When I first meet people interested in joining Martial Arts, especially in a city, they usually ask whether or not we teach Self Defense. Here in Minnesota Pu Sa Bum Nim Steffen (3rd Degree Black Belt) will do a Self Defense type class from time to time focusing on Self Defense moves, strikes, or kicks that would be efficient in Self Defense.
Our style, Kuk Sool, teaches defense for any number of situations from being choked, to having your clothing grabbed, to being bear hugged. Here are some pointers on what you should think about in regards to Self Defense with Kuk Sool or any Martial Arts style:
1. Efficient Striking
You are most likely in close with a Self Defense situation. So try and stick to using your close strikes likes elbows, knees, and quick kicks. They hurt and are very fast. Remember, if one strike does not work throw another. * Do not try and back up to strike if you are already close, you will waste your energy and time when you could have already thrown a number of strikes to free yourself and escape
2. Fight Dirty
Yeah, I said it. Your life may be at risk. There might be a very large man attacking you. If you are new to Martial Arts or defending yourself you should not even think twice, you should fight dirty. Gouge the eyes, Kick the Groin, Rake the face with your nails, kick the knees, bite the ear (be careful of blood, you may want to bite and tear). Anything you can think of that would help you escape till you are safe.
3. Don’t Freeze
This is probably the biggest worry of anyone, that they will freeze when confronted with a Self Defense situation. While this could obviously happen to most people, you should be aware and realize you need to act. Everyone will have a moment of realization and “Freeze” per se, but I believe everyone that reads this blog can realize they need to un-freeze and do what needs to be done to defend and escape.
4. Combos Combos Combos
Don’t stop by trying to kick them in the groin and it not working. Immediately try to poke their eyes or palm strike their nose. Always do more than one strike. Don’t trap yourself in the mindset of only doing one strike.
5. Worries & Confidence
If you are still worried do some common situations and practice like a bear hug, getting choked (lightly at first), being grabbed by the shirt, pulling your purse, or something of the like. This will help build some confidence. The more confident you look and act the less likely you are of being attacked. Sometimes life is tough and you are just in the wrong place at the wrong time, but a lot of the time someone will not mess with a really confident person.
+ Bonus
There are so many techniques in our Martial Art Kuk Sool Won, once you get to a high enough belt you know techniques for almost every Self Defense situation. If you are that high of rank make sure to practice effectively. Don’t just walk through the motion. Lock the joint, hit the pressure point, throw, and finish.
[+] Videos
We have also produced three quick videos to get your mind going:
- Defense of Being Grabbed from behind in a Bear Hug
- Defense Against a Strike
- Defense Against Some Unwelcome Friendliness
* Feel free to email this article to anyone who might benefit from reading it by going to the top of this post and clicking the “Email a Friend” link underneath the title of the post. Be safe and I hope this blog post helps.
