In addition to the aforementioned technical steps, there are a number of key principles officers should consider when operating from the Fighting Stance.
First, officers should consider the Fighting Stance their launching pad.
- Every technique, whether it is a footwork technique, a strike or a block, should begin from the Fighting Stance and it should also end there.
- Thus, after executing a technique, officers should immediately return to the proper Fighting Stance position.
- The base of this stance, which consists of the legs and hips, should remain centered at all times.
- This is accomplished by keeping the groin area centered between both feet.
- Even when moving, the groin area must remain centered.
The only exception would be when executing certain kicks.
To shift the body’s weight properly while maintaining the centered base, officers simply move their head slightly in the direction they want their weight to shift, while simultaneously bending or twisting at the waist.
- This shifting of the body’s weight is important for striking with power and for executing defensive techniques.
- Once the technique has been completed, return the weight to the center-line by simply moving the head back to its original position over the groin area.
- Always maintain proper balance while in the Fighting Stance.
- This is accomplished by focusing on proper foot position, keeping the knees slightly bent, and supporting the body’s weight evenly on the balls of both feet.
OFFICERS SHOULD REMEMBER TO NEVER TURN THEIR FIREARM SIDE TOWARD THE SUSPECT.
- The chin should remain tucked, the hands up, and the elbows pressed against the officer’s torso.
- This simple principle is crucial to an officer’s safety and survival during an attack.
EIGHT ESSENTIAL FOOTWORK TECHNIQUES
Footwork should be viewed as an officer’s first line of self-defense and should be a regular part of defensive tactics training.
Proper footwork can be beneficial in a number of different ways, including creating distance between the officer and the suspect if the officer believes an assault is imminent; to move out of the suspect’s striking range if the officer is actively under attack, and moving into a position of advantage from which the officer can launch his own strikes or execute control techniques to subdue the suspect.
- Body completely or fully bladed
- Hands up in a threatening position (clenched fists)
- Feet slightly wider than shoulders with knees flexed.
- Wide base – Deep Base
- Head over-center – Low center of gravity
HAMMER-FIST
WEAPON SURFACE
The outside edge of the fist including the outer forearm
WEAPON ACTION
- Front side technique
- Comes from the ear
- Action from the elbow
CONTROL TARGETS
- Side of neck
- Backside top of shoulder
- Center mass of the arm
- Center mass of the body (Fleshy pad of stomach)
STRIKING TARGETS
- Temple
- Nose
- Jawline
- Mastoid area – the portion of the temporal bone of the skull that is behind the ear
- Bass of skull
- Groin – A kick to the groin is considered deadly force
- Back and side of the neck
- Throat
- Breast area on a women
- Solar plexus and rib area
- Stomach and abdomen
- The hammer fist is a strike with the bottom of a clenched fist, using an action like swinging a hammer, but can also be used horizontally like a back-fist strike using the bottom fist.
- This strike will not damage the bones of the hands as there is no compression of the knuckles or metacarpals, and there is no leverage to bend the wrist.
- The hammer fist strikes cricket ball-sized areas on the body, hence is particularly effective for striking the Occiput, the temples, the nose, the mandible, the wrist (for blocking punches), the testicles, the sternum, and the ear (although a cupped hand is more effective).
- The hammer fist is sometimes used during “ground-and-pound” striking in mixed martial arts to avoid damaging the bones of the hand.
- The hammer fist can also be used to counter grappling charges when the assailant goes low and attempts to grab the defender’s legs by giving them a concussion to the back of the head. It is a non-lethal alternative to performing a karate-chop on the assailant’s exposed neck.
INNER FOREARM STRIKE
The radial, median, and ulna nerve is found in the arm.
WEAPON SURFACE
- Inner Forearm Bone
- Does not include the fist
WEAPON ACTION
- Backside technique (non-leading arm)
- Lead footsteps toward the target
- Backhand goes out beside target 12-18 inches
-
Hand turns over and arcs into the target area
TARGET AREAS
CONTROL AREAS
- Side of neck
- Center mass of the arm
- Center mass of the body
SURVIVAL TARGETS
- Temple
- Nose
- Jawline
- Mastoid area – the portion of the temporal bone of the skull that is behind the ear which contains open, air-containing spaces.
- Base of Skull
- Groin
- Back and side of the neck
- Throat
- Breast area of women
- Solar Plexus and Rib Area
- Stomach and Abdomen
PRESSURE POINT DEFINITIONS
- Infra Orbital Nerve Pressure Point – Top lip bottom of nose 45-degree angle wit index finger to the back of head swipe hand for longer effect.
- Mandibular Angle Nerve Pressure Point – behind the base of the ear tuck head use tip of the thumb towards the tip of the nose.
- Hypoglossal Nerve Pressure Point – below right angle of jaw halfway to the chin, notch, sewing motion with the thumb.
- Jugular Notch Nerve Pressure Point – a hollow point above sternum fish hook and reach down and around to be most effective.
- Radial Nerve Motor Point – located on top of the forearm, two inches below elbow joint, hammer fist technique.
- Femoral Nerve Motor Point – inside of the thigh, halfway between the groin and knee.
- Common Peroneal Nerve Motor Point – located on the outside of the thigh, six inches above the knee, angle kick distraction superficial peroneal nerve motor point.
- Nerve Pressure Points – head and neck, control passive or defensive resistance (touch pressure.)
- Nerve Motor Points – large muscle mass of shoulders arm and legs, striking with leg or hand.
- 5 step application of pressure – stabilize target, pressure counter pressure, apply pressure with digital tip, loud-repetitive verbal commands, alleviate pressure once obeyed.
- Fluid Shock Wave – make it stick, velocity, mass-energy duration
PALM HEEL STRIKE
WEAPON SURFACE
- Back of hand flat w/back of wrist
- Keep fingers together and thumb next top hand
- Bend the hand back so that palm faces the target and is exposed
- Weapon surface is the hard bottom portion of the palm of the hand
CONTROL TARGETS
- Side of Neck
- Center Mass of Body
SURVIVAL TARGETS
- Temple
- Nose
- Jaw-Line
- Mastoid Area
- Base of Skull
- Groin
- Back of Neck
- Side of Neck
- Throat
- Breast area of women
- Solar Plexus and Rib Area
- Stomach and Abdomen
INSIDE AND OUTSIDE FOREARM STRIKES
Forearm strikes are easy to deliver, hard to block and cause a world of pain to the victim.
- Inside Forearm – the thumb side of your forearm.
- Outside Forearm – the little finger side the “outside” forearm.
Both are used to deliver painful strikes to your opponent’s vulnerable targets—head, neck, ribs, and groin—and to less vulnerable ones like the chest, back, upper arms, and thighs.
OUTSIDE FOREARM STRIKE
Striking with the inside of the forearm is similar to throwing a roundhouse punch and striking with the outside of the forearm is a similar motion to the back-fist.
INSIDE FOREARM STRIKE
Striking with the inside of the forearm is similar to throwing a roundhouse punch and striking with the outside of the forearm is a similar motion to the back-fist.
BRACHIAL PLEXUS
- The Brachial Plexus Origin Nerve Pressure Point – side of neck, not trap, always use inside or outside of the forearm, back of the hand, the heel of the palm.
- Brachial Plexus Clavicle Notch Nerve Pressure Point – located directly behind collar bone halfway between sternum and shoulder apply at 45-degree angle downward
- The Brachial Plexus Tie-In Nerve Motor Point is where bicep, shoulder, and peck meet.
A strike to the Brachial Plexus Tie-In may make the suspect drop his weapon.
A brachial plexus strike can render the assailant unconscious.
When striking with either side, it’s imperative that you keep your arm bent to prevent injury to your elbow joint.
BACK HAND ELBOW STRIKE
WEAPON SURFACE
- Forearm pulled tight against bicep
- Impact with the flat portion of the upper arm behind the point of the elbow
WEAPON ACTION
SAME AS THE HAMMER-FIST
FORE-HAND ELBOW STRIKE
WEAPON SURFACE
- Forearm pulled tight against biceps
- Impact with the flat portion on the forearm in front of the point of the elbow
WEAPON ACTION
- Same as the inner forearm strike
- The elbow is best described as a “short-range” weapon.
CONTROL TARGETS
- Side of neck
- Center mass of arm
- Center mass of body
SURVIVAL TARGETS
- Temple
- Nose
- Jaw Line
- Mastoid Area
- Base of Skull
- Groin
- Back and Side of Neck
- Throat
- Breast of a women
- Solar Plexus
- Rib Area
- Stomach
KNEE STRIKES
WEAPON SURFACE
- Impact with the flat area of the leg, just above the knee cap.
- Bring the foot of the impacting knee to the knee of the standing leg.
- Grab the person being kneed.
CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Center mass of leg
- Center mass of the body
- The Knee is best described as a “short-range” weapon
SURVIVAL TARGET AREAS
- Groin
- Body
- Face
COMMON PERONEAL NERVE
A strike to the common peroneal nerve of the leg, just above the knee.
The strike is commonly made with the knee causing temporary loss of motor control of the leg.
FOOT STOMP
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot drawn back with toes drawn back and the ankle locked
- Impact with the bottom, outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Find the shin
- Push down the shin doing as much damage as possible
- Flatten the bones on the top of the foot to the floor
SURVIVAL TARGET AREA
- Top of the feet
- The foot stomp is a good strike to force your suspect to release you from a bear hug from behind.
FRONT KICK
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot pulled back with the toes pulled back and the ankle locked
- Impact with the heel and the outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Step toward target
- Kicking foot passes non-kicking knee
- Penetrating/piston action into the target
CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Center mass of leg
- Center mass of the body
SURVIVAL TARGET
- Groin
- Knee
BACK LEG SIDEKICK
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot pulled back with the toes pulled back and the ankle locked
- Impact with the bottom outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Step toward target
- Kicking foot passes the non-kicking knee
- The body turns over and the kick goes out the side of the body
- Penetrating/kicking action
CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Center mass of the leg
- Center mass of the body
SURVIVAL TARGET
- Groin
- Knee
LEAD LEG KICK
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot pulled back with toes pulled back and the ankle locked
- Impact with the bottom outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Kicking foot comes up to the non-kicking knee
- The body turns over and kick goes out the side of the body
- Penetrating/piston action into the target
CONTROL TARGETS
- Center mass of the leg
- Center mass of the body
SURVIVAL TARGET
- Groin
- Knee
STEP THROUGH KICK
ubudo com step through sidekick
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot pulled back w/ toes pulled back and the ankle locked
- Impact w/ the bottom outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Variation of the lead leg kick
- The back foot slides up to the front foot
- Kicking foot comes up to the non-kicking knee
- The body turns over and kick goes out the side of the body
- Penetrating action into the target
CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Center mass of leg
- Center mass of the body
SURVIVAL TARGET
- Center mass of leg
- Center mass of the body
CONTROL TARGETS
- The center mass of the body
- The center mass of the leg
- The center mass of the arm
10 CRITICAL SITUATION TECHNIQUES
- Throat Attack (Tiger’s Mouth)
- Eye Attack
- Head Weapon
- Down Fighting
- Proximity Firearm/Edge Weapon Response
- Standing Holds
- Deteriorated Down Fighting
- Control Measures/Detainment Techniques/Take-downs
- Augmenting Weapons
- The Thrown Weapon
THROAT ATTACK (TIGER’S MOUTH)
WEAPON SURFACE
- Hold your hand out in front of you as though you were grabbing a soda can
- Webbing of the thumb and forefinger should line up with the inner forearm bones, forming a “Y”
WEAPON ACTION
- Penetrating/Piston action into the target
- Fingers lock behind the muscles on the side of the neck
- The tip-off the nail of the thumb goes behind the trachea
- Offset the trachea – crushing it against the palm and fingers
SURVIVAL TARGET ONLY
Throat
EYE ATTACK
- Back of the hand flat with the back of your wrist
- Fingers spread as wide as possible, thumb down
WEAPON ACTION
- Penetrating/Piston action into the target
- Tips and nails of fingers into the eyes with the thumb into the soft area under the jaw behind the chin
- Try to close your hand in the back of the mouth
SURVIVAL TARGET
- Eyes
- Front of Head
WEAPON SURFACE
The curved portion of the skull high on the forehead
WEAPON ACTION
- Rock the head as far back as the neck will allow
- Bring the chin to the chest
SURVIVAL CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Nose
- Soft portion of the side of the head
BACK OF HEAD
WEAPON SURFACE
The curved portion of the skill on the back of the head
WEAPON ACTION
- Bring the chin to the chest
- Rock the head back
SURVIVAL CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Nose
- Soft portion of the side of the head
DOWN FIGHTING
Down Fighting is an officer in a down fighting situation who is likely to be in survival mode.
PISTON KICK
PIVOT POSITION
Round Kick/ Turning Kick Tip: How to Pivot with Power
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot pulled back with the toes pulled back and the ankle locked
- Impact with the bottom outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Hands in front of face with elbows touching knees
- One leg extended – the other drawn back
- To pivot – hands down on either side push in the direction needed
TARGET AREAS
- Knees
- Body
- Head
- Legs
- Neck
- Groin
- Throat
- Face
- Chest
- Shin
SIDEKICK/PIVOT POSITION
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position pulled back with the toes pulled back and the ankle locked
- Impact with the bottom outside edge of the foot
WEAPON ACTION
- Kick only with the top leg
- Hands in front of the face -elbows touching the knees
- One leg extended the other drawn back -exchange
To pivot – hands down on the same side of the body, push in direction of the back
SURVIVAL CONTROL TARGET AREAS
- Knees
- Groins
- Body
- Throat
- Head and face
- Back Kick – Pivot Position
WEAPON SURFACE
- Foot position is foot pulled back with the toes pulled back and the ankle locked.
- Impact with the heel and outside edge of the foot.
WEAPON ACTION
- On hands and knees
- Kick goes out to the back
- To pivot – use your knees as feet
SURVIVAL TARGETS
- Knees
- Groin
- Body
- Throat
- Head and face
THE THREE THINGS TO DO WHEN CONFRONTED WITH A CLOSE PROXIMITY WEAPON IS TO:
- Clear the Body
- Control the Weapon
- Attack
CLEAR THE BODY
- WEAPON TO THE HEAD
- Feet about shoulder-width apart
- Drop- move 0% to 100%
2. CLEAR THE BODY
- Weapon to the body
- Feet about shoulder-width apart
- Twist – move 0% to 100%
3. CONTROL THE WEAPON
WEAPON TO THE HEAD
Double throat attack weapon so the webbing of the thumbs lifts up one on top of the other
WEAPON TO THE BODY
Double throat attack the weapon – hands side by side
ATTACK!!!!!!
STANDING HOLDS
USE AVAILABLE WEAPONS AGAINST THE AVAILABLE TARGETS
- Choking from the front
- Choking from the rear
- Bear hug from the rear
- Bear hug from the front
- Forearm choke from rear
- Forearm choke with the headlock
- Forearm choke working against body weight
DETERIORATED DOWN FIGHTING
- Use available weapons against available targets.
- Once the hold is broken you are in down fighting mode.
- Kneeling beside – choking
- Outside leg swings up, crosses the face, and pushes into the assailant’s neck -driving him to the floor
2. Sitting on you – pinning your arms with their hands
- Nothing happening to you
- Know what you will do when the assailant releases with one hand for any reason
3. Sitting on your chest -your arms pinned – their hands-free
- Impact the spine and kidneys with knee strikes.
- Once they react grab their shoulders with your feet and ankles and pull them over backward.
4. Classic sexual assault position
- Impact the kidneys with the heel of the foot strikes
- Once they react dig your heels in just behind the waistline and shove them over backward
5. You face down – assailant sitting on your back -your arms pinned with their hands
- “Love Bite” to one of their hands so that they release one of your hands; then
- Push pinned hand forward and simultaneously bring opposite knee forward; then
- Begin to squirm and turn underneath them attacking whatever targets are available until you can turn over below them or they shift off of you
CONTROL MEASURES/DETAINMENT TECHNIQUES/TAKEDOWNS
THE KEY TO MAKING THESE WORKS IS PREPARATORY STRIKING.
AUGMENTING WEAPONS
An augmenting weapon is any device that adds strength and rigidity to an existing weapon
- Ballpoint pen
- Scissors
- Spoon
- A good ballpoint or fountain pen can be used to stab.
- My personal choice is a metal ballpoint.
TO QUALIFY AS AN AUGMENTING WEAPON, THE DEVICE MUST EXTEND BEYOND BOTH SIDES OF THE FIST WHILE ALLOWING THE FIST TO BE FORMED CORRECTLY.
Nearly anything can be used as a weapon. Look at what you have with you right now.
Most probably, you’ll have a bunch of keys.
With the keys protruding from between your fingers, you have a fine striking weapon right there.
YOUR WORLD IS CRAMMED FULL OF POTENTIAL WEAPONS!
- Your kitchen is packed with various knives.
- Your den may have a collection of CDs or DVDs.
- The sharp-edged corners of their plastic cases can be used to great effect as striking weapons.
ANYTHING THAT IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE ALTERCATION CAN BE THROWN.
- Rings
- Watches
- Wallets
- Shoes
- Coins
- Keys
- Books
- Cell Phone
*** ANYTHING THAT IS NOT NEEDED FOR THE ALTERCATION CAN BE THROWN.
*** BOOKS CAN ACT NOT ONLY AS WEAPONS BUT ALSO CAN BE USED TO DEFLECT BLOWS.
- A solid hardback novel heavy enough to use as a striking weapon.
- Don’t use it in an overhand blow; use a straight punch, so that the corner of the spine, the most solid part of the book, hits your opponent in the face.
