Back To Article Brief
Back To Article List
FIRST BLOOD
Author: Frank Enloe
Hapkido may well be the world’s most comprehensive self-defense art. To prepare its practitioners for all possible situations, it includes an amazing variety of hand and foot strikes, as well as hundreds of joint locks, limb twists, pressure- point techniques and throws. All that martial knowledge enables the hapkido student to successfully defend against virtually any form of aggression that arises in an armed or unarmed encounter.
For most situations, the hapkido practitioner is content to let the action unfold a bit as he attempts to defuse the tension. If that fails, he will instantaneously shift into combat mode and annihilate the assailant. However, in those rare cases in which the threat appears overwhelming because of the aggressor’s size, age or gender—for instance, when a 23-year-old 250-pound man is preparing to unload on a 50-year-old 110-pound woman—the law does not require the “victim” to wait until the attack starts. The defender is legally entitled to launch a pre-emptive strike to terminate the danger.
It is for this type of situation that hapkido’s first moving attacks were designed. A set of strategically related techniques, they can help you seize the initiative before attacker does. They can transform the Korean art of self-defense into an awesome offensive weapon for use when your is on the line.
STRATEGIC FOUNDATION
When you decide to kick or punch an aggressor, you commit yourself to an act that creates an opening for him to counterattack you. For instance, if you direct a kick at his abdomen, you give him an opportunity to grab your leg and sweep you to the ground. Similar openings also arise whenever you trap an arm or grab a lapel, thus enabling him to counter and perhaps get the upper hand on you. Obviously, initiating with a committed, full-power strike is often a dangerous move.
Furthermore, if you ever have to defend yourself against a person who has had some martial arts training and knows how to fight from a solid defensive stance, it is almost impossible to land a good blow, grab a limb or execute a throw.
An essential concept of combat, therefore, is that the best way to attack an aggressor is to first break his balance or distract him by striking a vital part of his body. In this way, you can hide your true intentions, which may include the application of a joint lock, choke or throw. Such is the underlying theory of the first moving attack.
NUMEROUS VARIATIONS
Hapkido’s first moving attacks can be applied in a variety of situations. A basic one occurs when an opponent stands in front of you with his arms at his sides. You advance and grab his lapel with your left hand, pulling him forward and slightly off-balance. At the same time, extend the index and middle fingers of your right hand to apply pressure on his left carotid artery. The pulling of his lapel with your left hand, combined with the pain created by the pressure of your fingers against his blood vessel, will most likely cause him to turn his back to you. As he does so, relax your right hand and wrap your arm around his neck for a rear naked choke. You’re now in position to drag him onto his back while maintaining the choke.
Strategy: Your lapel grab and initial choke attempt distract him and cause him to turn his back to you, thus setting up your finishing choke.
EMPTY HAND
In another scenario, you and your opponent assume a left-side-forward fighting stance. Using your right leg, execute a push kick to the shin of his lead leg while grabbing his lead hand, then effect a wrist lock as you extend your leg to push him off-balance. Next, place your right foot back on the ground and pivot clockwise in preparation for the throw. To send him airborne, continue your rotation by cir- cling your right leg to the rear as you torque his arm. At this point, step backward and drop to one knee. Your weight pins his upper arm—and his body—to the ground.
Strategy: You mask your intent to throw him by first hitting him with a low push kick, which breaks his balance and disrupts his concentration.
SHORT STICK
The hapkido arsenal also includes first moving attacks with weapons. For example, a 12-inch-long stick called a dan bong can be used to stop aggression from an assailant who is standing in front of you. Before he can strike, grab his lapel or collar with your left hand, pulling his body slightly forward.
At the same time, strike his forehead with the stick, which is held firmly in your right hand. Then use the butt end of the device to apply pressure against the upper left portion of his chest, causing him to turn. As he pivots, move the stick away from his chest and extend your arm. After positioning the stick against the far side of his neck near his carotid artery, pull him in close. Then step backward and let him collapse to the ground. Once he is down, pull on both ends of the stick to close off his artery at a point located under his jaw line.
Strategy: You distract him with the forehead strike, thereby setting up the conditions for the takedown and choke.
MIDDLE STICK
Another practical hapkido weapon is the 3-foot-long stick, called jung bong in Korean. A first moving attack that employs it begins with you facing your opponent with the stick in your right hand. Jab one end of it into his solar plexus, then extend your arm and the weapon under his left arm. Next, raise the stick until you can circle it over his head and under his chin. Then use your left hand to exert pressure against the opposite end of the device as you step back to position your right leg away from his feet. Use your left hand to push up on the end of the weapon, then pull downward while retracting your right hand in the direction of your right hip. He will flip or fall on his back, and as soon as he lands, you can execute a finishing technique.
Strategy: You distract him with the jab to the sternum, then get down to the business of throwing him to the ground.
CANE
A walking cane can also serve as an effective implement for a hapkido first moving attack. If you are facing an opponent who is bent on combat, grasp the middle of the cane’s shaft with your right hand and reach forward to hook his groin with the crook. Then disengage and reverse the orientation of the cane so the crook is near his head. Next, hook it around the back of his neck and advance with your right leg and turn so your back is pressed against his body.
To finish, bend forward at the waist to toss him over your back. Follow through with a finishing technique of your choice—if one is required.
Strategy: You stun him with the initial groin attack, then incapacitate him with the throw.
FINAL THOUGHTS
A thorough understanding of the fundamentals of hapkido’s first moving attacks can serve as a valuable augmentation to your martial arts repertoire. With all their versatility— empty-hand, short stick, middlelength stick and cane—they offer a practical self-defense alternative for situations in which perhaps no other response will save your skin. ...
|
Choose your martialarm
|
|
|
Martialarm Testimonials
"This is the answer to the only problem I had in my martial arts training, 'How to effectively test a technique?' I can now experiment using full power which I could never do before with my normal training partner." L-Baxter"After training in the various martial arts systems for over 22 years and thinking I had seen it all I was extremely surprised to train with your martialarm product. It is truly excellent and proves once again simple ideas are the best." F-Barrasong
"I just started to train in Karate and also Wing Chun. I wanted to train as much as possible but there are only two classes per week. Since I bought the martialarm I now train everynight! This is great for a beginner who wants to train alot!" J. Evans
Looking for other martial arts training dummies?Purchase the Wooden dummy, Versaflex, B.O.B. training partner and boxing bags.
|