Gun to the Side of the Head

For demonstration purposes, these instructions assume that the gun is in the attacker’s right hand. Except for the initial redirection, this technique is essentially like Gun from the Front (page 250).

Starting Position: Neutral or passive stance, with the gunman on your left side.

As the attacker presents the gun with his right hand, lift your left hand up along your body, keeping your elbow back. As your hand nears the gun, begin to make a body defense by tilting your head backward. The timing of this head movement is early, similar to that of Gun from the Front (To the Head). With your fingers up, redirect the gun forward and grab it.

Immediately turn the gun sharply so that it points approximately 90° away from you and “punch” the weapon down with your weight on top of it.

Turn your body and burst toward the attacker, completing the technique exactly as in Gun from the

Front.

Gun from the Side, Behind the Arm

Starting Position: Neutral or passive stance, with the attacker to your left.

As the attacker puts the gun behind your left arm with his right hand, make a small redirection with your arm, pushing the gun off line behind you. This movement should be relatively small.

Turn toward the gunman and reach toward him with your left hand (the one that made the redirection), slipping your arm underneath the gunman’s. Your goal should be to reach as deep as possible even before you’ve moved your feet.

Continuing to reach with your left hand, burst in VERY DEEP so that your left foot is outside the gunman’s right foot. Wrap your left arm up, bringing your fist tightly to your chest to secure the forearm holding the gun. With your rear arm, deliver an elbow strike to the gunman’s face. As you deliver the strike, you can slide your other arm back to secure the wrist rather than the forearm.

Follow with knee strikes.

With your free hand, reach over, pinky up, and grab the barrel.

Snap down hard with your elbow to break his grip.

Lift the gun up to get it off the finger in the trigger.

Strike with an elbow or the muzzle and get out, creating distance.

Tips: Be sure your hold on the wrist is strong. Press your fist to your chest. Push your shoulder forward—note that this is your shoulder, not your whole upper body.

Gun from the Side, in Front of the Arm (Touching)

This technique is the only one in the Krav Maga system wherein you redirect, control, and disarm first, THEN counterattack. This is never the desired order of events, but there is no better movement from this position.

Starting Position: Neutral or passive stance, with the attacker to your left.

As the attacker puts the gun to your side (in front of your arm) with his right hand, slide your left hand up along your body with your fingers down and palm facing forward.

Catch the attacker’s wrist (here your hand acts as a brace, preventing the wrist from bending) and push forward to redirect the weapon. At the same time, contract your abs and make a diagonal step toward the gunman.

As you advance, slide your right hand in along your body, avoiding the line of fire, then reach forward and grab the barrel. Your fingers should be down and your thumb should be up to help prevent the gun from being turned back toward you before you have control. As you grab the gunman’s wrist/hand with your left hand and the barrel with your right hand, your knees should be slightly bent to maintain balance, and you should be on the balls of your feet.

Pull against the wrist with your inside hand and turn your outside shoulder sharply in, rotating the gun in and slightly down. This should break the weapon from the gunman’s grasp. Taking the gun slightly down presses it over the thumb, which causes additional pain.

Using your right hand, pull the gun away from the gunman and toward your body. Deliver a punch to the gunman’s face with your left hand, and follow with a right punch, striking with the muzzle of the gun.

Retreat quickly to a safe distance.