Push, Punch, Elbow, Headbutt, and Chop Defenses
Push Defenses
Aggression often begins with a one- or two-handed push. This provocation typically marks an aggressor’s attempt to assert social dominance or to goad you into a fight. Someone pushing you away may also be precipitated by your invading that person’s social space. Push defenses, as with all krav maga defenses, involve the all-important krav maga concept of simultaneous defense and attack. As the defender, your preference is to move off the line of attack, in this case, the line of the attacker’s push. One option is to simply sidestep and parry the push to let the aggressor move past you. Another option is to escalate matters using a decisive counterattack. The following are a few possible physical responses.
Punch and Chop Defenses
Range and distance are integral to your self-defense strategy. When defending against upper-body attacks, depending on the attacker’s distance, a kravist may choose to employ “leg defenses” or close the distance immediately by using “hand defenses.” You can kick an attacker if the attacker is in leg range or several feet away from you. Optimally, you can debilitate your attacker before the attacker can touch you, but such precision and timing is difficult. If the attacker has already closed the distance and is in physical contact with you, the attacker has entered your medium and close distance fighting ranges in which case you must use upper-body defenses including 360 degree variations and parries coupled with combatives.
- For each technique presented, we suggest that you practice a minimum of 20 repetitions against a partner attacking using both his left and right limbs. In other words, you are defending against a minimum of 40 repetitions (20 from a right limb attack and 20 from a left limb attack). Obviously, with two armed-pushes and headbutts there is “no right or left side”, but you should practice defending with both your left and right arms for a total of 40 repetitions.
- Defend from a passive stance, a left-outlet fighting stance, and a right-outlet fighting stance.
- In addition, when defending against strikes and chokes, practice a minimum of 20 repetitions with your partner attacking with both the right and left.
- Be sure, though, to keep in mind that 85% or more of the world’s population is right side dominant. Therefore, it stands to reason that the majority of attacks will be launched with a right arm or leg.
- Practicing at least 10-15 minutes per technique is recommended (with, as noted above, a minimum of 20 repetitions per side). Therefore, you should begin to both understand and embed approximately 4-6 techniques per practice hour. (Note, though, for our group classes we generally teach 3-4 techniques per cumulative one hour lesson plan.)
- Observe and help your partner other analyze his/her movements.
- It may be helpful to film each other in action to further evaluate the fluidity and execution of each technique, if your timing is correct, if your footwork and fighting stance is solid, and how well you can adopt to slight angle changes and heights of various attacks.