Ronda Rousey, top, and Liz Carmouche during the UFC women’s bantamweight championship, in 2013
Self-defense and punching after takedown
What if the opponent lying on the ground had a blade? How well would the punching go?
It is one thing to punch someone when risking only a punch back, but a much different thing when risking crippling cuts and stabs. Punches that in an unarmed struggle would be thrown without hesitation, sure and quick, are less instinctive in the presence of a blade and thus lose both speed and accuracy.
This way of attacking a lying opponent is fine IF:
— no weapons are present (for example, in a sports setting); and/or
— it is an immediate (as in instantaneous) follow-up of the opponent’s fall and done instinctively, that is, without conscious decision-making, which is slower than instinctive reactions.
Ronda Rousey is an experienced fighter so her split-second instincts are reliable. Outside of the sports setting, however, and for people with fewer training hours than she has, a different way is safer. Instead of “head hunting” on an opponent who is not pinned down to a spot, seize the legs in order to control the opponent’s whole body (being comfortable moving in low fighting stances helps with that). Then, with easy techniques, both immobilize the opponent and protect yourself from the opponent’s weapons — even if the opponent can reach them. The below videos show how to do it.
Compare the above to a police officer’s technique:
Ideal self-defense weapons are those that are legal to carry everywhere, do not attract attention, are simple to use, and do not require practice.
Attention:
Applying any of the techniques mentioned above is your sole responsibility.
Neither Never-Thought-of-It LLC nor the author of this self-defense tip, nor persons pictured in this self-defense tip, make any representation, warranty, or guarantee that the techniques described or shown in this tip will be safe, effective, or legal in any self-defense situation or otherwise.
The reader or viewer assumes all risks and hazards of injury or death to herself, himself, or others, as well as any resultant liability for the use of the techniques and methods contained in this self-defense tip.
Specific self-defense responses demonstrated or described in this self-defense tip may not be justified in certain situations in light of all the circumstances or under the applicable federal, state, or local law. Neither Never-Thought-of-It LLC nor the author of this self-defense tip makes any representation or warranty regarding the legality or appropriateness of any techniques described or demonstrated in this self-defense tip.
Self-defense tip from Thomas Kurz, co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense and author of Science of Sports Training, Stretching Scientifically, and Flexibility Express.
Self-Defense Moves
To learn how your natural reactions can instantly defeat any unarmed attack, see the video Basic Instincts of Self-Defense.
Defend Against Weapons
To learn how the typical street weapons (club, knife, razor) are used by an experienced streetfighter and how to practice with them, see the video Self-Defense: Tools of Attack — Club, Hatchet, Blackjack, Knife, Straight Razor.
Mental Toughness
To learn mental techniques that let you calmly face any threat and act rationally in the heat of a fight, click here.
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