Slide in Heel Kick to Shin with Follow-Up Jab

This is essentially a soccer kick to the shin. Against a lumbering attacker, the shin is relatively still. It makes for a dandy first target. As his hands go down, I can easily follow up with a jab to the face.

Without prejudice

Slide in Ankle Sweep with Follow-Up Jab

The sweep is a nice little maneuver that can take an attacker completely unaware. I’ve learned to be sure to follow up or he’ll get off the ground and be twice as willing to hurt me.

Without prejudice

Slide in Side Kick with Follow-Up Backfist

Instead of using a roundhouse kick, I drive straight in with a side kick to the body. I drop the kicking leg to neutral as I fire off a backfist.

I have transitioned from a front thrust kick through an offset kick and a roundhouse kick to thrusting side kick. The lead jab easily becomes a backfist. Variety may be the spice of life but in this case, the spices aren’t all that different.

Without prejudice

Slide in Roundhouse Kick with Follow-Up Backfist

Again, similar to yesterday. The main difference is that I’m side facing my attacker in a leading horse. This also makes it easier to throw a backfist instead of a jab.

Without prejudiced

Slide in Offset Kick with Follow-Up Same Side Jab

Very similar to yesterday’s combination. The only main difference is that yesterday I went straight in with the kick while today’s kick angles in in from the side at an offset angle.

Without prejudice

Slide in Front Kick Follow-Up Same Side Jab

This week I’m practicing slide in kicks with the same side punch. The idea is to follow a kick that lands and injures the opponent with a quick decisive punch. By using the kick first (long before short) I am more likely to land either the kick or the punch or both.

Without prejudice

Simultaneous Lead Arm Angled Block with Rear Arm Counter Punch

I generally use today’s combination against a shovel hook (looping punch) to the body.

Without prejudice

Simultaneous Lead Arm Crossdownward Block with Rear Arm Counter Punch

The similarity between these techniques being done on and then the other or both done together is deliberate.

And because the block is used against the opponents opposite side arm (right arm to right arm) the best way into his vulnerable points is around the incoming arm.

Without prejudice

Simultaneous Lead Arm Mantis Block with Rear Arm Counter Punch

As with the block alone, the simultaneous mantis block with counter punch works on defending the body against a straight in punch. The trick to making these slap blocks work is that they must be set up so that all that is necessary is the move the hand in one short sharp slapping motion.

Without prejudice

Simultaneous Lead Arm Outside Palm Block with Rear Arm Counter Punch

This makes a third block for the head. Combined with the same three blocks using the rear arm, that makes six different blocks to deflect an attack to the head. (And that doesn’t count any evasion techniques either.)

By pairing the block with the punch sometimes and making them separate sometimes, I find I am less predictable.

This is a good thing…

Without prejudice

Simultaneous Lead arm Inside Hooking Block with Rear Arm Counter Punch

This is similar to yesterday’s technique. While both the block and punch are done at the same time, the block makes contact first. The rhythm is more like on and one quarter beats than strictly a single beat by itself.

Also, as with all counter attackers, care should be taken on the recovery.

Without prejudice

Simultaneous Lead arm Rising Block with Rear Arm Counter Punch

This week I’m practicing simultaneous block with counter.

When this tactic works it works very well but when it doesn’t, the consequences can be equally intense.

Today I’m practicing the rising block with counter punch. For me, the trick to do it was to go slow at first. When I been doing it for a while, I noticed that my speed had naturally increased.

Without prejudice

Doubling Up on the Heel Snap Kick

This front snap kick to my opponent’s knee is done with my heel. Against a solid standing attacker, this double kick is very effective in halting forward movement.

But just like yesterday, care must be taken because the rule of ‘tit-for-tat’ applies. If I’m close enough to hit him and he’s my height then he’s probably close enough to hit me too. And if he’s taller or has a longer reach he is a greater threat.

Without prejudice

Doubling Up on the Knee Hook

At one point I knew this maneuver as the beginning part of something called ‘The Offensive Pointed Knee’.

The whole idea is that I’m hooking my foot behind the back of my opponent’s knee and I am pulling him forward. This unbalances him and leaves him vulnerable to further attacks. It is not a sparring maneuver.

While pulling on his twice is good exercise, it is unlikely to be effective as an actual defense. As I demonstrate at the end of the vid, against a resistant attacker who does not fall down, the pull tenses him up. This may leave him open to a second kick with the other leg.

The rule of ‘tit-for-tat’ applies here because of the close proximity of my attacker. 'If I’m close enough to hit him and he’s my height then he’s probably close enough to hit me too. And if he’s taller or has a longer reach he hit me while I cannot hit him.

Without prejudice

Doubling Up on the Side Kick

This is very similar to yesterday’s exercise. Both are side leading and both are flickering movements designed to hurt and damage an attacker who is at that range.

I do not use this on a rusher but it makes either a dandy follow up strike (off a block, for instance) or an initial strike against a brawler (one who likes to stand and slug it out).

The main difference with this kick is that it is much like a front thrust kick. It drives in on the centre line of an attacker. The roundhouse is much more like an offset (it comes in at an angle).

Without prejudice

Doubling Up on the Roundhouse Kick

Today I’m practicing a roundhouse kick to the front of my opponent’s body. I use this kick anywhere from the knee to the solar plexus. I was never much of a high kicker but it could be done there as well.

I tend to go to the same target twice but the second kick can just as easily be done to a second target too.

Without prejudice

Doubling Up on the Offset Kick

I usually practice this double kick to the outside of my opponents thigh. Great care must be taken that I’m balanced and the kicks themselves are both quick and formidable.

There is nothing worse than a flimsy kick. It leaves the kicker standing on one leg in front of an adrenalized attacker.

Without prejudice

Doubling Up on the Front Snap Kick

This week, I’m practicing doubling up on the basic kicks. In most cases this is a solid quick way to follow up on an initial attack or damage a stationary attacker.

Today, I’m kicking to the groin with the top of my foot in a front kick. The key with this is easy of movement. In and strike and then back out again.

Without prejudice

Lead Arm Angled Block and Rear Arm Counter Punch

This is fundamentally the same defense as yesterday. The only change is the attack is a slightly hooked punch to my body. I block across myself before countering with an overhand to the face.

Without prejudice

Lead Arm Crossdownward Block and Rear Arm Overhand Counter Punch

With this combination drill, I counter with an overhand punch. This way, I avoid clashing with my attackers arm.

Without prejudice

Lead Arm Mantis Block and Rear Arm Counter Punch

This is a good defense against a single attack to the body. I draw the punch in, deflect it off to the side and strike back.

A rush, several punches in a row, a kick to the same area; these would be treated differently.

Without prejudice

Lead Arm Outside Palm Block and Rear Arm Counter Punch

With my lead arm already up, this is a good way to interrupt my attacker’s lead jab to my head by knocking it out of the way before knocking the wind out of him.

This week I have demonstrated three different blocks with one hand to cover my head form a thrusting attack. These aren’t the only ways to fend this nor are they necessarily the best ones either.

Without prejudice

Lead Arm Inside Hooking Block and Rear Arm Counter Punch

Today I’m practicing an inside hooking block against a straight right to the face. I follow with a counter punch to the body.

This is not the sort of stance or attitude I’d use in the ring. It would have to be modified considerably.

It is also not how I’d use this if I were attacked in the street (where it would likely be an ambush).

None the less, this drill has a lot of the necessary requirements I’d need to make it work. I need good balance, focus, timing, power etc.

Without prejudice

Lead Arm Rising Block And Rear Arm Counter Punch

All this week, I’m reviewing basic block and counter punches. I never get tired of this drill. To me, they are simple yet elegant and powerful yet quick.

The whole point is to interrupt the attacker’s flow and take control. Often this means injuring someone who is trying to injure me.

Today I’m using a rising block (usually against a straight forefist thrust to my forehead. I quickly follow with a counter punch to thye body.

Without prejudice

The Shift Away Arm Hyperextensions

These are a difficult maneuver to make work. There is no room for error or even off timing. Everything has to be absolutely on (or the maneuver both fails and leaves me vulnerable at contact range.

However, it is a challenging activity.

Without prejudice