Knives, Arm-breaks, and fulcrum points…(Part-1)

Author: Odhinn Kohout

A nightmare scenario is fighting off your back against an Attacker armed with a knife. This is that moment in time when fancy ground-fighting techniques are not what you need to save your life but something based on gross motor skills that is easy to remember under stress.

Besides the obvious, of blocking the initial slashes or stabs and protecting major arteries as best as you can… You will need to try and grab the weapon arm and pull it in tight and pin it to your chest. This will give you a moment in time to escape from this critical incident.

  

 

In the photo that I have posted I have used my legs to:

1.       Hook over his head in order to drive him down towards the ground

2.       Use my other R-Leg under his armpit to push him off center

3.       Using my hips to bridge up to break the elbow

The Fulcrum affected in this photo is the elbow joint. Although the Attacker may in reality be stronger than me his one elbow is NOT stronger than my hips and it will break quite easily giving you a safe escape route and the ability to now create a reactionary gap from the bad guy.

Give it a try next class and remember to go easy with this technique and look after the safety of your training partner.

Be safe Guys!

EDGED WEAPON ATTACKS-Controlling the Arms

Author: Odhinn Kohout

It is important to maintain contact and be aware of both of your attacker’s arms when you are defending yourself from a sudden attack in which a reactionary gap is not possible. This can be done using a mixture of overhooks and underhooks, blocks, and grabs.

 

We sometimes forget when practicing our defensive tactics that your Attacker is capable of using both hands and interchanging weapons to opposing hands throughout an altercation. Blocking an attack is unfortunately not enough and this will leave you without the space necessary for transitioning to other options. The block (in point of fact) should not even be considered as  an aspect of your technique due to its nature as a autonomic and therefore uncontrolled natural response.

In the picture I am crisscrossing the attacker’s arms prior to the hip toss as a way to inhibit his ability to;

·       1. Grab an additional weapon hidden from view

·         2. Break his fall using his arms

Experiment with various ways to control the angles of attack and I encourage you to use a combination of training knives. Metal (to build a combat cognitive response) and Marking Blades ( to ensure that the techniques are being performed correctly.

Practice for combat Guys and don’t take the easy way out in training…

Creating the reactionary gap (offensively)

Author: Odhinn Kohout

When you have been trapped in a restrictive environment or pinned against a wall by a person intent on doing you harm or worse it is essential to create some space between yourself and the badguy. But what if that space is only available moving forward?...

Much is said about ensuring a reactionary gap but in point of fact it is not as easy as simply stepping back to gain some valuable real estate for transitioning purposes. The picture illustrates two of our Military students during our last class practicing footwork in relation to takedowns and throws to move forward rather than take a defensive posture.

  

 

Inside & outside throws, sweeps, takedowns etc. using the legs and hips are essential in my opinion to integrating realistic CQC concepts which can used by your Officers in the field while wearing equipment and carrying firearms (carbine, pistol). The legs are a great asset to the Officer in helping to create the reactionary gap and can be combined with hand-fighting (clinch work) to produce a well-rounded defensive tactics program.

I have seen too many programs which focus on the Officer using an out stretched arm (dangerous move) to push the Assailant back while at the same time he taking several steps backwards.

What if there is no backwards?...uneven surfaces including elevations (stairs), debris, walls, oncoming traffic all impact this type of training. From the autonomic flinch the student must also have the prerequisite skills to traverse THROUGH the criminal as the shortest path may lie moving forward rather than the common defensive mindset of always stepping back.

Teaching the use of footwork incorporates balance and complex motor skills resulting in a varying learning curve so be patient when introducing it as a new topic. Stay away from the dramatic type of throws which require additional dexterity and high levels of coordination because many of your students will not see the buy-in due to their own physical limitations. Effective use of the feet and legs for throws and takedowns should not require flexibility on the part of your Officers. Create a program that is easy to learn and explain HOW each of the techniques work. Memorizing a bunch of “moves” is not conducive to Military and Police CQC. A cognitive understanding of the mechanics underpinning leverages and triangles of balance will in able your students to take your curriculum from the classroom to the street.

As always Guys, be safe!

Practical, Applicable and Simple CQC

Author: Odhinn Kohout

 

Students like to introduce the latest complex “move” that that have seen or been practicing as part of a reality based training program. I don’t agree with this approach as it implies that the “old school” approach to CQC is out of date or boring. Hip throws are something that I teach in every class and have been part of H2H for thousands of years around the world, I have no doubt.

The concept behind them offers more in-depth knowledge of balance and bio-mechanics than the hip throw is given credit for. Some key points that our system (UZIEL) teaches are as follows:

1.       This type of throw breaks the triangle of balance of your opponent causing him to be unable to reform it or in layman’s terms create a foundation.

2.       Hip- throws can be done using one or two of your hands. They still work (especially for pistol) if you are using your support hand to maintain the initial grip.

3.       Your leg position can be that of a post or kicking your leg back (mule-kick) to elevate your attacker. The harder you kick back the higher off the ground he (bad guy) will become.

4.       The entry to this type of throw can be inside or outside the Attacker’s leg making it an ambidextrous type of technique reducing learning time for your students.

We have more info on this type of throw in the future.

Be safe Guys!

CQC LAYERS…(CARBINE)

Author: Odhinn Kohout

Our philosophy has always been akin to the U.S.MARINES motto of “One Mind, Any Weapon” which I believe to be a very sound and well thought out belief for the combat mindset.

  

If you are in job in which a Carbine is part of your issued equipment than a portion of your CQC program should entail going hands on with a bad guy even while holding your weapon.

Why?

1.       If you are being approached by an unknown party (who may have surprised you) and could be aggressive but there is no justification for deadly force and transitioning to another use of force option including using the rifle may be the path of least resistance.

2.       The Carbine may be inoperable with a double- feed, stove- piped round or simply out of ammo yet the bad guy is still attacking you.

3.       The weapon itself makes a formidable non-lethal striking tool by use of a well-placed muzzle strike to a vital spot.

4.       The Attacker may have grabbed the Carbine from around a corner and a struggle ensues.

One of the best reasons is that is just makes sense to be a well-rounded fighter.  You should be comfortable in a myriad of combatives including being unarmed as Murphy’s law is always in effect and you never know when your “go to” primary choice of weapon systems may fail just when you need it the most.

As always watch your partners 6 and be safe!