3. AGAINST PUNCHES,
KICKS, TACKLES
There is a considerable difference between punches, kicks, and tackles delivered
by experts and those delivered by untrained people. Naturally, it is preferable
to train in defensive techniques applicable to both categories. Unless he
believes in miracles, D must develop a degree of expertise which, at the very
least, will enable him to evade such attacks by appropriate footwork and body
positioning. Training should emphasize such techniques which, by the way, should
work even if D does not use the stick. Initially, the natural tendency to use
the stick for blocking should be resisted, because it is so easy to place more
reliance upon it than is advisable against an expert. Blocking should be mainly
an added feature to evasive maneuvers, which should lead to positions favorable
for retaliation. Blocking should not be relied upon exclusively. Here are some
general comments in the light of what has just been said.
The last thing to do against a qualified boxer is to box. Unless a qualified
boxer himself, D's chances of success are very slim. Whether a boxer is a
southpaw or not, he has to follow his opponent with the leading foot so that he
can strike with full power in good balance. The dangerous area to avoid is
inside his guard. D will minimize his chances of receiving the full impact of a
punch by moving constantly outside and away from this area, For example, facing
a boxer holding a normal guard, D should take a southpaw (right) guard and move
backward to the left rear (counterclockwise), away from A's leading foot.
If A is judged to be dangerous then, to prevent him from coming too close, the
rolling kick can be used (see p. 68). Its element of surprise and its efficacy
when well performed are remarkable. When A is closer, D may attack his right
shinbone, then his left, and then his groin in rapid succession with,
respectively, low direct kicks and high direct kicks.
The best time to catch a boxer unawares is when he is lifting his arms to take a
guard. Again, assuming that A is holding a normal boxing guard, D pivots to the
rear left and attacks A's groin or inner thigh with a right instep kick as A is
in the process of lifting his arms. This could be a light kick which will hurt A
only moderately. However, coming from under, it will have a considerable
surprise effect, making A extremely cautious.
If D thinks that A is really dangerous, he may use the point of his shoe, rather
than the instep, and impart enough force to his kick to make it momentarily
incapacitating. A boxer is not very likely to push a contest against an opponent
who uses his feet efficiently, unless of course he has a serious reason. He
knows that he is at a disadvantage of reach and power and that he is facing an
opponent who will strike anywhere. This technique may be applied directly,
without pivoting, with either foot, independently of A's guard. It is extremely
versatile. One important point should be made here. While an attacker's
attention will be focused on the stick, the use of the feet will bring about a
decisive element of surprise which can then be exploited with the use of the
stick. Another important point to keep in mind when training is to
condition oneself to mental mobility and versatility, in order to be able to use
the technique most appropriate to any given situation. This could be a dodge
only, a kick, a blow with the stick, a throw, or other technique. The student
must also match this mental attitude with physical mobility, studiously avoiding
static stances and stilted motions.
Any attempt by a non-expert to block a kick with his hands will often result in
painful injury to him. D should first learn to evade kicks effectively and in
full balance, before even thinking of retaliation. Jumping away from the danger
area within the reach of A's kicks is perhaps the best defense whenever
possible. Naturally, the stick provides a strong and convenient means of
blocking kicks. However, at least initially, D should not think in terms of
blocking kicks, but rather about how he can best evade them. For instance, if D
faces a high direct kick, the first concern is to stay out of reach. Knowing how
to watch A is most important: D must look through A's chest so that his field of
vision covers A's knees and feet. The knees are particularly important since all
kicks involve them more than any other joint.
As A starts his kicking motion with the right leg, D steps to the left with the
left foot and starts his evasive action by bending slightly at the waist, away
from the kick. As the kick progresses, D lowers his hips and pivots on the left
foot toward his right rear in a wide arc, at the end of which he is facing the
same direction as A. D's arms are relaxed as he is holding the stick in guard 2.
A's right foot misses D, who hooks A's right heel from below while on its way
down. D then lifts it with both hands, backing up a few steps at the same time.
This will throw A violently on his back. Caution: Do not practice against anyone
who has not mastered his breakfalls.
Another technique D should learn to defend against is the circular, or
roundhouse, kick previously described (see p. 67). When A kicks with the right
foot, D jumps in a wide arc in the same direction but away from the kick. The
object here is not to evade the kick proper, but rather to familiarize oneself
with a method of controlling a blow at the end of its momentum and at its
weakest point (in this instance, A's knee). The same general approach
applies also to tackles, while A can also be avoided with appropriate footwork
and body positioning, as we shall see.
Punches
D is in guard 2. A attacks with one or a succession of punches. D sidesteps on
the side of the first punch, deflecting it with an appropriate parry. For
instance, assuming that the first punch is a left jab, D sidesteps to the right,
leading with the right foot, and deflects the punch toward his left with a high
symmetrical double-grip parry 5. This maneuver will not only take D out of the
danger zone and make it difficult for A to follow through, but it will also
enable D to retaliate effectively. In this instance, D delivers a left circular
spring-slash to A's attacking arm, followed by a thrust under the ribs and a two
hand slash to the closest knee.
Alternatively, the initial parry may be followed with a right slash across A's
face, a thrust to the midsection, and a slash to the knee. Naturally, there are
many possible combinations, which are left to the reader's imagination.
High Direct Kick
D is in guard 2. Let us assume that A aims at D's groin, which he wants to kick
with his right foot (Fig. 1). While there are many possibilities, they all
follow the same underlying considerations.
(i) D pivots clockwise
on the ball of the left foot to face the same direction as A. D slides his left
hand toward the middle of the stick and, when A misses with his kick, D catches
under his foot with the leading tip of the stick just above the heel, lifting it
smartly (Figs. 2). As we have earlier described, A will fall violently on his
back (caution, see above). D may then retaliate with thrusts and slashes as
required.
(ii) D sidesteps to
the left and parries the kick with a parry 3 (Fig. 3). He then slashes across
A's face with the right, palm facing up, thrusts to the midsection, and finally
slashes to the nearest knee.
(iii) D blocks the
kick with a symmetrical double-grip parry 4 and at the same time deflects A's
foot toward his own right by pushing down with his right hand (Fig. 4). As soon
as D has A's foot out of the way, he steps in with the left foot and delivers a
right slash across A's face, following it with thrusts and slashes as warranted.
There is nothing to stop D continuing with a figure-four stick-choke if
necessary.
Circular (Roundhouse) Kick
D is in the right guard 3. A attacks with a right circular kick to D's
midsection.
(i) D can easily get out of range simply by changing guard from right to left,
and retreating as earlier described (see p. 44). When A's foot passes by, D
delivers with force a slash-parry 3 to behind A's heel, in the same direction as
it is moving (Fig. 5). This, properly delivered, will make A pivot on his left
foot and present his back to D. D may then thrust to A's kidneys, and may
continue with one of the retaliatory techniques already described.
(ii) D steps to his
front right in a circular motion, his right foot following a circular arc. He is
moving in the general direction of A's kick, but away from it. D's body is now
at about A's knee level. D blocks A's shin with a high symmetrical doublegrip
parry 5 (Figs. 6, 7). He delivers a slash, palm facing down, to A's head,
followed by a thrust to the midsection, and a slash to the nearest knee.
Note: When delivering thrusts and particularly slashes, use the hand positions
most natural for striking the closest target by the fastest possible route.
Tackles
D is in guard 2 and A attempts to grab his legs (Fig. 8).
(i) D may easily stop
A by dropping the hips and thrusting in the direction of A's head, then
following that thrust with a circular spring-slash.
(ii) D may also
flatten A on his face using a symmetrical parry 4 aimed at his nape (Fig. 9).
(iii) D retreats first
with the left foot, then with the right, pivots to the rear on the ball of the
right foot so as to face the same direction as A, deflecting at the same time
A's left arm with the right tip of the stick (Fig. 10). D may then either thrust
downward between A's shoulder blades or kidneys, or may slide back with his
right foot and deliver a circular spring-slash to A's back or nape.
The
American Self Protection Association, Inc.
