The Value Of Blows To The Head

© COPYRIGHT 2009 BY BRADLEY J. STEINER - ALL RIGHTS RESERVED.
Sword and Pen – September 2009 Issue

[Reprinted With Permission]

American Combato
Seattle Combatives


WHILE it is no secret that clenched fist punching to the bony facial and head area will often result in more serious injuries to the one who delivers such punches than they inflict upon the recipient, the student of close combat must understand that not only are blows to the head critically important in real hand-to-hand engagements, but also that there are powerful and reliable methods of delivering such blows that — although banned in competition — are pure gold for emergency application when one is playing marbles "for keeps"!

Blows to the head are potentially very dangerous. They are also INSTANTLY DECISIVE, which makes them outstanding techniques to employ in an emergency. When the head is struck powerfully there is extreme shock to the brain. And if the head is struck ferociously in one direction and then in the opposite direction the result will almost invariably be a KNOCKOUT, since concussion is the likely outcome. The knockout results from tissue being torn inside the head as the brain is shaken violently within the skull from the successive hits. This accounts for the famous "one two" knockout sequence so often referred to in boxing: A left jab is snapped smartly into the opponent's face, and then a powerful straight right completes the job!The only problem with this excellent sequence is that it is a boxing sequence. The clenched fists sans gloves are not good for striking blows to the head (as stated earlier) outside the ring.

Besides, it can take six to eight months for a novice to train to the point where he can reasonably expect to deliver sufficiently accurate and forceful clenched fist punches to effect a reliable "one-two" sequence.

NOT SO with the following blows:—

• Edge of the hand

• Heel of the hand

• Hammerfist smash

• Elbow smash

• Head butt

Those blows — normally banned (and quite properly so!) from full contact application to the facial/head area in sporting contests, are perfect for employment against a violent attacker, when the "prize" is SURVIVAL.

No one struck viciously and solidly with any one of those five blows will fail to be at the very least disoriented long enough for a second blow — executed with the same or with one of the other natural weapons — that smashes his head powerfully in the opposite direction of the original blow. Here are some suggested combinations to work on:—

a) Snap a speedy leading edge-of-the-hand blow to the opponent's face, then drive your body forward as the chopping hand returns and smash a forward elbow blow across the opponent's temple.

b) Leading hand delivers an edge-of-the-hand blow, then step in and drive a chinjab smash (heel-of-the-hand blow) upward under the opponent's jaw with your rearmost hand.

c) Chinjab smash rapidly — alternating hands — driving two blows, one into each side of the opponent's head, in rapid succession.

d) Execute a sharp, untelegraphed vertical hammerfist smash to the opponent's temple or jaw hinge area with your rearmost hand. Followup instantly after impact by slamming a lead arm elbow smash into the opponent's head.

e) Head butt your opponent smartly as he moves in close to you (or you to him), then drive a hooking heel of the hand blow using your foremost hand into his temple or jaw hinge.

f) Deliver a chinjab smash using your rearmost hand to the opponent's jaw, then followup with a lead arm elbow smash across the opponent's temple or jaw hinge.

CAUTION!: The foregoing sequences are extremely dangerous and can result in serious injury. They are NOT to be practiced with contact to a live training partner, and they are NEVER to be used against anyone, except in a case where self-defense action is unavoidable in order to prevent grievous injury from an attacker. Work the blows in the air, on dummies, on a heavy bag, or on some other striking apparatus.

When you train, observe the following points:

• Always launch your attacks by surprise. Make no "cocking" or other telegraphing movements — just HIT!

• Get your entire body into the blows by utilizing waist-hip turn and driving forward into the attack.

• Although the sequence will almost certainly drop your man if successful, be prepared to followup relentlessly — just in case.

• Give lots of thought to all of the situations in which the sequences may be applied.

• Develop other sequences, according to your inclinations, experiences, and personal preferences.

• Become a "HEADHUNTER"! Go after your attacker's head with powerful barrages of successive unarmed combat strikes whenever you are in danger, and attacking in this manner appears to be suited to the situation!

• Never forget that the purpose of these specific combinations is to JAR and SNAP the opponent's head viciously in one direction and then suddenly in another — with the aim of causing concussion.

REREAD THE "CAUTION" AND PAY ATTENTION TO ITS MESSAGE! We do not assume any responsibility for your use or misuse of this or any other information imparted here or elsewhere. Be a responsible, law-abiding, non-troublesome and peaceful person. Use these types of actions ONLY in legitimate self-defense!