A Quick Review...

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

[Reprinted With Permission]

American Combato
Seattle Combatives

Quick Review Of The Way To
Attack A Dangerous Physical Assailant

THE truth cannot be stated or emphasized often enough. And the truth, as far as real world self-defense and close combat is concerned, is that —

a) If you are to be effective, then you must be OFFENSIVE. "Defense" is a proper motive, but "offense" is the most effective means.

b) If you wish to be equipped with the proper method by which your offensive would better be launched, then you need to train in the proven BLOWS (kicks, knee attacks, strikes, gouges, jabs, smashes, bites, and butts!) of unarmed close combat, and master them as individual and as sequential attack skills.

There‘s no secret or mystery here, and we surely did not invent all of that which works in close quarters hand-to-hand combat. It is true that there are different opinions on the matter of what truly constitute the best and most reliable techniques for individual combat. However, combat experts agree on the following fundamentals:

• Fully 95% of that which comprises serious, war-adequate technical doctrine in hand-to-hand combat consists of blows (using the widest possible definition of "blows", to include biting, butting, gouging, clawing, seizing, spitting, and fingertips jabbing, etc.)

• Single, "one blow stops" are unrealistic and must never be anticipated. This is one element of traditional karate that simply makes no real sense — especially for today‘s combatant in the modern setting.

• To be effective in self-defense OR in offense, you must be ATTACK MINDED. This is not a contradiction at all, as far as "self-defense" goes. Like we first said and wrote in the early 1970‘s: When you are attacked, you must attack your attacker!

• Competition has nothing to do with combat. There are no rules in combat; anything goes.

• Good tactics and sound mental conditioning are vital, and the specific kind of tactics and mental conditioning that are required in real combat bear no relation to those that enable a man to win in contest competition.

• There is never any guarantee that anything will work flawlessly, or that predictable outcomes are possible in close combat. LUCK is an important factor.

With all of that rather grim preliminary material understood, we can now proceed to explain some of the key actions that might save your life if, God forbid, you ever find yourself facing the prospect of death or disablement at the hands of one or more violent offenders.

THE SIDE KICK

This is the King of the Kicks for close combat. It is properly delivered low (never higher than the enemy‘s knee), and it is executed like a whiplash, driving the heel of the foot (preferably) or the bottom or the edge of the foot (perfectly acceptable if sturdy footwear is being worn) THROUGH — not "on" — the knee. The ideal combat side kick combines the lashing speed of the French savate kick with the driving power and destructive force of the taekwon-do side thrust kick. Unlike the customarily taught side kicks, however, the side kick in combat is NEVER directed higher than the knee. It is excellent against the shinbone, and — close-in — it will smash the instep bone of the foot by being driven downward into that vulnerable target.

In any difficult or dangerous situation when it is feasible to do so, THIS is the kick to use and to rely on! It would, literally, not be a bad idea for the student of unarmed close combat to practice several hundred side kicks whenever time and energy permit. The action of rendering this kick should become so automatic that, in a crisis, the user has lashed out and broken his assailant‘s leg before his foot sets down.

The knee is one of the most important attack points for self-defense. It is broken by 80 pounds of force counter to the joint (a measure of power that any healthy ten year old girl can learn to generate, with ease). Every assailant has TWO knees, and if he is to harm you, he must bring at least one of them into kicking range! The knees cannot be moved out of the way of a surprise kick with any amount of speed because the legs support the body. Also, the attacker is concentrating and thinking about moving in against YOU, not about the prospect of having his knee broken as he does so.

The side kick will make any wrist or arm grab (single or double) go away, pronto! In fact, when an attacker seizes your wrists or arms he is not only making himself an ideal target of the low stomping side kick, he is helping you to stay balanced and lash out by the very nature of his attack!

Every student of self-defense, whether one of our own, studying American Combato, or some other system or method, should prioritize mastery of the basic, simple, low side kick to the knee.

This is the single finest way to attack the vital knee targets, as well as the shin bones and insteps of the feet.

THE HANDAXE CHOP

While there is some controversy regarding whether the thumbs up and hand stiffened, or the more classical/traditional knifehand blow formation of the striking implement is best, there is no disputation regarding the supreme effectiveness of any form of this blow — except perhaps by individuals with no knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, kinesiology, hand-to-hand combat, and the history of this blow‘s value to men who do it for REAL.

The handaxe chop is the King of natural weapon strikes with the hand.

While virtually any target of the human body may be struck effectively with this blow, for serious emergencies we urge the emphasis and focus be on whipping the untelegraphed chop directly into the enemy‘s throat, neck, side of head, or face. "That‘s a pretty big target area, isn‘t it?" you might say. "You bet it is!" we‘d reply, "So have no fear of striking your man and having no effect!" In a dangerous emergency, when you know that serious injury is imminent at the hands of any troublemaker whom you are unable to avoid, GO FOR HIM WITH THAT WHIPPING HANDAXE CHOP! And keep on chopping!

The handaxe blow bears the same relation to the clenched fist that an F-22 Raptor bears to a piper cub!

One of the finest specific points to hit is the carotid artery — struck by slamming a sharp blow to either side of the windpipe, fairly close to the base of the neck. NO ONE can withstand a sharp, full power handaxe blow to the carotid artery; and this is an extremely dangerous strike. It is not always fatal, as a hard chop to the windpipe would be, but it certainly could be fatal. Our advice is: Hold this excellent technique — the handaxe chop to the facial/head/neck/throat area — in reserve for only the gravest of emergencies.

Some possible hit points, like the jaw hinge, point of chin, bridge of nose, or philtrum will probably not result in lethal injury; however the unpredictability that is inherent in all applications of serious combat moves makes it the wiser course of action to refrain from using potentially deadly strikes unless you believe that you are in a potentially deadly predicament.

THE HEEL OF HAND SMASH

The classic chinjab smash is of course a winner; however, it is not generally appreciated just how versatile and destructively practical variations of the heel of the hand blow are. We exploit every one of them in American Combato; and, for attacking certain vital target areas, we suggest that you do the same.

The basic chinjab is excellent. Use it to devastate the underside of the jaw, thus shocking (and perhaps breaking) the vertebrae in the neck, and knocking a few teeth out of the opponent‘s head while, with any luck, rendering him unconscious. Rule with the chinjab: Hit as directly UPWARD as possible, and as far and deeply UNDERNEATH the jaw as you can.

In boxing, the hook punch is very powerful and a reliable knockout shot when directed to an adversary‘s temple, or — in the ring — to the MENTAL FORAMEN nerve (which is located by placing a fingertip at the corner of the mouth and then drawing a short line straight down to the edge of the jaw). Take no risk of the almost inevitable injury to the hand that occurs when a normal fist is employed in delivering the hook, by using the HEEL of the hand as the impact point. This is a stronger and better weapon than the normal fist, and with practice provides a jarring bow that should knock most individuals senseless.

Short, driving jabs with the blow that we call the INVERTED HEELPALM STRIKE (fingers pointing downward or sideways) the liver, spleen, kidney, bladder, or pubic bones may be devastated. We have been teaching this blow for many years now and were pleased to see it demonstrated on that Fight Science show to which we alluded, earlier. These trip-hammer shots can catch an adversary quite off guard, and have the potential of dropping the biggest man like a sack of rocks!

The straight heelpalm thrust (which was a favorite "power strike" with our late friend, John McSweeney) offers another way to use the heel of the hand to good effect. While virtually any spot on the face will be effective in shocking, and usually stopping, just about anyone, we like using this blow to the EYE. Unlike a punch to the eye (that actually hits the brow and cheekbone, causing a "black eye"), the HEEL of the hand actually strikes the eyeball, itself. This is a serious and dangerous blow, and will instantly knock most men out. It also may damage the eye permanently.

Directed to the sternum, this blow was dubbed the "rock crusher" during WWII by Fairbairn. It‘s a good blow, but will only work for people with wrists that are flexible enough to permit the heel to be projected forward for impact, when the blow is delivered.

THE HAMMERFIST SMASH

The properly clenched fist can be used with greatest destructive effect when employed in a hammering as opposed to a "punching" fashion. The hammerfist smash utilizes the little finger side of the clenched fist, and the blow that is struck with this weapon is struck in a manner similar to the way in which a hammer is employed. The Japanese and Okinawans dubbed their karate version of this blow the "iron hammer" (tetsui) strike.

In unarmed combat this blow is excellent when employed in a sharp, elliptical snapping-type of smash into the bridge of the nose, temple, side of the jaw or jaw hinge, or into the kidney or brain stem (when an enemy is doubled over).
A speedy, untelegraphed snapping blow directly forward into the sternum from a nonchalant ready stance is very effective. When the opportunity and position permit, smashing the hammerfist to the bladder, pubic bones, groin, or solar plexus is good.

THE CUPPED PALMS “EAR BOX”

We have loved this blow since the first time we were introduced to it as a boy, through a copy of GET TOUGH! This is one of the most excellent basic attack methods there is. Interesting enough, the Fight Science Show had a demonstration of this blow.

The double ear box may be applied any time an attacker attempts to grab you under the arms, or pulls you in close, by the lapels. This makes for a most powerful and decisive counterattack action. The ears are the only targets for this blow.

It should always be born in mind that an attacker who has been disconcerted by any blow that causes his arms to drop and/or his head to come forward, is wide open for this strike. Also — a preemptive attack using the double ear box is excellent, but the double ear box must never, be done as the openingor first move in an attack — since it opens you up wide to action by your adversary. Once slammed in the face or throat with a handaxe chop, however, or jabbed smartly in the solar plexus by a punch, the cupped palms blow should finish the encounter succinctly.

Although rarely acknowledged, a SINGLE hand ear box is a most effective and useful blow. If the arc of the attacking limb is kept to a tight elliptical path, then the single hand ear box may, on occasion, be the opening strike in a sequence.

When an adversary has been doubled over, using the ear box as musician smashes cymbals — right in front of you, in a clapping action — is excellent. Then, GRAB THE EARS, and using the same action you would in drawing a bow, rip them off the attacker‘s head.

Another great followup when the ear box lands against an upright enemy, is to bring both thumbs forward and jab them into the enemy‘s eyes, gouging deeply. (Note: A knee to the crotch at this point is almost too good to resist applying! It will drive the thumbs deeper into the enemy‘s eyes as he lurches forward from the knee‘s contact.)

THE TIGER’S CLAW

This blow is simplicity itself. The hand formed as for a chinjab, it is directed forward and like a boxer‘s jab, it thrusts into the enemy‘s face. The fingers hit the face, and the heelpalm "collapses" onto the face, adding a blow to the claw. Get your body behind this blow and do not telegraph prior to delivery. If the situation allows, GRAB HOLD OF THE ENEMY’S FACE as the blow lands, and go after him with continued kicks, and other blows.

THE FINGERTIPS THRUST

Obviously, the EYES are key targets in self-defense. One of the simplest and best ways to attack an attacker‘s eyes is with a quick, direct, extended fingertips thrust.

We find it fascinating that Pat O‘Neill (First Special Service Force hand-to-hand combat teacher, and originator of the "O‘Neill System") and Bruce Lee both came to advocate the almost identical "one-two attack" of thrusting to the eyes with the fingertips, and then whipping a side kick into the assailant‘s leg. Lee probably never heard of Pat O‘Neill, and there is no evidence that he was ever exposed to any aspect of the wartime O‘Neill System. O‘Neill certainly never knew Bruce Lee! And, again very interestingly, the martial arts backgrounds of each of these men differed radically. Yet, when considering what works best in COMBAT, both the "grappler" (O‘Neill was a staunch judo man) and the "hitter" (Lee was a ch‘uan fa ["kung fu"] man) arrived at BLOWS OF THE HANDS AND FEET as the way to go. And what‘s more, each concluded the same thing about the same techniques: i.e that eye thrusting and low kicking were key actions.

From an off-angled stance either the foremost or the rearmost hand can be employed to thrust the fingertips directly into an enemy‘s eyes. Do not telegraph!

In many situations where an attacker moves in and applies a grip or is about to strike, a fast fingertips thrust to the eyes will neutralize his action and enable you to either escape or followup with further action.

Keep fingers relatively RELAXED when thrusting. Tension weakens the thrust.

Restrict this move to the eyes only.

There are of course other ways to strike with the hands, arms, elbows, knees, feet, and head — but the methods listed are among the simplest and you should be able to acquire a pretty good level of practical proficiency by practicing daily for two months. Some people learn faster; others more slowly. But rest assured, the actions described work and are well worth devoting the ten to twenty minutes daily in practice that proficiency requires.

Remember: To stop a dangerous attacker attack him.