Frontal

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Frontal

2. AGAINST MAJOR FRONTAL ATTACKS

These attacks involve grips on various parts of D's clothing, his head, and body, with attempts to push, pull, hug, strike, and apply headlocks or chokes. For this type of attack, the "before" techniques become even more important, particularly for the weaker person.

Lapel Grip, Pull, and Strike to Face D is in guard 2.

(a) BEFORE: As A is about to secure a grip with the left hand on D's right lapel (in other words, when A has committed himself to his attack), D sidesteps to the right, leading with the right foot. He pivots toward the rear left on the ball of the right foot, deflects A's left forearm with a symmetrical double-grip parry (Fig. 1), and follows with a right circular spring-slash to A's left wrist or lower forearm. Here are some of the options A now has at his disposal.

(i) Thrust to A's floating ribs, followed by a figure-four stick-choke (Figs. 2-5).

(ii) Same thrust followed by a shin-block throw and Achilles pin.

(iii) A right slash to A's kidneys followed by a leg-lift throw performed as follows. As A bends back under the pain, D pivots until he faces A. Now A and D are left side by left side facing opposite directions, and A's balance can be broken backward as a result of the slash to the kidneys. D throws A by sweeping one or both feet from under him using the stick in a wide, clockwise, circular motion, striking the lower calf. D holds the stick with a left middle grip and one tip with the right hand. The leading tip of the stick is used to sweep against A's legs (Fig. 6). D must use his hips and shoulders in the broad clockwise lift, which, if properly performed, will throw A on his back. Whether A falls on his back or not, D may continue to retaliate with slashes or thrusts as warranted.

(b) SECURED: A has secured a grip on D's lapel(s). There are two possibilities.

(i) A does not pull immediately. D spreads his feet apart, lifts the left tip of the stick, while lowering the right in a clockwise motion aimed at deflecting a potential blow by A's right hand, and digs the left tip of the stick (i.e., the tip closest to the left hand) into A's sternum, neck, chin, or face (Fig. 7). Upon A's reaction, D sharply lifts the stick, catching A's left elbow from below, and breaks the grip. At the same time, A's left arm is deflected toward his own right. Now D pivots to his rear left on the ball of his right foot and positions himself so as to deliver a right circular spring-slash to A's left arm. This may, of course, be followed by other slashes or thrusts according to earlier examples. The practicing reader will have become convinced by now that a large repertory of slashes and thrusts is not required for effective retaliation. Accurately striking specific fancy targets is not a requirement either.

(ii) Should A pull immediately, D goes along with the pull, stepping deeply with his right foot to A's left side and bending his knees low. He digs the stick in A's face as before, and deflecting his left arm, D steps behind A for a figure-four stick-choke, a shin-block throw, and an Achilles pin, as warranted.

Double Lapel Grip D is in guard 2.

(a) BEFORE: As in Lapel Grip (a), p. 107, but applying the technique to both arms (Fig. 8).

(b) SECURED: A's double grip on D's lapels puts him in immediate jeopardy because A now has considerable control over D and can follow up with a number of swift attacks, such as a butt to the face, a knee to the groin, or a backward or forward throw. D must act fast. He is in imminent danger of losing his balance and his first concern should be to retain it.

(i) From guard 2, D steps back, bending his knees well and dropping the hips. This will increase his stability. D lets go of his left-hand grip on the stick. Now, inserting the stick (held in his right hand) between A's arms, D again secures a grip with his left hand and digs the tip of the stick under A's chin or sternum. As A relaxes his grip, D sharply twists the stick counterclockwise, lifting A's left elbow and pushing down on A's right arm (Figs. 9, 10). A's grip is now completely broken and D, sliding his right foot to A's left side and then behind A, applies a shin-block throw or a figure-four stick-choke to bring him under control. For an effective application of this throw, care must be taken to let the stick glide down A's body as D initiates the push, which he completes when the stick has reached A's lower shins.

ii) From guard 1, D steps back with his right foot. He then brings the stick over A's arms, grasps it in a symmetrical double grip, and shoves it, pushing with both hands, against A's nose, striking repeatedly very fast. Inserting the right tip of the stick between A's arms, D then relinquishes his right-hand grip in order to secure it again under A's left arm. D similarly releases his left-hand grip, securing it again under A's right arm. D is now in a position to dig the stick into A's sternum, after which he twists the stick counterclockwise, completing the technique as in (1) above (Figs. 11, 12).

Sleeve Grab with Pull

D is in right guard 1. A attempts to grab D's right sleeve with his left hand and to pull him in order to initiate an attack.

(a) BEFORE: When A is about to secure a strong grip, D steps lithely to his rear right leading with the right foot and, by bringing the left foot behind the right, D presents his right side to A. With a wide counterclockwise motion of his right hand, D overrides A's forearm with the stick and breaks the grip by pulling down on both ends of the stick. At the same time, D retreats by sliding back his left foot followed by the right (Figs. 17-19). As usual, D takes a left guard 3 by sliding the right foot behind the left.

(iii) D is again in guard 1. Quickly, A attempts to throw D with a judo shoulder-throw (morote-seoi-nage) (Fig. 13). D lowers his hips and pushes them forward while twisting them toward his rear right, pushing away, and blocking A's left hip with his left hand. At the same time, he jabs the short end of the stick into A's lower abdomen or face (Figs. 14, 15). One or more jabs will make A release his grip, and D will find it possible to administer a figure-four stick-choke (Fig. 16), or a shin-block throw followed by an Achilles pin.

(b) SECURED: D does not resist A's pull but steps in, sliding the right foot next to A's left foot while dropping his hips low. At the same time, D lifts the left end of the stick and drops the right in a clockwise motion meant to deflect any possible attack by A. Then D digs under A's chin, pushing him back. When A releases or weakens his grip, D deflects A's left arm by pushing it with the stick under the elbow (Fig. 20) and comes behind him to apply a figure-four stick-choke, or shin-block throw and Achilles pin.

Alternatively, D sidesteps as described in (a) above, and thrusts to A's midsection. The harder A pulls, the harder the impact of the thrust (Fig. 21).

Sleeve Grab and Push

(a) BEFORE: As in the technique Sleeve Grab (a), p. 113.

(b) SECURED: A pushes D from behind by the right sleeve, which he has seized with his left hand. Immediately, D jumps ahead further than A's push, landing on the left foot. As he is landing, he cocks the right leg for a side-of-foot kick to the nearest target A is presenting. Then D brings down his right foot, pivots to the right, and delivers a right slash to A's face, forearm, or knee. (Fig. 22-24).

Front Hair Grab with Pull D is in guard 2.

(a) BEFORE: A is reaching for D's hair with the right hand. D uses a defense similar to Lapel Grip (a), p. 107. (Figs. 25, 26)

(b) SECURED: D thrusts to A's midsection and applies the crossed-wrist control on A's right wrist as follows. With the right hand holding the stick, D overrides A's wrist from A's little finger side and, crossing D's left wrist beneath the right, he secures a grip on the stick with the left hand. His right palm is facing toward him. Now, retreating from A, D bends his head and crushes A's wrist (Figs. 27-29). As A slackens his grip, D pulls away his head to free it and may pull A to the ground to immobilize him.

Alternatively, if A does not slacken his grip, D lets go of his left grip on the stick and delivers a right slash to A's right knee or ribs. Then with a symmetrical double grip, D strikes A's right elbow with force up and to A's left, thus breaking A's grip and forcing him to pivot toward his own left. D, leading with his left foot, slides behind A to apply a figure-four stickchoke, or a shin-block throw and Achilles pin.

Front Bearhug: Arms Pinned D is in guard 2.

(a) BEFORE: As in Lapel Grip (a), p. 107, the best defense is to deflect the attack before it is secured.

Alternatively, D may step back with one foot and, raising the stick smartly, catch and lift A's arms from below. He can then deliver a right slash to A's left ribs, a thrust to the lower abdomen, and a slash to the right knee.

(b) SECURED: D stomps A's right instep with the left heel, steps back with the right foot, dropping the hips low and sharply lifting the elbows. This weakens A's grip, and D, taking advantage of the extra space available to him for maneuvering, pushes up with the stick at the level of A's elbow and ducks under it. D now pivots toward his own rear left and performs a symmetrical double-grip parry to A's left arm (Figs. 30-32). He may then jab with the stick A's left floating ribs and slide behind A for a choke, throw, or immobilization.

Front Bearhug: Arms Unpinned D is in guard 2.

(a) BEFORE: D thrusts under A's chin or sternum, sliding back on his right foot and dropping the hips. He then delivers a right circular spring-slash to A's wrists, forearms, or collarbone (Figs. 33-35).

(b) SECURED: D stomps A's left instep with his right heel. Upon A's reaction, D, holding the stick with both hands, jabs at A's kidney area with its short end (Fig. 36). As A lifts his chin with the pain, D inserts the stick under it, grasping the stick in a symmetrical double grip, and pushes A's chin back using the power of both arms. This push will force A to break his bearhug. D may throw A on his back as follows. He takes a step with the left foot to A's right side while twisting his hips toward his own rear left, so that he can lift his right knee high and insert his right leg between A's legs from behind. D extends this leg to the rear with a thrust while pushing on the stick, forcing A on his back. During the extension of his right leg, D bends well his left knee and points his forehead toward the ground, as if he wanted to dive through. When A starts falling, D turns his head to the left, twisting his body in the same direction. This is an A.S.P. leg drive (Fig. 37). D may also continue the retaliation on the fallen A with a circular spring-slash to the closest shinbone, a thrust to the ribs, and a circular spring-slash to the head, forearms, or wrists, as warranted.

Front Headlock

D is in guard 2. A attempts to hook D's head with the left hand as the first step to a wrestling-type headlock which he plans to secure with his right arm, thus pinning D under his right armpit. Pressure will then be applied by A using both arms and interlocked hands.

(a) BEFORE: When A is extending his left hand, D sidesteps to the right and deflects A's outstretched left arm with a parry 5 performed with a symmetrical double grip, striking A's left arm above the elbow. D then pivots leftward on the ball of the right foot, bringing the left foot behind it. D positions himself by sliding the right foot behind the left, thus retreating one step, and delivers a circular spring-slash to A's left wrist (Figs. 38-40). He may follow with a thrust to the floating ribs and a two-hand slash to A's nearest knee.

(b) SECURED: As soon as D feels that A has a grip on him, he pushes forcefully with his left hand just above A's right knee to prevent the latter from lifting him. Should A succeed in doing so, there is a danger of a necklock by extension of D's cervical vertebrae. Holding the stick in his right hand, D strikes up A's crotch. Upon A's reaction, he switches grips, grasping the stick with the left hand at the same place where the right was. With the right hand D grasps the stick at the tip extending beyond and behind A's legs. With a forceful clockwise motion of the stick inserted between A's legs, D makes him spin in that same direction and thus breaks his hold (Figs. 41-44). A's back is now turned, and D retaliates with a thrust to the kidneys followed by a figure-four stickchoke, or with a slash to the right temple and a slash to the left knee.

Push Against the Chest

D is in guard 2. A is pushing on D's chest with one or both hands, either with a continuous push, or with a series of sharp jerky shoves (Fig. 45). The technique described here is versatile and applies to both cases. Assuming that A pushes D with his left hand or with both hands, D retreats first with the left foot, then with the right, and pivots to his rear left on the ball of the right foot, thus giving way to the push. At the same time, D deflects A's left arm with a symmetrical double-grip parry 5. D is now facing a direction at right angles to A's push. Sliding back his left foot, D gets into the position for a right circular spring-slash to A's wrist, followed by a thrust to the left ribs and a slash behind the left knee (Figs. 46-48).

One-Hand Choke

D is in guard 1. A attempts to reach with his right hand and choke D. (These techniques also apply to two-hand chokes.)

(a) BEFORE: D sidesteps to the left leading with the left foot and deflects A's right hand with a symmetrical doublegrip parry 2. Then he pivots to his rear right on the ball of his left foot and strikes A's right wrist with a circular spring-slash. Upon A's reaction, D brings the right foot close to the left and slides the left behind A. Now D has the options of a figure-four stick-choke, or a shin-block throw with or without the Achilles' heel pin.

(b) SECURED: We assume the worst possible case, where D has hardly any freedom to maneuver. A is upon D and chokes him against a wall using his right hand. D cannot sidestep or retreat. There is only one direction in which A cannot prevent him from moving and D uses it. He lets himself slide down against the wall all the way to sit on the ground or to sit in a deep squat. He then attacks with the stick the most accessible target among the following three: neck (under the chin or the Adam's apple), solar plexus, or groin (Figs. 49, 50). Upon A's reaction, D may insert the stick between A's legs and, holding it symmetrically, strike A's crotch, then make him spin clockwise, as described in Front Headlock (b), p. 123. D may also continue with thrusts and slashes, a choke, a throw, and pin. Further, D may use a stick knee-throw by holding the stick as in the case just mentioned and applying pressure just above the forward knee with one grip while pulling the stick with the other. A will fall on his back. Instead of sliding down against the wall, D may kick A's closest shinbone and, always holding the stick symmetrically with both hands, deliver a right jab under A's left armpit. D uses A's reaction to deflect the arm toward A's right, by striking it from below, just above the elbow. Now D slides the stick on A's left upper arm and comes behind him to apply a figure-four stick-choke.

Two-Hand Choke D is in guard l.

(a) BEFORE: As in One-Hand Choke (a), p. 125.

(b) SECURED: D spreads his legs, right leg in front of the left, and drops his hips low. He overrides A's arms with the stick held in the right hand and delivers a right slash across A's face. Then, inserting the stick from above, between A's arms, he grasps the lower tip with the left hand and twists the stick clockwise. The lower tip of the stick lifts A's right arm from under, pushing just above the elbow, using A's left arm as a fulcrum (Figs. 51-53). D ducks under A's right arm and comes from behind to apply a figure-four stick-choke, or a shin-block throw and Achilles pin.

Downward or Side Chop

D is in guard 2. A attacks with the right fist in an overhead attack directed at the left temple or the left collarbone. Sidestepping to the left, D deflects the attack with a symmetrical double-grip parry 2. As soon as the attack is deflected, D gives a two-hand slash across A's face with the right hand leading, then thrusts to the midsection and slashes to the right knee (Figs. 54-56).

Reverse Strike to the Face

D is in guard 2. A attempts a backhand slap across D's face with his right hand (Figs. 57, 58). Here we must consider two possible situations. (Incidentally, these comments also apply to other striking attacks.)

(i) If D has room to maneuver, he jumps in order to retreat out of the range of the attack.

(ii) If D has little room to maneuver, he must catch A as A positions himself to gather momentum, that is, when A is first swinging his right arm from right to left before delivering the blow by swinging from left to right. When A's hand passes right in front of D during the first swing, D jumps lithely to A's right side, landing on the left foot. D uses a symmetrical double-grip parry 2 to block A's arm just above the elbow. Then D may slide the stick on A's (right) upper arm as in One-Hand Choke (b), p. 125, and apply a figure-four stickchoke.

Alternatively, D may pivot to the rear right on the ball of his left foot and deliver a circular spring-slash to A's right elbow, followed by a thrust to the ribs, and a slash behind the right knee. D may also dodge A's attack by dropping low; he may thrust to A's solar plexus (Fig. 59). Then, standing up, deliver a right two-hand slash to A's right side of the neck, followed by a leg-lift throw on A's left side (Fig. 60).

Note: Sliding the stick on A's arm before applying the figure-four stick-choke is important because it keeps the contact with A and helps to prevent any spinning action on his part, which would be hard to control.

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