, I got this sudden urge to "throw" the
pen that I always carry in my pocket.
I like the idea of carrying a ball-point pen for
self-defense purposes. I can jab it into a muscle or
an eyeball. I can even get one to stick in the
wall from about six to eight feet.
I suddenly had the urge for a little pen-throwing
practice. After all, I was all alone.
Well, this was the wrong kind of pen, but I wanted to
try anyway. I knew, yet I threw.
It penetrated the wood siding. It held for a second
... and then it dropped to the floor of the garage. I
told you it was the wrong kind of pen.
Then I reached in my pocket and I found marbles. I
grabbed a few, and I threw them quickly, one right
after the other. Of course, a marble wouldn't stick
in wood (leave it to Steve Golden to prove me wrong,
some day). But I was able to dent the paneling.
What a great weapon. No wonder hunters use marbles
in their slingshots. Marbles are just the right size,
perfectly round. Again; what a great weapon!
So, do you carry something in your pocket that you
could throw at an attacker? A pen? A pocketful of
change? Some marbles?
And just think, you could always pull a few marbles
out to show your friends and family. Why?
You take them out of your pocket and say....
"See. I haven't lost all of my marbles."Ý
(Ouch)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Tip for Knife Throwing
In my ezine, "Martial Arts Mastery: A Tell-All of Tips,
Tactics, and Techniques," I sometimes mention sticking
a pen in the wall [see the above bonus tip].
Whenever I mention throwing and sticking a pen, a few
people write in complaining that they can't even stick
a knife in the wall.
Just in case you haven't perfected throwing a knife,
here are a few tips to get you started.
1) Start with a 'throwing' knife. Good balance in the
beginning makes it much easier.
2) Only try for a 1/2 rotation (holding it by the end
of the handle), or a full, single rotation, holding
it by the tip of the blade.
3) Get consistent. You are a martial artist. You are
used to practicing for precision. Figure out the
distance for one full rotation, to get the knife to
stick in some soft wood (like a piece of pine). Then
practice for consistency. Once you get the exact same
rotation each time, then you will always be able to
stick the knife from that particular distance.
4) Learn exactly where that single-rotation distance is,
before you move on to a new distance.
The key to sticking a knife is to be able to do the
exact same rotation, from the exact same distance
every time.
5) Even though I have talked about throwing without any
rotation, for now, rotation adds stability to the
knife. It's easier to start this way.
6) Only after you perfect a single rotation, should
you move on to 1 and a 1/2 and double rotations.
Practice for precision!
End note: Don't practice on a tree. It's alive. It
deserves respect. Get a chunk of board
instead, OK?
Are you ready to learn to gain useful information about
your attacker, even before he is in striking range?
Obtaining a little advanced information could be the
difference between success and failure --
life and death.
Note: Today, you'll find a bonus lesson towards
the end of this issue. You'll learn some
important awareness tips for focusing on
your opponent.
Tips for 'Cold Reading' Your Opponent
You are still at a fairly safe distance from your
attacker, at least for a second or so. What do you look
for while you are scanning?
In the art of magic, a lot of the fake mind readers
engage in a practice known as Cold Reading. They feel
that they can amaze their audience by telling the
individuals personal details that they could only know
by mind reading.
Actually, they are looking for some instant clues. They
want to make impromptu guesses.
Can you use this principle in your own defense?
* Look to see if a pocket of a coat is heavier
than the other, as if it were carrying a
concealed weapon.
* Scan the fingers of the hands. Especially
look at the thumb -- is it relaxed or tense?
Could they be concealing a knife or other weapon?
* See if they pull up a pant leg on their lead
leg. This is one of the biggest telegraphs that
someone is about to kick. What a bad habit!
* Do they take a specific martial arts stance?
Does this reveal their background, or lack
thereof? I have found that wannabe martial artists
seem to posture the same idiotic TV Kung Fu stance.
And my best piece of Cold-Reading advice -- don't get
faked out by any of these clues.
In other words -- don't just focus on the heavier coat
pocket. Don't assume that a tense hand is holding a weapon;
it could be a fake.
Don't let someone pull up a pant leg and then get you
with a punch. And don't assume that just because they
take a stance from one style, that your opponents are
limited to just that style.
Where you look, and how you use your eyes in a fight
can be more important than you think. A lot of beginners
don't realize the importance of using their eyes.
Do you know the difference between rods and cones in
your eyes? Well, you don't have to -- just remember that
you see motion out of the corners of your eyes first.
So, if you are trying to detect motion, you probably
shouldn't look straight on at your attacker. Have you
noticed that the best martial artists seem to fight
with this 'sideways glance'?
So, if you are going to look out of the corners, where
do you look?
My answer depends on the context of the fight. I have
two theories -- use whichever you need at a specific time.
THEORY ONE
Focus on the trunk of your opponent's body. You use your
peripheral vision to catch the motion of the limbs. By
focusing on the abdomen-to-chest area, you won't get faked
out by a feint with the punch ... hopefully.
You see more if you start with your opponent's center
and then let your focus expand outward from there.
THEORY TWO
Focus on the hands and the feet. Some of you were
taught to scan the perimeter, when you enter a new
situation ... like a restaurant, or a party. You make a
scan of the outer edges.
This theory is exactly that. You scan your opponents'
hands and feet. Are they concealing anything?
You check out their weapons, so to speak. They will
probably attack with hand or foot, so put those
weapons under the microscope.
COMBINING THE TWO
You can actually blend the two 'tactics for visual
analysis.' Examine the hands and feet at a greater
distance. Use it as sort of a pre, cursory examination.
Then, when it's time effect your martial arts
stance -- you don't reveal that you are a martial
artist too soon, by snapping into a formal pose ...
I mean stance -- you look out of the corner
of your eyes.
To sum all of this up, you scan their weapons first,
reveal your stance when you have to, then let an
sideways glance at the trunk take over.
Now, the real question is what are you looking for?
[Did you read the lesson on Cold Reading?]
It's time to get in to the midst of the attack.
For whatever reason, a giant grabs you, or starts
to punch you. Maybe this huge, 'ninja wannabe' even
tries to kick you.
What do you do?
You respond with quick, efficient techniques -- designed
to end the attack. And that's what this lesson covers.
Note: In this lesson, the attacker is already in
hitting range. It's beyond the scope of these
lessons to cover timing, distance and ranges.
Make Your Defense Counters 300% More Effective
Are you familiar with the term Atemi Waza?
I first read about it, in a magazine article from a
couple of years ago.
Atemi Waza is the tactic of attacking the vital organs.
So what?
I thought it was a given that everyone knew to attack
the vulnerable areas. One of the first rules that you
learned back in Lesson #2 is that there is no such
thing as a 'fair fight' (unless you hit somebody
with your caramel apple or cotton candy as you get
off one of the rides -- OK, pardon the bad pun).
But are you using this tactic enough? Most folks aren't.
From a quick round of TV 'research,' I would guess
that most martial artists only make about one hit
in four a strike to a vital area.
Sure, they kick and hit to the body, but often their
targets aren't vulnerable spots.
Here's a practical application, so you can make more
use of those shots to delicate areas:
A Practical Lesson
Your opponent has your arm pinned. You are standing
slightly behind your opponent, and somehow he/she has
your arm. It is stuck between your attacker's arm and
body -- it extends forward. Usually, your elbow
is pointed down.
There are many ways to get to this point. We won't
discuss them here.
There are several techniques where your opponent ends up
with your arm locked in this manner.
One is a straight arm bar, where your attacker applies
pressure to your elbow, which is in front of his body,
as the rest of your body is still to the rear.
He/She applies pressure by pushing down on your wrist
and up on your elbow at the same time.
Another move is the lock found in my book "Wrist Locks:
From Protecting Yourself to Becoming an Expert." It is
the third lock in the second pattern. You are still
standing slightly to the rear. Your elbow is wedged
against your attacker's chest. He/she has your fingers
bent inward toward your wrist.
OK, either way, you're locked. And the pain is about to
get so unbearable, that you won't be able to counter
or reverse the lock. In "Wrist Locks:," I call this the
"Point of No Return."
You only have a short amount of time to react. So why
is it that many martial artists try to grapple with
their foe, at this point?
I have seen attempts at variations on Nelsons, also
grabbing the legs try to lift their opponents in the air.
I have also seen grabbing the attacker's hair from behind
(not a bad idea), but then the victim pulls the attacker
in, so the victim ends up going to the ground with the
attacker anyway....
It just doesn't make sense.
Especially if you are small and your opponent is
large.
Pay attention: Don't grapple with a big, hairy,
smelly-breath, macho attacker -- if you yourself
aren't a big brute, used to grappling!!!
Instead ...
Think Atemi Waza! You have a few choices. Just don't
take very long making them. In fact, maybe a little
practice in the dojo would be useful.
If your attacker had ahold of your arm, as in one of
the aforementioned locks, you could:
* strike to the back of the neck. This is the
traditional move that I found in the article.
* scrape down with your instep on the back of your
attacker's leg
* even go for a groin shot from the rear
I am not sure I would try a kidney shot. It may be
impractical if, for example, your attacker had your
right arm locked through the left side of the body.
It really depends on how securely you are being
held. Experiment.
After you take your first shot, make sure your
follow-ups also go for vulnerable shots.
This is how to make your counters 300% more effective.
If you are only going for a vulnerable shot one out
of every four shots, then trying to make every move
thereafter a shot to a "soft spot" would mean instant
improvement, don't you think?
The downside to making all of your follow-ups
'efficient' is ...
(To Find Out, Read The Following Quote Section)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
Quotes: When Your Hands and Feet Become Deadly Weapons
You train in martial arts and self defense, so that
you are prepared in case you ever have to defend against
someone attacking you with force. The problem is ... someday,
you may have to respond ... with force.
And as someone trained in the martial arts, you could
be considered a deadly weapon.
In Dr. John La Tourrette's book "Secrets of Speed Fighting,"
(American Sports Training Institute, 1992) he gives a bit
more insight of what exactly defines a deadly weapon:
"Legal Fact #3: Learn the legal definition of a
DEADLY WEAPON, and 'never become one' in the eyes
of the law.
Items of a Deadly Weapon:
a. Repeated and continuous blows ...
b. To vital and DELICATE parts of the body, i.e., kicks
to the head or face
c. To a defenseless and unresisting victim."
(pages 57 -58)
So, if you are planning on hitting your attacker in a
vulnerable area, and this stops him, anything beyond
that (and even that initial hit, depending on the
circumstances), could be considered more-than-necessary
(excessive force).
I'm not a lawyer, nor am I a law officer, so take all
of this with a grain of salt. But if your one hit
stops the attacker, then the next hit could be
considered an attack on an "unresisting victim."
If you follow my advice and make your counter 300%
more effective by always hitting vulnerable areas,
then unfortunately you have satisfied all three
criteria for attacking with a deadly weapon.
For some, this is a dilemma: Do you defend yourself
thoroughly and risk the consequences both legally
and morally (your conscience) that may follow? Do
you instead play it safe, and risk your life and
possibly the life of your loved ones?
I know how I'd respond, how about you?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
In Lesson #6, you'll learn what it means to be
unstoppable. This tactic may be all you need to
survive. Seriously!
Do you have the drive to survive?
Lesson #6: This Is Serious -- Goal!
The attacker is on you! He is big. He is mean. And
he's not playing games!
This is serious!
Yesterday, we talked about Atemi Waza. So, hopefully
you are thinking about vulnerable areas more.
Now, I want you to think about two in particular:
* The eyes
* The groin
That's it. Just think eyes and groin.
Think of yourself as a goal oriented person. I am.
I write about goal-setting in almost all of my
books -- "Wrist Locks: From Protecting Yourself to
Becoming an Expert," "Secrets of Teaching Martial Arts
More Effectively" -- and you even learn about punching
goals in "The Punch Papers."
If the fight is as serious as it could be, you may
need to focus on your goals to survive.
So, think eyes and groin.
Eyes and Groin!
No matter what happens, you are going to either poke
the eyes with an eye jab, or you are going to grab
your attacker's 'family jewels.'
Note: If you are facing a woman attacker, you
may have to think 'eyes and knees,' or
maybe even 'eyes and shins.'
If poking the eyes or wrenching the penis and testicles
were your only goals, don't you think you could succeed?
No matter what hits came in that you tried to block, no
matter what kind of hold your attacker started to put
on you, if your only goals were eyes and groin ... wouldn't
you be able to succeed?
Do you have that determination? To survive?
Here's a practical exercise to get you started:
Grab a partner ... or rather have a partner grab you.
Start slow and easy. You can have your partner grab
you more aggressively as you get used to finding a lock.
As your partner grabs you, try to find his or her
hand with your own.
Put your hand right on top of your partner's and
feel around for a finger.
Now, slowly (you don't want to sprain or break your
partner's finger) grab the finger and start to bend
it backwards. You peel it off you.
Actually, you can peel in any direction, as long
as you understand what causes pain to the finger. You
can even cause pain by bending the finger in on
itself -- if you know how.
You should be able to apply pressure and pain ever
so slowly.
Quick pain = losing your practice partner
Once you have some semblance of technique, have
your partner try different grabs. Each time, you go
into a finger lock.
Are you getting good at wrenching the finger yet?
Now, still being very aware of your partner, it's
time to pick up speed a bit.
You don't have to speed through the motion. You
just have to be fast enough to successfully remove
the hand before your opponent can yank it away.
Of course, in my book I do teach specific wrist locks,
instead of finger locks.
And I also teach you to hit as you are locking
your opponent.
Come to think of it ... what are you doing with
your other hand?
While one hand is peeling back the finger, is your
other hand striking?
Are you scraping the shins with some good solid kicks
while you are hitting and finger locking?
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
By now, you should be gaining a little more
confidence in your combat abilities.
You have some tactics and techniques, right?
But what would you do, if your attacker was really
carrying a weapon?
How would you defend yourself against a knife attack?
Knife Fighting -- A Few Frequently Asked Questions
** If you don't have a knife what primary target should
you consider when facing someone with a knife? **
I'll answer that with a few questions of my own:
What can you reach? What can you reach that your attacker
doesn't think you can reach, or what can you reach that
your attacker isn't paying attention to?
Look to the knee. It's not an 'always' target. Always
look and see what's closest to what. Analyze.
But do consider kicking your attacker's knee.
-=-=-=--=-=-=-=-=-=--==-
** What is something that is often overlooked in a
knife fight? **
Since the knife is being held above waist level,
many folks fight in this 'upper gate.' They forget
that they have feet. And they forget that they have
targets below the waist -- like the knees ;-)
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
** Aren't you afraid of the attacker taking a giant
lunge at you with his or her knife? **
Actually, I am more bothered by a knife fighter who
fights with short flicks of the knife.
A single lunge made by an attacker shows commitment. I
can deal with a committed action. That's what we train for.
I can pass a big motion, while counter-striking.
I can interrupt a big motion with an attack of my own
I can use their own energy of the big motion against them
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-==
** What's the single safest way to deal with a
knife attacker? **
Throw a pocketful of change in the attacker's face.
Stay out of range. Stay WAY out of range. Use a
projectile -- in other words, throw something.
And don't be predictable about it. You throw your
one weapon. Your attacker moves his head slightly
to one side. Your weapon wooshes on by.
Poof. That's it. Your counter attack is over.
Catch your attacker by surprise.
Or use the shotgun approach -- back to that
handful of change in the face. One of those coins
is bound to hit some vulnerable part of the
face -- you hope.
-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
** Is it OK to wrist lock as a response to a
knife attack? **
Probably not as your first contact. You need to
soften up your attacker with some hits first. Don't
try to force a joint lock, or you'll get cut.
If, after you have scored with some nice hits, and
your arm and hand just happen to be naturally heading
to a convenient position for a wrist lock, then maybe ...
just possibly ... you might want to see if a wrist
lock slips into place easily.
Note: A skilled artist could successfully wrist lock,
if the initial knife thrust were a single,
direct attack (SDA). The thrust would have to
be a large and committed motion.
-=-==-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=
** If you had a choice, when would you strike against
someone who was holding a knife on you? **
Strike when they are least expecting it. I know this
sounds like a 'too convenient' answer, but it's true.
Your attacker can't pay attention to you all the time.
Use a slight lull in attention to your advantage.
Everyone has to relax his or her senses at some time,
even if it's just for an instant.
Can you find this 'breath' between heavy points of
concentrated attention?
And don't be obvious. If subtle is not your middle name,
then this tactic may not be for you. You need to practice
your acting skills.
Bonus Lesson: Emergency Knives
They are all around you. What can you use in place
of a knife?
Someone pulls a knife on you, and you are empty
handed -- or are you?
A credit card provides a nice sharp edge. I can
definitely slice skin with it. The question is can
you get it out in time? What if it is buried in the
folds of a wallet?
I always carry a ball point pen. While it's not great
for slicing, it is wonderful for poking -- into muscles,
eyes, and other vulnerable areas.
Do you have a comb? The tines could definitely rip
the skin around the wrist. And they might hurt if raked
across a villain's face too.
What else to you have?
A compact disc? A small make-up mirror?
Note: I am often concerned that I am posting advice for
all to read, even the bad guys. What if terrorists
are reading this post?
I worry a little less about this set of tips.
A terrorist holding up a plane with a man's hair comb
would probably be ridiculed. It's just not a menacing weapon.
On the other hand, decent folks have an automatic hidden
weapon that doesn't have to menace to be effective.
It can still cut.
More details of all the above techniques and much more can be found at:
Martial Arts Mastery

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