self defense

[disgruntled]

as i mentioned before i am teaching a fitness martial arts class. and now i am starting up a self defense class. because i will be limited to probably 7 classes (we are still creating the program) i want to focus on the most useful selfdefences. which grabs/holds/etc. do you find most commonly used on the streets?

[Shirindo]

Double arm grab - normally by two people with a thrid about to hit you.
Reverse choke - One grabs whilst the 2nd hits you.
Single lapel grab - One person, gets their distance from the grab and then hits you.
Rugby tackle round the waist (shute) - for the idiot out there
Knife to the body.
Knife to the throat.

Also dont forget that a lot of the time the assailant wont grab and will just attack. Either a punch/stab/shove/slap normally.

Ooo Ooo! Dont forget that women seem to love getting a good grip on another womans hair! God you women aint half got a grip on ya at times!!

If I think of more, I'll come back to you.

[sirdarksol]

Not a grab, but if a woman is going to use a "slap" to attempt to dissuade an attacker, it should be a backhand. The backhand carries a lot more force behind it. I've watched the difference as both were performed on a punching bag. The open hand slap made a really loud noise, but barely moved the bag. The backhand made a deep thud sound and set the bag to swinging.

Also, when it comes to defending against weapons, a few helpful hints that I've heard.
With knives, the important thing is to control the knife, not the arm, wrist or hand. A good knife fighter will just switch knife hands. Also, keep your hands back, not out in front of you. A good knife fighter will accept any target he is offered. Only when you feel that you are going to get hit should you put your hand between yourself and the knife (better to get stabbed/cut in the hand than in the chest)
With guns, if you feel you absolutely must physically defend yourself, push the gun up and to the right, then the left (or left then right). This keeps the gun off of you, and when you start pushing one way, the attacker automatically pushes the other, allowing you to entirely throw him off balance when you start going with his own strength, rather than against it.

[disgruntled]

excellent gun/kinfe tips!! they will be of great help. and they can be incorporated into the defenses i know.

[DOCBROWN1705]

The most important tool, when defending against grabs, or hold in a self defense situation is movement. Understanding how to use the Attacker to your advantage is Key.

If the attacker is using a reaching movement in the grab, and has attempted to grab the chest or shoulder area..... Using a falling back step while preforming an interior wrist lock, will pull your opponent off balance, and give you leverage to force him to the ground. ( I will try and post a video ).

More to follow.......

[Shirindo]

First thing we teach when someone grabs you round the throat (ie from behind) is to learn what to do to be able to breathe. Then you can assess/react further knowing you will have the ability to pull it off.....hopefully

All this talk of video posts, I will have to see what I can come up with. I just hate being on camera.....and you might all laugh!

[Hatori]

Whenever I teach Self Defence one of the most popular sessions is "Improvisation with everyday items". Get people to bring in any item they wish and see how you can utilise it in a manner for self-preservation!

[disgruntled]

that is a really cool idea!

+rep

[hurgoll]

I think you will do fine teaching all the right counters, but what some courses skip over is awareness and how to avoid attack in the first place.

The hardest thing for most people is the blitz attack and suprise attack.

(Blitz) Most men who attack a women are weak as a man (in my opinion) and they count on just walking up and throwing a bunch of quick punchs and yelling at them to overwhelm them.

The counter? Teach them even if over whelmed at first, the battle is not lost! Just don't stop thinking and look for your counter.

(Suprise) Someone who hits you when you are not expecting it, like the guy holding the door for you or the man who steps out of the shadow and hits you before you know what is happening.

The counter? They hope a sudden blow will both overwhelm you with pain and fear. This way you will do whatever they say. Remember pain is a temporary thing, Don't do what they say, if they want you to get into a van or stop fighting them. Don't! Most likely you will never be seen again. Use that fear to null the pain and keep thinking. Look for the chance to use the counters Sensei is teaching you.

Sorry, I just like this site! It makes me gabby.

[disgruntled]

lol i am glad you like the site!

it is funny that you metion that because i did cover that type stuff... i also covered why you should stay calm in a situation and showed them that they can trust their body and their reactions.

at one point one of my students went home and had her husdand attack her, and of cousre he grabbed her in a way that we had not gone other yet and she did not know what to do (he grabber her throat like he was going to choke her)..... so the next class we discussed this. slowed the situation down and asked her (using what she had already learnt) what were her options. at the end we though of three diiferent things that she could have done, plus what she could have done to stop him from ever grabbing her throat. and it helped give her some confidence to know that the last thing you want to do when attacked is panic.