DISCUSSION

Vulnerable spots

We experimented with our first “pressure point,” which can cause extreme pain when pressed firmly with the fingers. This point is located beneath the ear and just behind the jaw joint. While it’s nearly impossible to reach during sparring—or if the aggressor has long arms and keeps them straight—it becomes entirely accessible when a bully feels overconfident about the size difference and bends their elbows for leverage, such as when gripping someone by the collar.

Lead by the fingers or synchronization of body parts

In classic scripts, we emphasize that the limbs and hips must move together as a single unit. While many participants understand this concept in theory, they often struggle with its execution. To support learning, we sometimes need to “trick” the brain. For example, the cue “lead with the fingers” can help some individuals correct delays in hand movement.

Almost successful is not enough

Self-defense is something you use only when you’re in danger, and you may only have one chance to get it right. If you haven’t practiced the techniques, they won’t work when you need them most. Flashy movements or techniques that merely resemble the real thing aren’t effective. You need to understand the mechanics and internalize the key points. It’s like having a plastic crowbar with a tongue that’s too thick to slide into a gap—completely useless. If you’re a stuntman, almost making the jump from one building to another isn’t good enough. A safety net that’s not properly secured is unacceptable for a circus performer. In self-defense, failure can be costly—sometimes even fatal.

SCENARIOS

Being held by the collar

When an aggressor grabs you by the collar, their arms are most likely bent. If you can access pressure points within reach, you’ll likely be able to induce enough pain to break free.

Cross-arm low grip

Participants often struggle with keeping their arms anchored at the reference point during each technique and step. While the movements are easy to understand intellectually, without consistent practice, it’s difficult to execute them successfully.

EXERCISES

Ditch jumping (Long stride)

Start by bending your legs, then push off hard and fast with your back leg, fully extending it before tucking in to return to a seated position. The goal is to develop explosive power for later application.

Common mistakes:

• Leaning the body: Your torso should remain vertical. Watch for any forward or sideways leaning.
• Tension in the upper body or powering through the arms: This is incorrect. Eventually, the arms need to stay relaxed to perform other tasks effectively.
• Leaning to generate power: This usually indicates the back leg lacks sufficient explosive force to power the movement cleanly, resulting in telegraphed motion.
• Not sitting deep enough: Failing to begin from a properly bent-knee position turns the movement into a mere shift of balance rather than an explosive “launch.”
• Lack of speed or slow acceleration: You must create a “POW” effect by driving forcefully through the back leg and glutes.