Cavaliers
“Cavaliers” are wrist locks. Why do we call them cavaliers? This was Imi’s word for them. He thought they were fancy moves, and the word “cavalier” sounded fancy to him!
Groundfighting More-advanced techniques are covered to improve your position while on the ground.
Takedowns
Krav Maga, as a system, doesn’t teach many takedowns and, admittedly, some other systems teach takedowns much more thoroughly than we do. There are any number of takedown possibilities, including single-leg, double-leg, and trip takedowns. Since Krav Maga’s mandate is to keep the system simple, we present only three basic takedowns here.
Before continuing, it’s important to discuss context: Why train to take someone down in the first place? One important reason is to learn to defend against takedowns. Even if you don’t want to take the bad guy to the floor, he might want to take you there. In order to defend effectively, your partner has to make an adequate realistic attack.
Another reason is control. You may with to subdue someone (a drunk friend, an emotionally disturbed acquaintance) without hurting them. Taking them to the ground and holding them there is one possible way.
Finally, you may find yourself in a fight with someone who is better than you at standup fighting. If you’re unable to run away, a takedown may be a way to neutralize his standup skills.
The downside to takedowns is, of course, that you will often end up on the ground yourself. Once you’re on the ground, you become vulnerable to secondary attackers, and it takes just a little longer to disengage, get up, and run away.
Combatives
Inside Chop
Inside and outside chops are made against narrow targets, such as the side of the neck when the chin is down and the shoulder is up. The outside chop is very similar to a hammerfist.
Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance, facing a target that is in front of you.
Raise your right
hand, palm down,
and extend
your fingers,
flexing them
slightly to
create tension.
Moving
your arm at a
downward diagonal, rotate your
palm sharply and strike
the target
with the outside
(pinky) edge
of your hand.
Pivot your hips
for
power.
Outside Chop
Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance, facing a target that is to your right.
Raise your right
hand, palm down,
and extend
your fingers,
flexing them
slightly to
create tension.
Strike the
target with the
outside (pinky)
edge of your
hand. Pivot your
hips for
power.
Mouth of Hand
This punch is made with the top of the fist where the thumb and index finger meet. In many ways, it can be considered the opposite of a hammerfist punch. The punch is made on either an upward or lateral angle from the outside inward or forward.
Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance, facing a target that is in front of you. Make a fist.
Swing your
hand forward and upward,
making sure to
bring your shoulder
forward and pivot
your hip.
On contact,
bend your
elbow to protect
it from hyperextension
and to deliver extra
power.
