Follow “The Force”

KICKING in the real world of Self Defense……An analysis from a Krav Maga point of view.

Follow “The Force”

In many traditional martial arts styles the students are taught excellent kicking form and tend to practice kicks in the air (i.e., without kicking anything with enough resistance to speak of).  Focus pads or hand held focus targets are generally used to develop accuracy.  All of this is excellent practice if your goal is to develop a correct kicking form, good targeting and in some cases speed.  Typically, even if using a thick kicking pad held by a partner, the kick is pulled back more or less instantly after making contact, leaving the kicker more or less in the same place as he started.

Unfortunately the above is where most traditional martial arts kicking starts and stops without much additional thought.

Equally unfortunately this approach does little to prepare the kicker for a real world conflict in which everything involved is dynamic (i.e., moving erratically), surfaces are not necessarily level and adrenaline is high making fine motor skill activities virtually impossible to perform.  Additionally, in this situation, the kicking target will, given the opportunity, strike back and with a vengeance.

Kicking is a strange animal.  Some (a very few, percentage wise) people are natural fast, accurate kickers but most are not.  Developing the instincts necessary to use your legs as offensive or defensive weapons for most of us takes a lot of practice, focus and determination.  Even then, the dynamics of a real life threatening confrontation are never conducive to precise targeting and the variables are commensurate with the best side of “Murphy’s Law”.

How, then, does one train to use one’s legs and feet effectively in a real life, life threatening situation?  First, one must realize that every time you kick you become the equivalent of a one legged stool and you can go down in an instant should things go wrong.

Power can be developed only by kicking something with good resistance.  Regularly kicking heavy bags, “BlastMasters” or similar thick targets held by a partner and designed for heavy impact is about the only way to develop good and consistent power.  In a dynamic situation where everything is moving or is likely to move, targeting is a waste of precious time.  Generic targeting with power and deceptive movement will usually get the desired result.  Kicking most anywhere from the solar plexus down is MUCH safer than “head hunting”.  High kicks are impressive and beautiful to watch but the kicker is extremely vulnerable with this approach and if anything at all goes wrong he is likely to get hammered by his intended target.

Now let’s re-visit the practice sessions where we perform the kick and pull the leg back, ending up in the original starting position and in the original starting place.  What could possibly be wrong with this approach in a real life situation?  Pretty much everything in my opinion.  Assuming that you execute the kick (one kick, one aggressor down and out is a nice theory but don’t be naive enough to count on it happening in a real world conflict).  Assuming that you do land your kick it should indeed move the aggressor back or to the  side or otherwise away from you to some extent depending on the angle, power, point of contact and whether or not he sensed it was coming and recoiled away to some extent.  This, unfortunately, leaves more space between you and the original aggressor and gives him time, space and opportunity to attack.  After being kicked, if he is not disabled or seriously hurt, his aggression will be amplified significantly and there is little chance you will have another opportunity to land a good, solid kick.

So……what to do?  Really very simple.  Our philosophy is simply to attack the attacker.  Pre-emptive strikes (including kicks) are preferred over defensive reactions.  Someone once said  “If you are on defense you are losing”.  There is much truth in this statement.  This being offered, what you do is so simple that most of us never think of it:  You simply follow the momentum and body mechanics (physiology) of the kick in its most logical and efficient manner.  For example if you execute a hard front kick correctly your body mechanics and momentum will be going forward into the aggressor or target.  Simply “go with the flow”, drop your weight naturally on the kicking leg to stabilize (keeping your balance) and drive into the aggressor (target).  This closes the distance instantly and will significantly disrupt the aggressor’s mindset even if he is not badly hurt from the kick. 

 

It is important to note that you do not necessarily “just fall” in the direction of the kick.  You must let your body and the mechanics or dynamics of the kicking process direct your move to stability and balance, even if you must pull the kick back (a little) and then move forward (i.e., ‘drive’ your body) into or toward the aggressor.  Moving into the aggressor instantly and with aggression will usually allow you to prevail.  Pulling back and waiting for his or her next move will not.

Translate this concept to a roundhouse kick and it still works.  The roundhouse kick, once landed, will tend to move the target to the side (away from the direction of the kick) so just follow it to a comfortable landing/balance spot for that foot.  (Don’t look for that landing spot….your body will find it naturally).  Your whole body will be trying to go there anyhow so why fight what is natural?

Other kicks can be handled similarly but the above are the most common “on the street”.  Note that on landing, if you are very close to the aggressor (target) a hard, aggressive “shoulder check”, “body check” or shoulder or body ‘bump’ will be close to a natural result and can really shake a person if it happens with force and no advance notice.

In all of these instances, always either follow up with finishing techniques instantly and aggressively or disengage and escape as quickly as possible (the latter being preferred where practical).

All of this can be practiced on a heavy bag or with a partner holding a good quality “BlastMaster” or other kicking pad or target.  Learning to follow up and follow through with your entire body physiology will be a little difficult if your training is in a more traditional style but rest assured it will be well worth the effort if you ever have to use kicks “out there” in an uncontrolled environment.

There are a number of other kicks very applicable to “the street” but these are more oriented to very close quarters conflicts so will be the subject of another blog post.
Hal Herndon 2013

I SEE BLOGS AND POSTS RELATED TO SELF DEFENSE THAT DON'T REALLY RELATE TO MOST OF US...

I see blogs, Facebook posts and other internet “posts” where martial artists are espousing their “macho-ism” and likely trying to impress potential and current students with their ability and/or willingness to run 20 miles every day in 120 degree heat, run up and down bleachers or other significantly difficult (for normal or mortal people) in similar conditions.  

As a point of departure for this post please take note that I totally respect, admire and envy (In a way) anyone who can do this on a consistent basis.  These folks set a great role model image for those of us who are less inclined to spend our lives emulating their achievements. 

All of this “extreme?” conditioning is great and certainly productive if your approach to training is geared to enable you to fight and/or defend yourself on a regular basis, such as MMA or UFC or similar endeavors.   

Active military personnel who will be logically going into combat zones need all of this and more to survive and hopefully that is a “given” to most of the readers of this post.

Then we come to the “average person” who simply wants to learn how to deal with a potentially life threatening situation or a situation which may end up with either the defender or his/her aggressor in a hospital in intensive care, etc.

In the U.S. our society is without question deteriorating into a situation whereby most of us may well need to learn how to stop an attacker.  The current and devolving economic situation dictates that a number of people are destined to do things that they would, in other (i.e., more normal or perhaps more hopeful) situations, would never previously even considered doing…..Home invasions, muggings, random carjackings and just plain killings of innocent people are becoming more and more normal in our environment and are becoming all but rampant in some areas. 

 

At the same time, extreme liberal thought tends to excuse virtually any act of violence and blame same on anything that the general (and generally uneducated) public will accept as “a given” and that we have to accept it as a part of our politically correct environment….

All of this as a ‘given’ point of departure, I have to admit that I tend to defer to the old testament concept of “an eye for an eye” , etc.  Unfortunately our continually devolving legal and political system is not conducive to this concept so (within the current politically correct parameters of behavior we must “forgive” anyone who does something wrong (regardless of the severity of those actions)  and permit them to continue (in perpetuity, so it seems) to continue to repeat that ‘wrong’ in spite of the fact that many (actually most) of them cannot be “rehabilitated”.

After all of the above banter and a sort of rant we absolutely have to consider alternatives….

Consider the typical (i.e., ‘normal’) person in the U.S….Let’s call him/her “Joe” or “Jane” USA and for the sake of simplicity let’s just refer to him/her as “PV” (for potential victim).

Without further qualification, PV is not at all interested in learning how to fight, how to win an MMA or UFC contest or even spending the time and effort (and, in some cases, money) to learn and become proficient at a traditional martial arts system.  

In reality, PV simply wants to learn how he/she might have a better than average or better than ‘normal’ chance of surviving what may be a life threatening confrontation.

This brings me to IKI/Krav Maga.  This is what we do and what we (GMKM/IKI Krav Maga) teach……I have had a number of people come to me and say they want to learn how to fight.  I tell them that we (I) do not teach people how to fight…..((Rest assured that we can, but we (I) choose not to do that)).  We teach people how to avoid fighting.  I have had others who seem to relate the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) “Systems”  to a means of learning how to “kill people”.  My personal response (based on well over two decades of training) is simply this:  “I can teach your how to kill somebody but I will not ever do that…..If you are a good and dedicated student I will give you options which, with good judgment and awareness can result in more or less damage to an attacker or aggressor but how, where, IF and when you opt to implement these options becomes your responsibility.  

What a lot of people fail to understand is that the Israelis respect the life of any individual (even a defined and committed enemy) much, much more than most of ”us” do.  This (killing people) is NOT Krav Maga…..Krav Maga is purely simplified and totally effective self defense and personal survival which, in the vast majority of instances, does not involve killing or even seriously hurting anyone. 

Note that by any standards or definitions of survival the best possible self defense of self protection tactic is simply “Don’t Be There”…..((Easier said than done in some circumstances and in some communities but regardless it is always the best alternative)).

Unfortunately some of the people who have broached this subject are beyond baffled at my response.  Indeed I am capable of showing someone how to kill and/or maim…..I do not promote either unless there is no option available at the time and that is and should be, frankly very rare.  It is important to remember that we must live with the consequences of our decisions, even if those decisions are forced upon us under great pressure.

Passing thought or comment…..Death is  permanent…..Survival is momentary and satisfying…..There may come a time when you have no choice but to neutralize (or otherwise permanently disable) an aggressor……Only you can decide in that scenario. 

We (IKI/KM/GMKM) promote individual survival no matter what it takes. That is who we are and what we do.

hal herndon 2013

BAD ATTACKER, GOOD ATTACKER….????

BAD ATTACKER, GOOD ATTACKER….????

It seems that most traditional martial arts teach defenses which are predicated on specific types of attacks.  This likely comes from the eras long ago where everyone involved in a conflict was trained essentially the same way.  For example, the vast majority of martial arts teach straight line reverse and/or lunge punches aimed at the defender’s face and then teach defenses against these. 

With weapons attacks we are typically taught to defend from a particular type of style of attack as well.

Since we know from the outset what the attack is likely to consist of, with a little training the defense is relatively easy, even when the intensity of the attack is increased.

More often than not, when the attacker (in class) inadvertently or deliberately changes the method of attack the defender tends to ask the attacker to start over and “do it right” or he ends up failing to effectively defend the “unorthodox attack”.  Herein lies the origin of the term “bad attacker”.

Moshe Katz, founder and head instructor of Israeli Krav International once said “There are no bad attackers……There are only bad defenses.”.

This brings me to the point where I would like to share my personal observations based on over two decades of training and well over one decade of teaching.  As a matter of clarification, these observations are related strictly to real world self defense (on the street, in your home, etc.) and not to training under controlled, monitored conditions in the dojo or dojang.  In our world of IKI Krav Maga we never tell anyone how they should attack and that makes things beyond interesting at times, especially since the instructor (in this case that would be me) never knows quite what to expect, especially when demonstrating a technique…..

Punch Attacks: On the street it is much more likely that you will see a circular type punch than a straight punch.  The circular punch can be anything from a ‘haymaker’ to a type of hook to an uppercut.  Straight punches in a street situation are usually from someone who has a bit of boxing or traditional martial arts training.  The boxer will likely throw a jab first and the traditional martial artist will use more of a power punch, straight for the face or, less frequently, at the body.  The point here is that you just don’t know in advance and knowing ahead of time that you don’t or won’t know is really important information to have.  Additionally we see people stepping into the punch with the same foot as the punching hand, others stepping with the opposite foot and some not stepping at all.  While your training may tell you that all but one of these is a bad attacker, if you haven’t trained to expect the unexpected you are likely going to get hit and you may not know why until much later.  Another important aspect of this scenario is that you will more than likely not know initially whether the attacker is right or left handed.

 Consequently we advocate training for the unexpected and we let the attacker do whatever is natural to him or her in the process.  Makes for some close calls occasionally but doing this teaches you to be very aware of what is going on and to scan (with your peripheral vision) for “tells” or telegraphing of the punch.  “Tells” will always occur with a power punch.  With a jab or “sucker punch” the “tells” are extremely difficult to read but you can often ‘read’ the attacker’s attitude before he/she strikes.

One of the ironies here is that if you decide to purely defend (i.e., back up and block the punch) you may or may not end up in the right position to do so.  Conversely, if you opt to defend by attacking the person punching (i.e., moving into him/her and using a hard strike attack as your block) the type of punch and/or footwork involved doesn’t really much matter.  There are a few exceptions, of course, but we’ll address those at another time.

Weapons attacks:  The same situation occurs when someone is trying to strike with a hard, blunt weapon or cut you with an edged weapon.  If you know in advance how or if the attacker will step and/or in what direction he/she will swing the attacking weapon defending is relatively easy (with training).  On the other hand, if you do not know these things in advance, much can go wrong and usually does.  Our tendency is to step back and execute a defensive technique or move but not knowing which (if any) foot will be stepping and/or how far and/or in what direction makes our defensive move more difficult.  Again, if we attack the attacker by moving instantly into him and striking with force (preferably in two locations simultaneously) this will disrupt his/her game plan drastically and put us in control from that moment forward.

Indeed this is all counter intuitive but that is the beauty of it.  No matter how smart an attacker is or is not, he/she subconsciously expects certain things to happen when the attack is initiated.  Once you do something that overtly conflicts with those expectations the attacker has to essentially “reboot” and figure out how to deal with what he never imagined would happen.
Hal Herndon 2013

INFLICTING PAIN vs. MECHANICAL DISRUPTION

INFLICTING PAIN vs. MECHANICAL DISRUPTION in Self Defense Situations

There is little question that inflicting sudden and intense pain is a great way to enable you to escape a threatening situation and possibly temporarily disable your attacker.

OK then…..What is “mechanical disruption”?  It is simply disrupting the mechanics which allow the aggressor to attack, defend or chase after you.  Make it so that he is physically unable to effectively chase you or attack you further and the situation is resolved (for you). 

Most who train in martial arts and/or self defense are capable of inflicting varying degrees of pain via striking, joint locks, ripping or other methods. 

Unfortunately there are a lot of drugs on the market and in use by what most would consider “bad” people and some of these drugs make the user all but impervious to pain.  It’s not that inflicting pain does not work it is simply that the user’s sensory perception is so far beyond ‘normal’ that they just do not feel the pain.  Some of these same drugs also enhance the user’s strength and agility, adding to the problem.  In a sense, striking someone using one of these drugs or executing what would normally be a painful joint lock would be much like pounding on a heavy bag.  The bag simply hangs there, rocking back and forth due to the physics involved but feels nothing at all.

This situation can be and usually is very, very bad for the defender regardless of training, strength, etc.

Is there a solution to this problem?  Of course…..there are solutions to every problem but sometimes one has to dig a little deeper to find them.

Considering that most all people trained in martial arts and self defense know how to strike with their hands, arms and legs we need to consider how to use those talents to effectively stop the attacker in question.  The solution is simple but it must be implemented quickly once you realize that your ‘normal’ pre-emptive or counter attack is not having the effect it should have.

The most important element of any attack or defense is balance.  Humans rely totally on their legs for balance when they are standing and to a somewhat greater extent when they are fighting or attacking (unless, of course, they are on the ground).  With this in mind it is important (critical) to know that the knee is absolutely the weakest part of the leg’s support mechanism.  (Granted, the ankle is equally weak but much harder to get to when both parties are standing).  It takes very little force or pressure to damage or even destroy a knee joint.  A force somewhere in the neighborhood of 15 psi delivered suddenly and properly to the side of the knee joint will usually damage or totally tear one of the major ligaments which give the joint strength and stability.  A decent Muay Thai type roundhouse kick (the one we typically use in Krav Maga) is the simplest way to make this happen.  The concept here is that if the attacker cannot stand he cannot chase after you, thus your job is done and it is time to go home.

A second option is dislocating the aggressor’s elbow.  Most people trained in martial arts and/or self defense eventually learn the “arm bar” which is essentially a means of locking the elbow in a painful manner and at the same time preventing the aggressor from using that arm against you.  In this case if he is not able to feel pain you must attack and execute the elbow lock violently and suddenly, hoping to literally dislocate or break the joint.  This will not, of course, prevent him from chasing after you, especially if he is not in excruciating pain.  However, chances are the broken or dislocated elbow will be on his strong side and his ability to do significant damage to you will be seriously limited.  In addition his balance will be at least somewhat disrupted.  Remember that breaking or dislocating an elbow takes a good bit of force and the technique must be done suddenly and violently with as much of your body weight imposed as possible.  Then, of course, run or follow up with intense knee or other strikes.

An additional option that occurs at times is when the attacker might end up in a kneeling or prone position due to a slip or trip or due to your putting him there.  Again, if he feels no pain at all the fall will do little more than give you a very short break in the attack process.  IF this happens and IF you can quickly get to it a hard stomp to his ankle will seriously damage the tendons, ligaments and nerves in the ankle joint and will likely break some of the smaller bones in the foot as well.  Again, if he cannot stand he cannot chase after you.
There are, of course, other ways to disrupt an aggressor mechanically including takedowns, reaps and the like.  However be aware these will not at all guarantee he will not get up and chase after you OR that he won't be able to attack you from the ground and take you down.
Hal Herndon 2013