<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Century Gothic”; panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Rockwell Extra Bold”; panose-1:2 6 9 3 4 5 5 2 4 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1139112856; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:2016036770 67698697 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} –>

LOAD “SURPRISE” INTO YOUR SELF DEFENSE GAME PLAN, PART I.

This post was originally supposed to be for parents who wish to teach their children skills to stop the bully in his or her tracks. But the more I thought about it, the more I realized that the following self defense tactics and skills will work for anyone who might be required to defend her or himself against anyone who has arrogantly invaded his or her personal space and is posturing as if he or she is about to attack.

When we talk self defense, the element of surprise is essential. Remember, we are not talking about a competitive contest in a dojo or an arena overseen by a referee or a master instructor. What we are talking about is a spontaneous, close quarter life and death struggle in an environment usually selected by the attacker, who is a pernicious predator who has painstakingly planned out the assault. Likely, your attacker(s) has the following advantages:

v He/she is bigger and stronger.

v He/she has a distinct plan.

v He/she is armed with one or more (deadly) weapons.

v He/she has you *outnumbered (*when the attacker has a plan and the victim does not, the victim is already outnumbered).

v The attacker will choose the time and space of his/her attack so that the lighting is subdued, there are no witnesses, and the victim has little or no ability to move (tactically).

v The predator will almost always(98%)precede his/her attack with a slick distraction designed to get the victim looking in another direction (than at him or her) so that his or her (the prospective victim’s) focus is fractured and his/her ability to defend him or herself (against the predator) is radically weakened.

v In other words, despite all the other advantages he/she already has, the bully, sexual predator, abductor, or violent criminal, still relies mostly on The Element of Surprise to overcome his or her victim!

My point, exactly. I have no reluctance and zero hesitation to say that Surprise (ALONG WITH SPEED) is going to be your key, irrespective of your age, size, or gender to successfully defending yourself against anybody who threatens your safety, maybe even your life. Ergo in two subsequent posts, we’re going to discuss how to manifest this great element in your self defense arsenal. Used properly and with great commitment, surprise will reverse the predator-prey principle and set the bad guy back on his (or, her) heels!

SURPRISE AND SPEED KILLS!

So, what do I mean by surprise? Maybe an example will help. Have you ever been walking in the woods, perhaps your mind is lost in thought about something or someone you care about, are troubled about, and, bam, with a rush of wings flapping and bushes bursting, a covey of pheasants, or a turkey, explodes from the brush around you? It has happened to me, and, let me tell you, your heart feels like it stops, you freeze, and you can hardly breathe. Or, you are coming through a door, once again, your mind on something far away, and, bam, someone else is standing in the doorway. Someone you didn’t expect to see. Once again, you stop breathing, your mouth falls agape, and you may even stumble backwards, off balance.

I have just described exactly what” surprise” does to a person who is unaware and who is suddenly and unexpectedly confronted by a predator.

In the next two posts, though, I will tell you exactly how to Reverse the Predator-Prey Syndrome and make the Bad Guy hold his breath and stumble backwards.

Until then, Stay Safe.

Hammer

<!– /* Font Definitions */ @font-face {font-family:Wingdings; panose-1:5 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0; mso-font-charset:2; mso-generic-font-family:auto; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:0 268435456 0 0 -2147483648 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Century Gothic”; panose-1:2 11 5 2 2 2 2 2 2 4; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:swiss; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:647 0 0 0 159 0;} @font-face {font-family:”Rockwell Extra Bold”; panose-1:2 6 9 3 4 5 5 2 4 3; mso-font-charset:0; mso-generic-font-family:roman; mso-font-pitch:variable; mso-font-signature:3 0 0 0 1 0;} /* Style Definitions */ p.MsoNormal, li.MsoNormal, div.MsoNormal {mso-style-parent:”"; margin:0in; margin-bottom:.0001pt; mso-pagination:widow-orphan; font-size:12.0pt; font-family:”Times New Roman”; mso-fareast-font-family:”Times New Roman”;} @page Section1 {size:8.5in 11.0in; margin:1.0in 1.25in 1.0in 1.25in; mso-header-margin:.5in; mso-footer-margin:.5in; mso-paper-source:0;} div.Section1 {page:Section1;} /* List Definitions */ @list l0 {mso-list-id:1139112856; mso-list-type:hybrid; mso-list-template-ids:2016036770 67698697 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693 67698689 67698691 67698693;} @list l0:level1 {mso-level-number-format:bullet; mso-level-text:; mso-level-tab-stop:.5in; mso-level-number-position:left; text-indent:-.25in; font-family:Wingdings;} ol {margin-bottom:0in;} ul {margin-bottom:0in;} –>

The theme here is that – as bad as things may look – it aint over ‘til it’s over. The bedroom attacker may make a mistake – many of them do – caused by overconfidence, or you might – if you keep your mind clear (not an easy thing to do) – find an opening that can set you free.

BEDROOM SURPRISE, PART II

September 27, 2009

In my last post I talked of a situation where the Bad Guy is sitting atop his victim’s chest, his knees painfully pinning her arms, then, apparently seizing the moment when she stops struggling, he pauses to unzip his trousers anticipating oral sex. When the attacker does this – and this is something I hope you remember – he is compromising his balance and is most vulnerable to any kind of rapid balance displacement move on your part.

Roll the Bad Guy off using the following steps:

1) TRAP the foot on the side you intend to throw the attacker by placing your weakside foot on the outside of his foot (Posting or Trapping).

2) Slide your opposite foot inward until it is just below the attacker’s buttocks, Your thigh should be touching his rear end and the sole of that foot should be flat on the deck.

3) Reach up with the hand on the opposite side as the Bad Guy’s trapped foot and grab him by the shirt.

4) Simultaneously and powerfully as you can, drive your butt in the air (bridge) and push hard with the leg and foot that you had slid close to his buttocks (heel flat on the ground) in order to propel the Bad Guy off of you. At the same time, pull the hand that has hold of his shirt in the direction you wish him to roll.

5) Imagine that your butt is lifting up and driving your navel or belt buckle directly into the mattress.

6) Never give up. Use all your power. You can do it.

7) Once the attacker is off of you, strike him with whatever personal weapon (bite, gouge, knee him, kick him, drive the heel of your foot into his face) you have and get out of Dodge.

One note: As always, it is up to you if and how you do this. You can wait until he is distracted by un-zippering, or you can play into his plans by acting like you are giving up and will do what he wants. Women /girls have waited until the attacker actually had his member out and was starting to move it toward the victim’s mouth when they made their move. It was the last thing the Bad Guy expected!

Another escape I often teach features the attacker crawling up and attempting to get inside the woman’s legs. I actually advocate the woman spreading her legs – which is what the Bad Guy wants. Once he is inside and puts her in a choke hold, I teach women to latch onto both hands and not let go, while, simultaneously kicking the attacker in the ribs and back of the head with her legs and feet. I then teach the intended victim to “shrimp up” to gain distance from the attacker so she can drive both of her heels into his hips. Now, simultaneously hold onto the hands and drive the feet into the subject, and, then, while still holding onto his hands drive both feet hard into his face. Escape.

Stay safe.

Hammer

ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE

September 26, 2009

BEDROOM SURPRISE

Ever ask yourself what would I do if ever I was attacked while I was asleep? I get the question a lot at my Survival Skills for Women classes. I get a lot of questions about darn near every conceivable type of attack under every situation possible, and some that are not possible. I’ll get to some of those other questions in future posts, but, for now, I thought I’d wax on about what you might if ever you were attacked in bed.

Once again, I’m going to ask you to rely on a cluster of dependable and effective principles rather than specific techniques that you would have to dredge up from your subconscious while some creep is pinning you down and your heart rate is spiking through the roof as the result of survival stress.

These Principles are simple and there aren’t too many of them. They are the same for just about any type of attack, including the bedroom assault.

v Breathe Tactically. Most victims in this situation hold their breath and say nothing, which to the attacker is like an engraved invitation to have fun, do whatever you wish to me.

v Do Something. Never Freeze.

v Say Something. Freezing and staying mute in the face of a life and death attack empowers the villain and disempowers you! “Get back!”

v Hit An Open Target. It’s damned near Natural Law. At least one of the 3 or 4 vital targets will be open. Hit it hard and others will pop open.

v USE THE ELEMENT OF SURPRISE. TURN HIS EXPECTATION AGAINST HIM!

Hold the phone. You say, “well, that’s all fine and dandy, but, you see, I will almost always be under my sheet and blanket. It is likely that I will not be able to use my hands.

Good point. Here’s another point: If you are unable to use your personal weapons now, understand that at some point in this ordeal, the Bad Guy must let down his defenses, which is exactly when you can and must strike!

If the attacker is there simply to pound you and nothing else, you are in serious doo-doo, if your arms are pinned (domestic violence), I admit that. But, in the scenario of a rapist who is attacking you in your bed, more likely than not, he will eventually pull down the covers in order to do what it is he came to do. When he pulls the sheets away, it is your time to deliver the Bedroom Surprise.

Ok, lets assume now the covers are off and your hands and feet are free.

ASSAULTS AND ESCAPES

v Bad Guy is standing at the side of your bed. You awake. Raise the leg on the side where the assailant is standing. This will prevent him – believe it or not – from climbing on top of you. Two things to consider here:

(1) None of his targets are available to you. They may be open, but there is no way you can hit them.

(2) However, in order to harm you, he must get closer to you. If and when he bends to choke you, his eyes are now within your reach. Quickly drive the closest hand into his eyes. If you hit them, he will recoil, I guarantee it. When he does that, either dive off the bed in the other direction, or, better yet, roll off toward him and knee him in the groin and keep hitting him until you can escape safely.

v Bad Guy is sitting on your chest and he has both your hands pinned above your head. You might say to yourself, I am truly screwed here. Cannot blame you one iota because this is a very hard attack to escape, especially when you lack upper body strength. A good thing to remember is the Bad Guy expects you to try to escape by pushing him off of you. It is important that you use the element of surprise here, though.

(1) Bend both your legs bringing them right up close so that your thighs are against his buttocks, making sure to keep both heels flat on the deck. The crucial move is to distract the attacker by biting him or kicking him and then jerking your hands quickly so that both hands are now even with your shoulders.

(2) Either Pretend to give up, or throw him off.

NOTE: Think about this. Both of the Bad Guy’s hands are tied up, as are yours. This is a stand-off. Women have escaped this situation by crying and saying “I give up,” at which time the attacker loosened his grip and reached to unzip his fly. It is at that very second that he is most off-balance and thrusting him off of you is most easily accomplished).

(3) To throw him off, simultaneously power both arms down toward your sides and thrust your hips/buttocks straight up and then roll so that your navel or belt buckle is driven directly into the ground.

v BAD GUY SITS ON YOUR CHEST, PINNING BOTH ARMS WITH INSIDE OF KNEES. The Bad Guy may try to force you into performing oral sex. This is actually a vulnerable situation the Bad Guy has placed himself in. Instantaneously raise your buttocks off the bed and anchor both heels to the inside of his shoulders. Now pull him backwards by driving your legs back.

Next: More Bedroom Escapes.

Hammer

COLORADO SERGEANT KILLED RESPONDING TO DOMESTIC VIOLENCE CALL.

Part II of my series on Stalking and Domestic Violence is due today.  Thought I might chat with you about some of the danger signs, but a story from one of my police sources takes precedence.

A total of 6 police officers were shot at, 3 hit, and one killed on July 27, 2009 responding to a Domestic Violence alert in Montrose, Colorado.

All I have on the story so far is while several of the officers were speaking with the alleged victim on her doorstep, her estranged husband, who allegedly had attacked her earlier that day, shot the officers from a hiding place in his garage, wounding 5 and killing one.

The husband was also killed in an exchange of fire with the officers.

As I noted in my last post, Domestic Violence, especially when connected to Stalking by a jilted intimate, is easily the most dangerous situation a police officer must respond to.

Please, if you have been involved in a relationship marked by manic and emotional ups and downs, especially if your intimate is trying to control and dominate you through threats and/or violence; or, if you are attempting to separate from such a lover and he/she insists on:

• Following you, or spying on you
• Making unsolicited phone calls.
• Standing outside your home, school, or workplace.
• Showing up at places you were, even though he or she had no business being there.
• Leaving unwanted items for you to find.
• Trying to communicate in other ways against your will.
• Leaving notes.
• Intervening on any relationship you try to establish.
• Sending you unsolicited letters or written correspondence.
• Vandalizing your property or destroyed something you love.
• Attempting to and/or succeeding in controlling and/or dominating you through threats and/or actis of violence.
• Frightening you consistently by his or her behavior.

Report this to police.  Speak to a trusted friend, and/or seek intervention through one or more of your community agencies designated to protect you against stalking and violence related activities (Eg:  Victim Advocacy Program as well as Police and Prosecution-Based Victim Services).

Until Next Time, Stay Safe.

Hammer

ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE

July 27, 2009

ON DOMESTIC VIOLENCE AND STALKING

Don’t know if you’ve caught the myriad accounts – in the papers, on TV and radio –  but there’s been an alarming rise in police officers, women, men and even children  killed and maimed as a result of stalking and domestic violence.  I even get personal accounts from law enforcement officers and citizens whom I train in my instructor programs, Management of Workplace Violence courses and Self Defense for Women programs to the point where I am convinced that I need to focus this and the next few posts on  the issues surrounding Domestic Violence, Stalking, and Violence Against Women and Children.

ON STALKING

LEGAL DEFINITIONS vary widely from state to state.  Most states, however, define stalking as the willful, malicious and repeated following and harassing of another person.  Stalking related activities include as lying in wait; surveillance; non-consensual communications; telephone harassment and vandalism.  Most states require at least two or more of acts of the above nature before the actions can be considered harassment.  The action(s) also need to constitute at least an implied/inferred threat. 

AS FAR AS I am concerned, the key is that the victim understands the danger of stalking if it is allowed to continue unchecked.  Domestic Violence is directly connected to stalking and both occur in a continuum that ranges from emotional abuse at one end to homicide on the other.   And the escalation of violence along this catastrophic continuum often follows a predictable pattern.  My goal here is to formulate responses and countermeasures to break what I see as a cycle of violence.

STALKING AND VIOLENCE BY AN INTIMATE

DOMESTIC VIOLENCE, as you probably are aware, is all about control, power and domination.  For this reason, when a woman leaves her abuser, he often stalks her in an effort to regain control over her.  Sadly, this control is effected through increasing physical violence.  Thus, when a woman leaves her abusing husband/boyfriend, it is an extremely dangerous time for her (and her children and anyone else who happens to care for her, or attempt to protect her, establish a relationship with her).

STALKING – make no mistake – is an act that terrorizes its victims.  Stalking creates a psychological prison that deprives its victim(s) of basic liberty of movement and security in their homes.  Moreover, stalking is a crime that often occurs in a domestic violence context, and, unfortunately, follows a traceable pattern that, if left unreported and unchecked by the victim, will often (in my experience it will almost always increase in intensity and violence exponentially, but I am being conservative in this post) increase in intensity and violence and all too often end in the death of the woman, plus anyone unfortunate enough to be around her at the moment!

As a matter of fact, just in the past few weeks an emotionally distraught ex-husband stalked and killed his wife, his children, his wife’s boyfriend, and several of his wife’s friends and relatives across three states!

Next Post:  More on Stalking and Domestic Violence, including intervention programs, stalking countermeasures, and self defense suggestions.

Until then, Stay Safe.

Hammer

TARGETS AND HOW TO HIT THEM

A week or so ago I talked about the various Primary and Secondary Targets that a potential victim can strike, kick, gouge or leverage, as well as our personal weapons we can use to win a life or death fight, or just to escape a scrape with your body intact.  It occurred to me that maybe I should briefly elaborate one or two ways to most effectively do this.  Here are a few examples of how you can put an attacker down, if not out your own personal body parts.

EYES       Hook fingers inside mandible and gouge either or both eyes using your thumbs.  Will

                   Result in the attacker immediately letting go of any body part he is holding and grabbing at his eyes.  This is a primary target, so, if you can follow up with another strike, you are almost always home free.  Another method is the Tiger Claw, which consists of crashing the heel of your palm into the subject’s chin and driving the head “off” his neck, following up by driving the fingers into his eyes.

NOSE    Drive a Hammer Fist strike down onto the nose or drive a Palm Heel Strike up through the Blind Spot that extends from his solar plexus to his nose into the nose.  Will cause great pain, an immediate debilitating watering of the eyes, and, usually, instant cessation of fighting.  Always follow up with a flurry of other strikes and kicks as his head drops.

CHIN    A strong Palm Heel Strike or Horizontal Elbow Strike will often stun an attacker.  If you can drive the chin and jaw up toward the nose, you can do significant damage.  Once again, always follow up with other strikes. 

THROAT  This is a Primary Target because a solid strike with even a glancing blow can put the Bad Guy quickly out of action.  Hit the throat with a Beak Strike, Web Strike, or with the Ridge hand.  Peruse past posts for more details and descriptions of these strikes.  A strike to the throat will prevent the Bad Guy from breathing and must be followed up with other merciless strikes.  Also, any Improvised Weapon, such as a cell phone, paperback book, car keys, whatever, will work wonders if driven hard into the throat!

JUGULAR NOTCH  is a fantastic Pressure Point located directly beneath the Bad Guy’s Adam’s Apple.  Just hook your middle two fingers in the “notch,” and drive the fingers in and down—hard!   Done right, the Bad Guy will grab his neck, choke, and start backing away.

EARS  are secondary targets, but don’t minimize their impact value.  Slap the palms of both hands hard against the ears and the subject may suffer disorientation and pain.  Now, as he reels, hit him again in one of the many open targets.

BACK OF HEAD AND NECK.  There may be times when the attacker is pulling you in to him and he exposes the back of his head and/or the top of his spine.  The harder you can drop a personal weapon or two onto that target the more stunned will the Bad Guy become.  When he is stunned is the time to follow-up with another blow, most likely an Ascending Knee Strike into the Descending Head!  Your best bets to hit the back of head target would be a Double Descending hammer Fist Strike (clasp both hands together, raise them up and drop them as a unit hard onto the target), or a Descending Elbow Drop.

CLAVICLE.  A Descending Elbow Drop onto one of the clavicles can do considerable damage.  Make sure you drive the Tip of the Elbow as hard and direct as possible into this target.  You can also use a Single Descending Hammer Strike.  Best to follow up with an Ascending Knee Strike into the groin.

FOREARMS, WRISTS AND HANDS.  If the Bad Guy has grabbed you, it’s a simple matter of dropping  the bony parts of your forearm as hard and as often as you can onto his forearms, wrists and hands.  Doesn’t sound like much in this venue, but, if you try it and make sure you aim your impact point through the target instead of bouncing off of it, I am sure you will see how effective it can be.  

GROIN.  Another Primary Target.  If it is open, it can easily be hit, if you don’t telegraph the incoming strike.  Ascending Knee Strike; Ascending Shin Kick; Universal Strike; or dropping your fist hard into the groin as the Bad Guy pulls you in, all can work.  Tips include not looking at the target (telegraphing)m before you strike.  Even a fake knee strike will always cause the Bad Guy to immediately bring both hands toward his crotch – an instinctive move – which will also open up other targets.

Next Post:  More Targets.  More Methods.

Until then.  Stay Safe.  Hammer

YOU GOTTA KNOW THE TARGETS

My last post spoke of the efficacy of learning principles over techniques.  This post, I thought I could talk about one of the key principles of my many self defense training programs (Kid Escape/Counter Abduction Techniques/Comet Kids/Advanced Fighting Arts For Women/Sixty and Beyond for Seniors, etc.):

Primary Principle:  There will always be Open Targets.  Concentrate on hitting the most valuable (Primary Targets) Targets.  If Primary Targets are not immediately open, always hit Secondary Targets to force the Primaries to open.

Elaborating on this principle:  If a Bad Guy grabs you with both hands, every conceivable target is open!  As long as his hands are on you, he/she can not use them with which to strike you and he cannot use them to block.  Granted, if he or she is stronger than you and he has your arms and hands tied up, you will have difficulty using them to strike.  But, need I remind you that your hands are not your only striking levers?

PERSONAL WEAPONS

Your personal weapons include anything on your body with which you can hit the attacker.  They include the:  Front and Back of your head.  The Head Butt has been known to shock, stun and even knock an attacker unconscious.  Other Personal Weapons include your:

• Teeth.
• Shoulders.
• Buttocks ( a nicely timed butt-strike can knock a rearward attacker back a step or two).
• Elbows.
• Forearms.
• Hands/Heel of palms/Fingers/Fingernails/Backs of Hands.
• Knees.
• Shins.
• Feet.

There are other personal and Improvised Weapons I could go into, but, suffice to say that virtually anything can work to free you from a jam.  But, since Personal Targets are the theme here, let’s delve into that area for a minute or two:

SECONDARY TARGETS

Secondary Targets are body zones you can hit with very little difficulty.  However, striking a ST will rarely end a fight in your favor.  Hitting ST’s, however, will open up the Primary Targets:

• Top of the Feet,
• Toes of the Feet.
• Ankles.
• Shins.
• Knees (Knees can also be a Primary Target.  I say, if the knees are open, always go for them.  Striking a knee with a good kick can drop a Bad Guy instantly!).
• Inner and Outer Thighs.  The Femoral Nerve Motor Point is halfway between the groin and the knee.  Common Personeal is on the outside.  Hitting either or both can stun an attacker.
• Bladder.
• Stomach.
• Solar Plexis.
• Floating Ribs.
• Ears.
• Nose.
• Forearms and Wrists.
• Fingers.
• Chin.

PRIMARY TARGETS

Once again, the key is to hit one or more of the many Secondary Targets, many of which should be easyto hit.  Follow up immediately as other targets inevitably open up.  Train yourself to concern yourself with these targets, even if you are also being hit at the time.  Targets are the key!

• GROIN.
• EYES.
• THROAT
• *NOSE
• *KNEES.

Kneeing the groin, gouging an eye, and/or driving the ridge of your hand or your fingers into the throat will cause an immediate sensory breakdown.  The once confident attacker will now have problems seeing you, will be hard pressed to breathe, and/or will start to fold toward the ground.  Whether hitting the attacker’s nose or knees, however, may not have the immediate affects of the first three targets, but the Bad Guy will experience great not only great pain, but will experience watering of the eyes and disorientation (nose) and will fold quickly to the ground (knees).

During my self defense trainings, one scenario is a realistic one where the attacker grabs the woman or teen (SD For Women and/or COMET Kids) with one hand and starts to pull the “victim” toward him (the attacker).  The response I always hope for and every once in a while actually see is the “victim” grabbing the Bad Guy’s hand and holding it to his or her (the “Victim’s) body with the opposite hand (so the Bad Guy can not use that hand to block or strike) and then shooting the same side hand into the attacker’s face several times since the attacker lost the ability to block any incoming strikes once he/she elected to grab his/her intended victim.

Until My Next Post, Stay Safe.

Hammer

ACTION AGAINST VIOLENCE

May 9, 2009

THE IRREPRESSIBLE WEB STRIKE

HEY, HAMMER FANS, here’s the counterstrike I recommend to anyone – be you elderly, a man, boy, woman or girl – facing a high-risk close quarter attack.  The Web Strike is a Deadly Force Counterstrike, meaning, if delivered successfully – and, frankly, I don’t know how it could not be delivered, not only successfully, but with devastating power, the results of the strike could be serious injury or possibly death to the attacker.

The Web Strike has so many positive attributes that it’s a wonder more people don’t know about it. 

• It is based on Gross Motor Skills, which work best under high stress situations.  In a close quarter, surprise attack, the potential victim’s heart rate will accelerate to well over 200 BPM.
• Gross Motor Skills are simple, doable for the least athletic and strong student in any of my Self Defense classes.
• The Web Strike requires no significant power.  The target is the Adam’s Apple, or the Throat.  A mere 6 pounds of pressure delivered to the throat will cause not only pain, a major stun and a Startle Response.  The Bad Guy will reflexively reach for his throat, even if the pain is minor.  It is a natural, instinctive response.  And, of course, by grabbing for his throat, the Bad Guy opens up all his Secondary and Primary Targets (covered in a previous post).  And, as in all high-risk self defense scenarios, the putative victim must follow-up immediately and often with strikes to those open targets.  Maybe it needs not be said, but it is a deadly force struggle.  If you stick around and allow the Bad Guy a chance to recover, the Bad Guy will attack again, and, this time, it will be anything but pretty.  Put him away.  Please.
• But, if the Web Strike is driven into the throat with full power and with the violence such a life or death counterstrike calls for, the Bad Guy will immediately end his attack.  And I mean now!
• The Web Strike should be delivered using the element of surprise.  It also should be delivered up through the Blind Spot that resides on every Bad Guy extending from his/her solar plexus to just below his nose.

Here is how to use this great strike.  The Bad Guy has boldly strutted into your intimate zone (PSZ) and has latched onto you.  He pulls you in even closer, predictably expected you – like 9 out of 10 victims – to freeze on his First Touch.  Instead, place your hand, palm down, your fingers pointed toward your right and your thumb straight up.  When you look at your hand it forms an “L.”  Now, stretch out those fingers and extend your thumb.  Notice how the web between your thumb and index finger grows taut?

All you have to do is slide that hard web straight up, sliding along the chest until it drives into the throat.  If you were a defensive back in football, you would be performing what we call a Clothesline Technique.

Ever watch a Clothesline in football?  Ever notice how the runner always drops like AIG stock when hit?

That’s why it’s illegal in football.  But, this aint football.  This is life or death.

Stay Safe.

Hammer

DESTROYING THE MOST COMMON

ATTACK AGAINST WOMEN.

The Wrist or Arm Grab is easily the most common move used against women.  Figures, too.  This move almost always follows “testing,” where the attacker uses distraction techniques to get the woman to look at her watch, to look anywhere but at the attacker.  Testing is part of “The Interview,” where the attacker sizes up his prey, testing the waters.  I have written more than 6 posts on how to avoid an attack by acing “The Interview,” or, put more technically, becoming a Hard Target, so let’s move on from there.

When the attacker senses he has himself an Easy Target, his logical next move is to attach the prospective victim to himself.  The predator knows what too many women do not:  Nine out of ten women will freeze upon First Touch, and. just as bad, will hold their breath.  This is one of the major reasons the wrist/arm grab is so frequent.  Because it works!

THE WRIST GRAB ESCAPE, PART I.  If the Bad Guy grabs you with his palm down, bend your knees, turn your wrist so you present a bladed bone instead of a flat surface.  Much harder for him to hold.  Now, pull your hand straight up, as if you are slapping yourself in your ear and step back.

THE WRIST GRAB ESCAPE, PART II.  Once you escape do your best to gain as much distance as possible. Be prepared to strike when the Bad Guy moves in.  However, there is a chance the predator will Re-Grab Your Wrist.  If he re-grabs, this usually means he intends to seriously harm you and the grab is simply the first step.  Here is what I recommend to do:

1.      You escaped against a palm down grab by driving your hands straight up.  Most likely, he will grab your wrists palm up this time.  Escape by blading your wrist and driving your hand straight down.  As you step in to empower the move, however, your hands will be low.  Step in and drive that hand hard into his groin.  He will drop his head instinctively here, so drive your knee straight up into his head, using your free hand to help drive his head downward.

2.      It is not important that you follow my blueprint here.  The key is to escape from the grab and immediately strike whatever target is open with whatever personal weapon you can use the best.

3.      But, here is another option.  In my book, a better option, but, as always, it is up to you.  Do not even try to escape the second wrist grab.  Why should you?  Heck, both of the Bad Guy’s hands are tied up, or, at the very least, one, so he has nothing to block with, nothing to strike with. 

Ø Allow him to hold on to your wrists and step forward quickly.

Ø Drive your foot into his shin, or, if you can reach it, kick him in the groin as hard as you can.

Ø Be prepared to follow up.  If you kick him in the groin, he will let go of your wrists and bring his hands toward his groin.  Now, your hands are both free.  As his hands are moving down, yours should drive as hard and as often as possible into his face:

·        Repeated Palm Heel Strikes to the chin and nose.

·        Stretch out and harden your fingers and gouge the eyes.

·        Create an “L” with your hand and drive the hardened Web (Web Strike) into his throat (use the convenient “Blind Spot” that exists from his solar plexus up to his nose).

·        Follow Up or start the whole cascade of strikes with a powerful Head Butt using your forehead into his nose.

Make the bastard sorry he ever tried the most common and simplest of male attacks on women.  Destroy the Wrist and Arm Grab and never stop striking until it is safe to disengage.

Until the Next Post, Stay Safe.

Hammer

THE HAMMER FIST STRIKE – VERSATILE, EASY-TO-DO, AND DEVASTATING.

This month I am conducting another 4-week Self Defense for Women program.  I have 18 beautiful and energetic women, all of whom are committed to protecting themselves so they can enjoy the adventures and joys life has to offer.  The thought of some miscreant attacking, dragging off and killing any of them energizes me into giving them the best self protection techniques I know.

The problem in any class such as this, though, is to teach as many skills as possible in the short time I have them without teaching so many that they forget almost all of them when the time comes to use the skills.  It is a fact that the human mind can only absorb so much, and, worse, under stress, when the resting heart rate spikes from 70 BPM to about 250 BPM, it is only possible to retrieve a survival skill when the student has repeated the skill at least 25 times during training in correlation with the actual threat (The Condition/Stimulus Response Training Principle).

Thus, the Hammer Fist Strike.  Second only, in my opinion, to the extremely versatile Palm Heel Strike (which I have extolled in past posts), the Hammer Fist is a terrific strike for any woman to employ against any attacker who attempts to drag her away from the Initial Crime Scene (where she is found) to the deadly Secondary Crime Scene (where she is raped, injured, tortured and/or killed in an isolated, secluded environment)

WHY THE HAMMER FIST?

1. It is easy to use.  Easy to do.  Just make a strong fist, which anybody can do.  Strike with the bottom of the Hammer Fist on the opposite side where the thumb resides.  This creates a hard, unforgiving surface, much like the peen of a hammer.
2. It is very powerful because it is delivered in a downward motion, from shoulder height.  Imagine you are going to deliver the Hammer Fist through the target to the other side of the target.  If the woman/girl hits and sticks on the target – as opposed to bouncing off – the effect will be much more devastating.
3. It is also a relatively versatile strike.  Not only can it be delivered downward into the target, it can be driven backward into the genitals as the man attempts to grab the woman.
4. The Very, Very Vulnerable and Effective Targets include the :
   • NOSE.  The nose, in my opinion is one of the five Primary Targets (Groin/Eyes/Nose/(K)Nees/Throat).  Driving the Hammer Fist straight down on the nose will temporarily stop the attack because it will cause instant tearing, an inability to see, and, very likely, will break the nose.  The nose is always a great target because, no matter the size and strength of the attacker, he can not develop any resistance to the punch in his nose!  More than that, a good strike to the nose will result in overwhelming pain.  Think of this:  If you have ever been holding a baby and that child dropped his or her forehead onto your nose, you know how disorienting a strike to the nose can be, even when delivered by a baby (In a future post I will discuss the wonderful Head Butt To teh Nose.  A devsatating technique, by the way.
   • GROIN.  The groin is also a great Primary Target.  Striking the groin with even a deflected strike will still startle and distract the Bad Guy at the very least, giving the woman time and opportunity to deliver another strike.  A solid strike to the groin, however, will stop the attacker in his tracks!  How to do this?  Form the same Hammer Fist and imagine the Bad Guy is very close to you and standing behind you at a slight angle.  Simply drive the Hammer Fist  straight back (imagine you are facing away from a door and you wish to knock on that door with your fist.)
   • FLOATING RIBS.  Can’t get at the groin with the first strike?  No problem, deliver the same backward strike into his ribs.  The ribs are a Secondary Target, but the affect will be to open up other targets.

Remember.  One strike will hardly ever stop him!  Never stop hitting him until you are safe.

Until next time, stay safe.

Hammer