The Top Two Self-Defense Techniques by Mike Vassolo

The Top Two Self-Defense Techniques by Mike Vassolo

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The Top Two Self-Defense Techniques by Mike Vassolo - Mar. 5th, 2007, 6:34:34 PM

Zoran

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Self-defense is a messy business at best, so you should never think in terms of winning or losing; instead, focus on simply surviving. Through the years, I’ve been in more than a few physical encounters, and I’ve got the scars and broken teeth to prove it. I’m also a 7th degree black belt in Kenpo karate, so I know a thing or two about self-defense, and I can tell you that it all begins with an intimate knowledge of targets and weapons. Before getting to the heart of the matter, though, I want to make it clear that I’m not talking about your everyday street fight here. Street fighting is for punks, so if you think fighting is some kind of sport, and you act like a testosterone-poisoned dope, then you deserve a broken nose. Or two. Unless it’s done in a ring with rules and a referee, fighting is never a game—especially the kind of fighting that I’m talking about: Fighting for your life.

When the chips are down, and you’re the victim of a vicious criminal assault, you need a couple of surefire techniques that you can depend on to save you from serious injury or even death. So, I’m going to teach you the top two techniques that will help you stand up to a criminal attack with brutal effectiveness. But before getting into those two techniques, I need to talk about targets, because even the most powerful strikes are worthless if you hit the attacker in the wrong place, like the arm, for instance.

In the end, successful self-defense is all about striking vulnerable targets with powerful weapons that are accurately delivered. It’s really that simple. Hit ’em where it really hurts, and you’ll take away their ability to hurt you. The two most vulnerable targets on the human body are the eyes and the throat. I’ve seen huge football linemen hit the turf, helplessly rolling around in agony after an opponent’s finger slipped through their face mask and into one of their eyes. And a hockey player nearly died this season after being struck in the throat by a puck. So forget about trying to knock somebody’s teeth out (besides, in the Age of AIDS, do you really want a stranger’s blood and saliva oozing into your lacerated knuckle?); instead, go directly for the targets that can incapacitate an attacker, giving you time to safely escape. Also, by concentrating on vulnerable targets, facing a criminal who may be 6’4”, 240 pounds doesn’t seem quite as intimidating, because you’re not sizing him up—you’re focusing on a small target.

Moving from targets to techniques, the first thing you have to learn is how to stand up to an attack. If you don’t have a solid stance that’s stable, flexible and mobile, you’re beaten before your start, because you can’t fire powerful, accurate weapons from a lousy foundation. There are lots of good stances in the martial arts, but the first one that I teach beginners is the most basic. It’s called the “get ready” stance, and it’s the best one to use against the sudden, in-your-face attack that a criminal is likely to launch against an unsuspecting victim.

To “get ready,” stand with your feet about a shoulder width apart with 50% of your weight on each foot. Bend your knees slightly, relax your belly (to reduce lower body tension and help you breathe more deeply), relax your shoulders (to reduce upper body tension and increase your striking speed,) exhale to help ground yourself, keep you chin tilted slightly downward and bring your hands up so they’re level with the middle of your chest. Chances are you’ll be nose-to-nose with your attacker. That’s a tough spot to be in, so you’ll have to react quickly, powerfully and accurately. Fortunately, the get ready stance prepares you to do exactly that.

To practice this stance, build it, as described, from the ground up in front of a full-length mirror. Once you’ve formed the stance, look it over very carefully, facing the mirror straight on, then turning to the side. When looking at the stance from the side, make sure that your hips and shoulders are in alignment, your back is straight and your head erect. Once you’ve got that stance down, you’re ready to learn how to defend yourself.

The first strike is called the hand yoke, and its target is the throat. You form the weapon by spreading your thumb and forefinger apart as widely as possible, keeping your other fingers close together, like a wing. The weapon should look like a Stealth bomber coming toward you. The web between your thumb and forefinger is the weapon. It’s got a lot of give, but it’s perfect for hitting the delicate little knob that protrudes from the center of the larynx.

Now, drive the weapon directly into the center of the attacker’s windpipe, striking hard and fast, like a cobra. Withdraw the weapon quickly and strike again. And again, and again…until the attacker no longer poses a threat. If you’re going to miss with this strike, don’t miss high, or you’ll hit the guys chin or cheek, jamming your thumb. If you do miss, you must miss low, because the weapon will bounce up from the top of his chest and into the target area, causing at least some damage to the attacker’s throat. When you’ve incapacitated him and can safely escape, run like hell, and never look back.

The best way to practice this technique is by hitting the image of your own throat using a mirror as a training partner. Be sure to keep your elbow behind your hand as it strikes. If your elbow wings outward, the strike will fishtail wildly and may miss the target completely.

The second strike isn’t really a strike at all; it’s an eye gouge. And it’s perfect for really tight infighting—like when an attacker is trying to put you in a bear hug. (This can also be used by a woman who is belly to belly with a would-be rapist.) Because the head is so mobile, it’s almost impossible to strike an eye by thrusting a finger toward it, so don’t try. Instead, use both hands to grab the side of the attacker’s head as tightly as you can. If possible, thread your fingers through his hair to tighten your grip even more. You’ll be in perfect position to jam your thumbs into the far corners of each of his eyes. Starting from the bridge of his nose, plunge your thumbs into his eyeballs as deeply as possible and then tear through them, pushing down and outward toward his ears.

The advantage of this counterattack is that it keeps your weapons firmly aligned with the targets, even when the assailant struggles to twist or turn away. By keeping a tight grip on his head, your thumbs will stay right where they need to be to get the job done. And, remember, this is no petty barroom fight, so don’t be squeamish. This criminal will take your money, your well-being and your life. Then he’ll laugh about it, have a big meal to celebrate and sleep like a baby. So, show no mercy, because he certainly won’t.

As you can see, these two techniques are very basic. Strictly for beginners. That’s what makes them great for self-defense. I can tell you this: If my life and limb were on the line, I’d use these two techniques over the hundreds of others that I’ve perfected during more than 25 years in the martial arts. Like I said, self-defense is no game. Save the fancy stuff, like high kicks, for tournaments, where you can impress the judges and win a trophy. On the street, the only prize at stake is your life. And that’s one competition you can’t afford to lose.

If you can perfect the get ready stance and the two simple techniques that I’ve described, you’ll have a fighting chance to successfully defend yourself against an unarmed attacker. (Knives, clubs and guns raise the stakes immeasurably and make for a much more dicey—and deadly—situation.)

Finally, keep in mind that your counterattack must be disciplined enough so that it stops the threat to your life and limb without harming the attacker unnecessarily. If, at any point, you’ve succeeded in rendering him incapable of re-attacking you, stop immediately. If you continue to pummel him, you will then become the criminal, and you will be held legally, civilly and morally accountable for your actions. Remember, with great power comes great responsibility. Even when the chips are down, you must always think, choose and act wisely. Be safe.