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A Beginner Escapes Bearhug During Live Sparring

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bearhug01

 

In this video we see a beginner escaping a rear bear hug hold during a live multiple opponent sparring session. The technique is to drop your base, grab control of one hand, then throw controlled backward elbows to the temple of the attacking bear hugger. Force is generated by setting a base, creating distance and using full range of motion in the hips and throwing your weight behind the elbows. As seen in the video the extra pressure of a third opponent can make beginners nervous, causing them to flail and sometimes deliver less purposeful strikes. The end result is the same. Although under pressure, the novice was still able to employ the technique learned in class to help break the wrestling hold, avoid being trapped, and further mauled.

Multiple Attacker Strategies #2

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Multiatck2

This video only shows a taste of what goes on in class.

 

The main thing when faced with multiple attackers is to never end up caught between two or more people; one must attack and escape, constantly attacking and evading. He/She should attack the closest target, and use strafing and the necessary footwork, even backpedaling when necessary, so that the person he is fighting acts as a barrier to impede the other attackers because it becomes increasingly more difficult to defend against more than one person at a time. One will take your back or blindside you.

It is important to note that when faced with many people trying to reach you, one will inevitably end up caught between them. At this point, you must use bursting to get out of this scenario, running out of the crowd, so that you will be on better ground to fight them as individuals. This is similar to the Krav Maga training scenario where one individual is surrounded by many attackers who are punching and trying to grab him from all sides, and he must use any means necessary to burst through to the other side.

 

Another thing that is crucial to remember is that street fighting is not a game, and can have deadly consequences. You should avoid it at all costs but when you must fight, do not fight fair, use a weapon, or whatever else you may have on hand as a force multiplier, and fight as if your life depends on it. Do not initiate Brazilian jiu-jitsu techniques or take-downs, only use defensive wrestling to avoid getting taken down at all costs. For when you lose your footing, you will get kicked from all sides, and have the life stomped out of you. They will not stop after you are unconscious!

 

Beginners should practice by boxing 2 people at a time in a confined space. They can then add the element of boxing one or two people while another is trying to grab or pull them down. The Israeli Krav maga drill of bursting through a group of attackers to the other side while the attackers are trying to pin you and hitting you should also be practiced regularly. The key is to use hands, elbows, and head-butts, and constantly move, no kicking as this takes away one of your points of contact with the ground, and places you at a disadvantage to be dragged to the floor. This is different than a schoolyard fight or a mixed martial arts match, or even a bareknuckle street fight where there is honor involved.

Knife Defense against Stab to the Face

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knifedead thum

 

This video is composed of clips recorded at full speed; they are not sped up. The video highlights possible options against a straight knife stab to the face.

The principal thing to focus on is bursting inward and off the line. I have to burst inside, yet not put my force straight against the attacker’s. By sidestepping as we burst in, the hands-together-like-an-arrow technique may be used while bursting inward to protect the neck and face.

The idea is to strike as much as possible while moving towards the attacker’s backside, displacing his/her center off the line, following through with punches and elbows to the side, to the back of the head, and the spinal area.

In this video you see me use a form of a wrestler’s arm control. I am putting weighted pressure on my partner’s rotator cuff, dragging him down, and from here I can follow through with more damaging attacks and strikes, maximizing damage.

In a real situation, this will not be easy. I may be stabbed a few times while employing this technique. I can try to use his knife hand to forcefully stab him, taking his knife arm and making it an extension of my body.

Multiple Attacker Strategies

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Multipleattack1

Video displaying some of the principles of dealing with multiple attackers in a controlled sparring setting. The most obvious rule is do not give your back to people.Even if you brought your gun/knife/weapon, you still wouldn’t want to get caught in themiddle between two attackers and potentially give one your back, so the principles are the same regardless of the weapons involved.

It is imperative that your empty handed skills are up to par. And you will still have to use the basic movements of strafing ,bursting, retreating, explosive striking, and  proper footwork.

Avoid being forced up against a wall, and the subsequent attacks
from both sides. Do not haphazardly and weakly attack more than one opponent at the same time.

Avoid the ground, fancy kicks, and prolonged submissions/locks and chokes as they can leave one open to attacks.

Moreover, preemption is better than reaction. Awareness is imperative! If you feel imminent danger: you must always strike first, escaping if there is a possibility, but fighting to the end.

A classical martial strategy is to attack whenever you see a weakness;  If there is a stronger opponent that would cause a lot of damage and a weaker one that you can dispatch more easily,
attack the weak one and use him/her as an obstacle and a stumbling block for the stronger opponent.

As always, the martial way is one of self-awareness. It is of paramount importance to know yourself to know the enemy, appraising who is strong and who is weak, deducing the appropriate strategy for the circumstance.

Krav Maga Sparring with Kick to Head

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Simcha spar1

During our sparring sessions is the time where we can figure out how we’re flowing and naturally responding to attacks and our striking as well. Therefore, Krav Maga teaches us how to take preset forms and apply them without conscious rehearsal. This video highlights these ideas and more.