Hand
To Hand Combat
This theoretical
article will explore the different elements of hand to hand combat also
introducing several practical tactics that can aid in an effective conclusion
to a fight. Although supplementary weapons are discussed the term of hand
to hand as applicable here relates to fights where the only weapon is
the hand.
Mentality
during combat
Before any fight begins it is very crucial that a correct line of thought
is assumed. Street fighting is very different from the fighting seen in
movies or in a ring. It is very important to understand that in such a
fight a person can sustain serious if not life threatening injuries especially
when the use of supplementary weapons such as broken bottles, knives and
clubs is introduced. For the purpose of avoiding such self injury the
opponent's ability to cause harm should not be underestimated. An easy
way to explain this is to say that if you consider fairplay important
in a fight your enemy will take advantage of that and cause you a lot
of harm. Civillized conceptions have no place in a fight except perhaps
in the movies, take any chance you get to destroy your opponent because
if you do not he will. This mentality of the urgency of self servival
is the first step to winning a fight.
The objective
of a fight
What are the goals in hand to hand combat ? these can vary between incapacitating
your enemy to staying alive. Recognize your objective and the severity
of the fight you are involved in. Simply said, if you are lucky enough
to be involved in a clean fight where only fists are involved you would
have to incapacitate your opponent to win, however if your opponent draws
a broken bottle or knife you will have to fight to stay alive. Understand
the relationship between you and your opponent, if you are fighting with
a friend over a serious disagreement the stakes are a lot less than fighting
with a stranger in a bar, if you do not know assume the worst and fight
to stay alive.
The element
of surprise
The majority of fights are won by the person who throws the first punch.
Taking your opponent by surprise and striking at his weak zones (discussed
later) would give you a better chance of emerging as the victor. If you
are in a situation that has deteriorated to a point where action is demanded
do not wait for your opponent to strike, this will put you in a very vulnerable
position and will very probably result in defeat.
Power of
groups
Although dishonorable in context it is always important to gather a group
to support you. This is especially true when you are to confront your
opponent and he knows that and gathers all his supporters to do battle.
If groups are to be involved the person with the larger group will always
win. If you do not have the resources to gather a group an alternative
is perhaps to pay to acquire a group of bodyguards through the local private
investigation or security services. Such services are usually set up by
ex military individuals who have a lot of practical combat experience
and training. If you are challenged to a fight you should fully expect
your enemy to gather a group of supporters to aid in his fight.
Footwork
On to the pracitcal side of hand to hand combat. The first practical element
is the ability to use your footwork for evasion and attack. If you stand
in one place during a fight you will be an easy target. By being fast
and mobile you increase the confusion in your foe and give youself more
vantage points from which you can strike or defend. Your Footwork should
be used in combination with evasions and attacks. The simplest stance
involves you standing with the opponent facing your side your left foot
behind you poised with your arms in fighting position. With this stance
you would be able to move in eight directions as quickly as possible.
Defensive
tactics
During combat defend an opponents punches by striking out at his incoming
punches thus meeting them halfway and voiding their threat. With training
this is not so difficult to do as it appears. By observing your opponent
you can foretell his actions. Punches usually start with movement in the
shoulders and that is a good tell tale of iminent danger. similarly defense
against his kicks can be achieved by raising your knee to meet the incoming
strikes, avoid strikes to your knees as they are a weak point.
Offensive
tactics and strikezones
When striking at an enemy identify his weak zones which will give you
effective strike results. STarting at the head one weak zone is his eyes,
a jab to the eyes would leave him temporarily blinded and unable to fight.
Similarly used as the well known OSS move in close quarter combat where
an open hand covers his face with the fingers in the eyesockets. A square
punch or elbow to the nose results in temporary disability, this is because
there is a large concentration of nerves in that area and finally for
the upper region is the throat which a strike to can disable breathing.
Below that are the rib cages, an upward side thrust to the ribs results
in breathing disability. Below that the crotch where there are a high
concentration of nerves, a swift kick there is better than a knee jab.
Finally a commonly overlooked weak zone, the knees; the best way to approach
this target is to move swiftly towards the enemy and hit diagonally downwards
with the foot on the front or side of the knee, using this tactic will
probably bring the foe to the ground. A combination of hits to more than
one of these weak zones can cripple the enemy and destroy his ability
to fight.
supplementary
weapons
The introduction of a weapon in a hand to hand fight changes the scenario
dramatically, a sharp tool such as a broken bottle or a knife can cause
life threatening damage. For this reason it is important to disable the
opponent before he procures such a weapon. It is emphasized in the mentality
section discussed earlier that you should have no second thoughts about
delivering a crippling blow to your foe because such a bad judgement could
result in him desperately acquiring a dangerous tool to aid in his victory.
There is no easy way to defend against a knife attack or any dangerous
tool without using your own knife or club type tool in self defense. If
such a tool is not available the best alternative is to escape the scene
unharmed, to live to fight another day so to speak.
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