Like in all combat sports, the last thing you want to do is be on the defensive and unlike MMA or Boxing, in the world of self defense the stakes are much higher. Once you target covers up, it’s game over for him.

In the ring, when your opponent covers, you know he’s trying to regroup because he just lost the exchange. You also know he’s vulnerable. In the ring, he has two options: try to clinch and stop you from being pummeling him to a pulp or take you to the ground and hope that you’re not as good on the ground as you are on your feet. Well in the street, he won’t have those options- not if you apply a little nastiness.

There’s a great chance that your fist technique will miss its intended target and your assailant will react by covering his face. Even if he isn’t trained, his instincts will tell him to react like this. All you will see is the top of his head and a lot of elbows that can shatter your knuckles on impact (unless you’re conditioning your fists with makiwara or other “iron palm” type training). To avoid this type of injury, use the edge of your hand and the heel of your hand to hack away at your opponent’s defenses.  Chop at his arms and head area with short, digging, edge of hand strikes and continue to do so until you create an opening. In this case the back of his neck, or the base of his skull.  A blow to this area will do anything from stun him to put him out permanently, depending on how hard and how often you strike him.

If your opponent ties up with you, you need to exploit his vulnerable and soft tissue areas to create openings for larger, more powerful techniques. Biting and gouging are perfect for this, but before you do this, there are a few things to keep in mind. First, try to secure the area you are gouging or biting. Jerky movements by assailants when they attacked in this manner can have adverse effects on you. Second, if you’re not training is some sort of grappling or combat sport you better start, even if just a little. Pictures can’t describe how to stay on your feet and keep your balance. You don’t have to be the world’s best grappler, but you should know how it feels and what to expect. Third, after you gouge or bite, you MUST follow up with a more vicious and violent assault; because bet your bottom dollar that as soon as he realizes what you’re doing, he’s going to try to do the same to you!

Beating theClinch

As soon as your assailant locks up with you, secure his head with your forearm and your shoulder (use your head, finger or fore knuckle to put him into position). If his head is buried in your chest just lock it in place with a reverse naked strangle type of hold (a neck crank). Use kicks to his shin and insteps and driving knees to keep him off balance. If something is near your mouth, bite it! If you have a free hand to find his eye and gouge it with your thumb or simply bite the closest body part to your mouth that’s not yours.

After he reacts, immediately follow with knees, shin kicks and foot stomps to anywhere below his waist while you continue to harass his eye. In this case follow with a hand yoke to his throat and a knee to his groin, then proceed to rip him a part with a barrage of convulsive and instructive strikes.

It all happens in split seconds and there’s no time to wait. Covering up against a capable, determined assailant is never a good idea. And remember every assailant is an armed, capable, and determined until proved otherwise.  

About the author:

Damian Ross is a life long martial artists and president of The Self Defense Company, an organization dedicated to teaching the truth about self defense since 1998. Mr. Ross is also one of only 2 people in the world to receive his teaching license from reality self defense legend Carl Cestari. To find out more about Mr. Ross The Self Defense Company and his methods please visit www.theselfdefenseco.com

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