P2 Training Program

Defenses Against a Knife Threat (including Distance Timeline) P2

Defending the impending knife threat from the front. Always remember, if it’s possible, when you see the threat, you may be able to move away quickly from the danger zone. One should also train on complying. If this is the best solution …

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Defending the impending knife threat from the front. Always remember, if it’s possible, when you see the threat, you may be able to move away quickly from the danger zone. One should also train on complying. If this is the best solution, naturally you should do it. Defending and countering. Slap the back of the hand of the opponent while creating a bit of a body defense, then lean away and kick. Regular kick with the ball of the foot to the groin of the opponent, then continue as needed.

In the next variations, the principles are the same. The hand defense against a threat from the rear or from the side. The outer defense is with the bony palm, the side of the pinky. Defend with the forearm. Defense should be high or low as needed. You should hit the back of the hand or the wrist of the opponent. The principles here are the same, meaning defend while leaning away, and counter-attacking first of all with a kick, then continue as needed. If the opponent is too close, one should do a small step, and then use the kick. In all these techniques, we are practically kicking a side-kick or something between a side-kick and a defensive back-kick.

Utilizing a knife threat at the medium and short ranges. Start with a hand defense followed with a body defense. Control, counter-attack, and then the finishing mode is either moving away or disarming. Start with a hand defense that will deflect and grab the wrist area. Straighten your arm, straighten your elbow, lower the knife just a little bit. As you move diagonally forward, clear the channel of the attack and counter-attack as soon as possible. You should be reaching the opponent about 45 degrees from the side. Continue with the double control, meaning two hands grabbing the wrist and the palm of the opponent, straighten your elbow and counter-attack more with knee kicks. Finish with pushing the opponent away and moving away from the danger zone. If possible, you must prevent the opponent from taking the knife or coming closer with the knife to you. Preemptive attack with the hand or with the leg is more suitable. The opponent managed to get close to you and put the knife to your throat.

Here we see a similar technique, practically a variation of the basic technique. Hand defense, body defense, control, counter-attack, and the finishing mode. In this technique, because of the position of the knife, you are still moving to the outside, to the dead side or blind side, of the opponent. In order to disarm the opponent, which is an option, with one hand you’ve already grabbed the opponent’s wrist. With the other hand, grab his fist, watch that you don’t grab the lower part of the knife. Bend strongly the wrist of the opponent, sending the blade to the outside, the opponent’s elbow is low. Relax your fingers, insert them into the opponent’s hand, and scrape the knife away while redirecting the blade to the outer side, to the outside.

Here the opponent put the knife to the other side of your throat. Act now with the right hand in order to move the knife away from your throat. Practically it’s a mirror image to the previous technique. Start with the hand defense, continue to the body defense. Move to the outside, double control and kick with the back leg. Here too, grabbing the wrist and double control in order to bend the wrist and disarm the knife away from the opponent.

P2 Lecture/Theory I

A. Circular Strikes Hooks (Roundhouses) & Uppercuts

  1. Hook punch
  2. Uppercut from semi-passive stance and from ready stance
    (regular outlet stance)

Notes: Start drilling both strikes first from a semi-passive stance, then from a ready stance; for the hooks, while in ready stance the front-hand strike has two variations.

B. Elbow Strikes

  1. Vertical elbow strikes:
    a) upward; b) downward; c) straight backward; d) back and upward +combinations

Various Striking Methods

  1. Straight strike with the fingers
  2. Palm strike to groin, Together with body defenses - downwards
  3. Back of hand (and fingers) whip strike to groin, Together with body defenses, downwards
  4. Straight strikes while advancing (simultaneous attack and step) - right (rear) and left (front)
  5. Straight left punch in retreat + series of attacks + moving to all directions
    Notes: First punch from a semi-passive stance; later from a ready stance and other starting positions.

D. Kicks

  1. Knee strike – roundhouse
  2. Defensive front kick; striking surfaces: heel, ball of the foot, whole foot (in testing, demonstrate one of the above)
  3. Defensive backward kick
  4. Sidekick (with the heel)
  5. Roundhouse kick - two methods: horizontal or diagonal (demonstrate one method in testing); possible striking surfaces: ball of the foot, instep or shin

E. Series of Attacks – to the front, side and rear; with different targets, heights and angles

  1. From long to short distances
  2. From short to the long distances

F. Inside Defenses with Palm or Forearm Against Straight Punches

  1. Inside defense with the palm:
    1. Simultaneous counterattack (with the other hand)
    2. 1.5 rhythm - defend, counterattack forcing the opponent's hand down (as in P-1)
    3. While leaning backward; kick (with the front leg)
  2. Forearm defense against attacks to different targets and heights; and counterattack
  3. Left against left – palm (or forearm) sweeping defense with a horizontal counter
    Notes: Remember to incorporate head and body defense into these techniques. Defend with the left hand against right hand attacks and vice-versa, unless otherwise stated.

G. Outside Defenses Against Punches

  1. Ready stance and starting position for outside defenses
  2. Forearm defense against a hook punch - diagonal outward and back (avoiding the elbow; clenched fist; use fleshy part of the forearm; head tucked between shoulders)
  3. Outside defense against straight punches, with simultaneous counterattack (demonstrate one of the learned defenses - nos. 1, 2 or 3)
  4. Outside defense, upward and forward (no. 4, forearm at a diagonal)
    Note: In the above outside defenses, only the close (front)
    hand defends against straight strikes.

H. Body Defense with Hand Strike to Groin

  1. Ducking under a strike (straight or circular) – from passive or ready stance; with a counter-attack (to the groin).

I. Defending Against an Opponent Attacking from Different Angles

  1. Inside or outside defenses against punches (circular or straight) coming from various directions. Defender is looking forward, attacker is moving in a half-circle in front of him.
  2. Against a strike from behind – move away diagonally forward while turning and reacting.

J. Leg Defenses Against Kicks [from passive and ready ('outlet') stances]

  1. Stop kicks vs. regular kicks: 1.1.
    1. With the heel directed to the outside; use the front leg 1.2.
    2. With the heel directed to the inside; use the back leg
  2. Inside / outside defenses
    1. Blocking defense with the shin against a low
      roundhouse kick, coming from the same side
      (possibly using the front leg against either
      kicking leg)
  3. Outside defense with the shin and forearm together
    – against a high / low roundhouse kick
  4. Inside defense with the shin and forearm together
    – against a high or low regular kick
    (the hand defense is as in Section F, no. 3, above)

Note: Technique no.1 is first applied against regular kicks and later against roundhouse and sidekicks. Techniques 3 and 4 are used against an attack delivered to an unknown height. Use the forearm as previously learned, bony or muscular parts for inside or outside defenses.

K. Choke Releases (including Distance Timeline)

 

  1. Vs. a choke from the side - pluck and counterattack
  2. Vs. a choke from the rear - pluck with a step diagonally backward
  3. Vs. a choke from the rear - one / two-hand pluck, turn & attack; or executing a wrist lock.

Note: When lack of force, use two hands to remove one of attacker's chocking hand.

L. Defenses Against a Knife Threat (including Distance Timeline)

  1. From the front - at long range - deflect and kick, while leaning away from the knife
  2. From the side or back - attacker is at long range - deflect and kick
  3. From the front - at close range - deflect with a C grip.

M. Dealing With Falls

  1. Backward break-fall
  2. Forward, with attacks
  3. Backward roll - left shoulder (for right-handed practitioners)

N. Choke Releases While on the Ground

  1. Attacker sitting on the defender - pluck and bridge - one hand remains holding
  2. Attacker between the legs of the defender – pluck with one hand and insert knee

O. Using Common Objects – Small Objects to Distract

  1. Throwing; using distraction to create an opening or opportunity

Note: This is used primarily in a situation before an actual attack is made, mainly during the threat stage or in the very early stages of an attack.

P. Fighting Games

  1. 4 against 1
    1. Push with 2 hands or grab to choke (1 attack every 2 seconds)
      Note: This can start with the "zombie" game.
    2. Defending 360 – against 2 attacks every 2 seconds
  2. Slow fighting – including the process and stages of learning

Q. Returning Attacker (defend -- attack -- defend)

  1. Following the defender's initial defense (a choke release; defenses against circular or straight strikes) and counter-attack, the opponent is able to proceed and launch straight strikes or other relevant attacks

R. Simulation and Tactics

  1. Timeline (Aggression) – escalation of attacks: verbal quarrel; and a push; and two strikes; and a kick

1. Releases

  1. Against different grabs, with the element of surprise

2. Ground Fighting

  1. Defending against a “shoot to the legs”
  2. Sticky hands game (1. mounted; 2. guard)
  3. Attacking from all positions
  4. Defending against a person sitting on the defender (mounted) and punching

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