Close Quarter Combat Simple Rules

“Using your Head...”

Author: Odhinn  Kohout

Sparring this week with some Officers/students I noticed that their autonomic response when grappling in close quarters was guys like to lead with their head, meaning they are looking at the floor when they rushed in on me or tried to tie me up with a collar tie.

This is very dangerous…and I thought I would point out a few things about it in relation to both improving your standup game and ground combatives.

GROUND-FIGHTING (Triangle choke)

If you are in top position and your Attacker manages to get you into a triangle with his legs you know (or you should…) that looking down at the floor will get you choked out for your mistake. You must look up as you push your hips in and up which will give you many transitional options for escaping this type of position.

FRONT GUILLITONE (CHOKE)

From a standing choke you grab the wrist which is wrapped around your head as your step in with your hips while at the same time looking up to the sky.

STANDING CLINCH

One of my students was reaching out for my neck with his head down. I promptly put him in a standing neck crank which he later commented was the worst pain he had ever experienced. I also told him I was being very nice as I could have face locked him while his head was down and thrown him onto the ground. There are a ton of very mean things that can be done from this position including “Stockades” commonly referred to as “ Nelsons” in which the 1/4, 1/2, 3/4 and "full nelson" are well known in various types of wrestling and are a mainstay to my own UZIEL© system.

REFLEXIVE RESPONSES (CENTRAL NERVOUS SYSTEM)

In studying criminal behavioral warning signs, a very familiar one is that just before a bad-guy decides to sucker punch you he MAY…lower his head and tuck in his chin. This goes for trained and untrained individuals. It is important for you as an Instructor to translate this knowledge to better understand why your students will do certain things in relation to defensive tactics.

PERIPHEAL VISION

It is very difficult to orient yourself if you are looking at the floor during an altercation to establish escape routes and your position in relation to your surroundings.

IN CLASS

When your students are practicing their clinch or other hands on standing arrest/control tactics they may lead with their head down as their body is protecting (unconsciously) their nose, eyes and chin from an attack/punch. There is no cognitive process in this response for most people, it is something that must be pointed out to them and explained.

If we reverse this… it can be used to the Officers advantage in teaching them very quick takedown techniques and positions of control as I discussed earlier in this blog. Criminals who try to grab and control and Officer in close quarters may commit this error and provide a route of escape or counter to the attack for an Officer who has been educated in head positions by their Instructor.

Train hard Gentlemen…