Thursday, December 8, 2011
Keepin it Real- The Two Handed Strangle, Damian Ross The Self Defense Company
This is just one example of the many useless attacks that are practiced in every self defense class around the world. Training against these types of unrealistic attacks is part of the reason the vast majority of self defense systems have rendered themselves obsolete. If attacks were kept with in the realm of reality, a lot of what you see as self defense simply wouldn't exist.
Unless you're getting attacked by the Mummy or Frankenstein's Monster, no one in the world is going to choke you with their arms fully extended. The only time they will be fully extended is when they are in the middle of bashing your skull off of something or you've managed to stick a finger in their eye. Other than that their arms will be bent and locked tight.
This particular attack is meant to intimidate, disorientate and kill. When someone's trying to strangle you in this manner they're either setting you up for a head butt and or knee to the nuts, pulverizing your skull off of the ground, wall, van or car, trying to crush your wind pipe or a combination of all three. We can also assume that since they chose this type of attack they are larger, stronger and feel that they can inflict serious damage.
What they will NOT be is arms extended, waiting for you to make your move.
Like this:
or this:
Great defense against a front "massage", this guy could at least put his hands on her throat. Wait that's not REAL Krav Maga!!!- Ninja Please, sorry inside joke from another post.
In the real attack he will be constricting and shaking your head VIOLENTLY. Granted, when you start learning and training with a partner, you need to begin slowly, but your position and intent still needs to be correct. You still can apply a little pressure and movement. But only after a FEW TIMES you should be able to run through the scenario with some decent speed and power. If it takes you longer than a few minutes to feel comfortable with a defense, the DEFENSE IS INEFFECTIVE!. Skills that are meant to be performed immediately and without warning must be able to be learned in a matter of minutes. Otherwise they are far too complicated or just will not work.
Most of what is practiced today is against unrealistic attacks. In order to "keep it real" put yourself in the attackers frame of mind, if you were really going to try and strangle someone like this you would be really pissed off and not be gentle on your approach and execution. Attack with the mindset of success NOT failure. Only lessen the intensity of your assault when your partner has done something that warrants your slowing down. Taking it easy on your training partner is not helping them in the slightest. Obviously, use some common sense and slowly build up the intensity of your attack. If the defense is effective, you should be going balls to the wall in a matter of minutes.
Train Honestly,
Damian Ross, CEO The Self Defense Company
Damian Ross is CEO of the Self Defense Company and developer of The Self Defense Training System, the most lethal and effective self defense system in the world, The Guardian Defensive Tactics Police Combatives Program, 60 minute Self Defense and the Family Safe Program. Mr. Ross also founded the Self Defense Instructor Program that helps people develop their self defense careers from the ground up. Mr. Ross is originally from Ridgewood, NJ where he was a High School Hall of Fame Athlete in football and wrestling as well as a varsity wrestling coach. He then went on to Lehigh University where he was a varsity wrestler and football player. Mr. Ross has 3 black belts, 4th Degree in Tekkenryu Jujutsu, 2nd Degree in Judo, 2nd Degree in Tae Kwon Do. In addition to his martial arts experience, Mr; Ross spent 8 years in the professional security and personal protection business. He is internationally recognized as one of the foremost authorities in reality based self defense.
Seems like with the first video, if the attacker had been closer, her move would have been even more effective as she could have reached the eyes better. Hard to tell without practicing it, though--his arms might have been in the way.
ReplyDeleteThe truth is, if you let someone get their hands around your neck, something has gone very wrong. At that point, hope you can grab the knife you keep on your belt (you do carry a knife, right?) and stab them in the gut as they are 2-hand choking you.
i have seen this stiff arm stuff alot now i study martial arts and i do my best not to step on my master toes. but when i see him use these methods of attack i tell him in a RL fight these don't work nor does a fight start in a stance then it turned into a debate on the floor at that point i left it alone.so not to take of class time
ReplyDeleteI frequently watch "self-defense" videos on the internet to see what the public is "teaching". I saw this first example not too long ago.
ReplyDeleteAside from the fact that the attacker may not have his arms fully extended and that many steps have gone wrong to be in this situation; the video assumes that the female will have the arm length to reach the attacker's eyes with her thumbs. On top of that, she is expected to force the attacker's head into her own for a headbutt while she is being strangled. I think someone may need a refresher in Kinesiology. NOT PRACTICAL. Thank you, SDC, for pointing this out.
I frequently watch "self-defense" videos on the internet to see what the public is "teaching". I saw this first example not too long ago.
ReplyDeleteAside from the fact that the attacker may not have his arms fully extended and that many steps have gone wrong to be in this situation; the video assumes that the female will have the arm length to reach the attacker's eyes with her thumbs. On top of that, she is expected to force the attacker's head into her own for a headbutt while she is being strangled. I think someone may need a refresher in Kinesiology. NOT PRACTICAL. Thank you, SDC, for pointing this out.