*explanations are for fundamental techniques only*
Push Kick
Straighten your standing leg as you lift your kicking leg.
Raise your knee high before executing the kick.
Extend your kicking leg in a snapping motion
Keep your chest back, chin down, and opposite arm up to protect yourself.
Put your kicking leg down and return to the same position you started from.
The push kick is a crucial tool for measuring distance in self-defense. Your lead leg provides more range than your lead hand, making it invaluable for measuring the distance to your opponent. Successfully landing a push kick with your front leg shows how close you are to punching range while keeping you just outside your opponent’s reach. This ability to measure distance effectively keeps you in control and prepared for your next move.
The push kick is an essential self-defense technique, especially in halting an advancing opponent. As your adversary moves forward, jabbing your front foot into their torso can bring them to an abrupt stop. In order to push your opponent back without moving yourself, you need to practice your form to perfection. If you use the technique successfully, you can create crucial space or even knock your assailant down. This ability to disrupt an attacker's momentum while maintaining your position demonstrates the push kick's importance in self-defense, providing both a defensive barrier and an offensive opportunity.
Your rear leg holds the most power and can generate substantial force due to the longer travel distance and natural strength. However, this kick can be easier for your opponent to see coming since there is more movement required. To counter this, it’s essential to mix up your techniques and use feints, keeping your opponent guessing and creating openings for powerful strikes.
Regardless of which leg you use, the most common target for a push kick is the torso. This is because it is a wide target and will be easy to make contact with. Specifically, the stomach is a good part of the torso to aim for since this is the softest part. Strong strikes at the stomach can impact the opponent’s breathing and stamina. Aiming higher on the chest can disrupt their balance and push them backward.
Lastly, striking with the balls of your feet and quickly withdrawing your leg leaves minimal opportunity for your opponent to grab your foot.
Knife Hand Strike
Keep your fingers tight together and your thumb tucked in.
Curve the middle finger to prevent injury
Try to minimize motion while swinging fast to promote accuracy
The knife hand strike is a very efficient technique if it is used correctly. It can potentially stun or knock out the opponent when aimed at a specific vulnerable part of the body. Some of these areas include the carotid sinus, jugular veins, the throat, the collar bones, ribs, sides of the head, temple, jaw, the third vertebra, the upper arm, the wrist, the elbow, and the kneecap.
Here is a description of the most notable targets:
Carotid Sinus: Located at the base of the neck, where the common carotid artery splits, the carotid sinus is sensitive to pressure changes. Striking this area can cause a rapid drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness or loss of consciousness.
Jugular veins: The jugular veins run down either side of the neck and are crucial for draining blood from the head. A strike here can cause intense pain, dizziness, and potentially unconsciousness by disrupting blood flow to the brain.
Throat: Hitting the throat can obstruct the opponent’s breathing and speaking.
Temple: The temples are delicate areas on the sides of the head. A precise strike can lead to unconsciousness or severe disorientation due to the impact on the brain.
https://youtu.be/bOgFnlOmjKA?si=Gvz9EXxypnqn_yDO
This video shows a demonstration of knocking someone out by striking the carotid sinus.
Hook Punch
The hook punch is a very powerful close-range punch. You can use it to target your opponent’s head or body with the flexibility of either hand. It is characterized by the curving motion as suggested in the name.
Keep your dominant hand at the rear and your other hand up for protection.
Position your feet shoulder-width apart to allow for easy hip rotation. They should rotate in the direction of the punch.
Keep your elbow bent at a 90-degree angle with your hand being at the height of your target.
Snap your wrist at the point of impact and make contact with your knuckles.
Lead Hook: This hook is thrown with your lead hand, which is typically your non-dominant hand. This punch covers more distance than a rear hook since the punch comes from the front and is often used to surprise your opponent with a quick and powerful punch or set up further attacks.
Rear Hook: This hook is thrown from with your rear hand, which is typically your dominant hand. It is more powerful than a lead hook and can be used to finish a combination or deliver a devastating blow. However, it is a close-range attack unlike the lead hook, so you should set it up with other punches like a jab.
There are two main areas to aim for:
Body: Striking the body, typically the ribs or the liver area, can significantly slow the opponent and weaken their core. Additionally, it can make it difficult to breathe and reduce their stamina.
Head: Striking the head, typically the jaw or the temple, can stun the opponent and set up for additional punches. Striking the jaw can bring shock and cause a knockout.
Additional Tips:
Be Patient: Be patient and wait for openings such as when your opponent drops their guard or leans to one side.
Leverage Body Mechanics: Rotating your hips and shoulders is important when maximizing power as it generates torque. Use your legs to maintain stability and balance.
Guard Your Chin: Protect your chin by keeping your non-punching hand up while throwing a hook to reduce the risk of counterattacks.
Alternate shots: Alternate between head and body shots and use both hands to keep the opponent guessing and increase your chances of landing a clean hit.
Cross Punch
The cross punch is a straight punch thrown with the rear hand, which is typically your dominant hand. It is also known as the power shot because it has the longest range of punches and can deliver a lot of force.
Position your feet shoulder-width apart and keep your hands up for protection.
As you punch, either pivot on the ball of the back foot or step forward. If you choose not to step forward, turn your rear knee, hip, and torso in the direction of the punch as you pivot.
As you approach impact, slightly twist your fist so that your thumb is on the bottom.
After you make contact, quickly bring your fist back to its initial position.
Mistakes to avoid:
Loading Your Punch: A cross punch is meant to be quick and powerful, so try not to load up the punch by pulling your hand back. It will give away your intention to attack and will lead to an inefficient punch.
Dropping Your Hand: Do not drop your lead hand when punching. It should always be in a defensive position to prevent any counterattacks from striking you.
Keeping Joints Locked: Do not keep any joints locked because it will make you vulnerable to injuries. Your arm should only be fully extended for a brief amount of time when completing the punch and your knees should be slightly bent to promote twisting and flexibility.
Long Gaurd
The long guard is an essential defensive technique that helps you with protect yourself from incoming strikes, set up counterattacks, maintain distance, and control the pace of a fight.
Using the long guard is quite simple. First, extend your lead hand forward with your arm fully stretched. The hand should be at the opponent’s eye level. As you do so, extend your rear hand forward too, but move it closer to the face and body to protect your chin and midsection.
You can defensively use the long guard in two main ways. One way is to prevent the opponent from closing the distance and striking you. Another way is to absorb the impact of a straight punch or hook with the lead arm.
After using the long guard, you can throw a push kick or elbow as a counterattack for when the opponent advances into you.
Offensively, you can use the long guard to lower the opponent’s lead arm, leaving their head open for attacks.
One big mistake is to stand in this position before the opponent actually advances. Instead, transition into it once the opponent moves forward.
Inside Leg Trip
The inside leg trip is a simple move that is useful in pulling the opponent off their balance.
Use your lead leg to push the opponent’s lead leg.
Use the bottom of your foot and pull the opponent’s foot forward.
Move your head out of the way and use your hands for protection as you use the technique.
Situations where the inside leg trip works best:
When the opponent has most of their weight on the front
When the opponent tends to move forward to throw strikes
When the opponent is bringing their lead foot back after a kick
After you successfully use this technique, you will notice several effects.
Your opponent will likely take a large step forward with their lead leg to regain balance.
Their head and torso will fall forward closer to you,
As they try to catch their balance, their guard will be broken.
These effects will open many opportunities for you to strike the opponent.