Front Kick/Round Kick with a Switch

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Deliver a front kick to a vertical target with your left foot.

As the front kick makes contact, leap off your right foot. While in the air, tuck your left foot underneath you and deliver a round kick with your right foot. The kick should allow your hip to roll over. Bring both feet down into either a regular or opposite fighting stance, depending on your ability to recoil off the round kick.

Two Front Kicks with a Switch

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Deliver a front kick to a vertical tar get with your left foot.

As the first front kick lands, jump up with your right leg and deliver a second front kick. The first kick should be recoiling as the second kick lands.

Bring both feet down into either a regular or opposite fighting stance.

Tips: It is sometimes preferable to begin this combination with your right foot forward.

Outside Slap Kick and Front Kick with a Switch

Starting Position: Left-leg-forward fighting stance.

Make an outside slap kick with either leg.

As the first kick begins to come down, deliver a front kick low to the groin.

In this combination, you’ll most likely end in an opposite fighting stance.

Tips: To hold for this combination, the holder should have two focus mitts (one held high for the slap kick, the other held low for the front kick). For safety reasons, the kicker should not make a strong front kick. If focus mitts are not available, use one small kicking shield for the front kick and, in this case, the kicker may have to make the slap kick to the air.

The outside slap kick is usually made relatively high.

Two Straight Knees with a Switch

Starting Position: Close to your opponent (while in a clinch or after a self-defense technique).

Grab and give a knee strike.

Immediately deliver the second knee just as the first knee is recoiling.

Tips: The first knee is usually made with the back leg.

Two Back Kicks with a Switch

Starting Position: Right-leg-forward fighting stance facing away from the target.

Deliver one back kick as usual.

As the first kick lands, immediately make a switch and deliver the second back kick. Your head should turn from one side to the other to allow for vision and balance in the second kick.

Throws

Machine Gun Takedown

This takedown is so-named because it is useful against a threat with a submachine gun when the defender must move to the dead side. However, it is equally useful against handgun threats from the front or back when the defender is forced to the dead side and cannot control the weapon.

You must be aware that this technique does not effectively control the weapon. It is therefore high risk and should only be done when no other options are available.

Starting Position: Facing the gunman; you are forced to move to his left side.

Redirect the weapon as in Long Gun from the Front—Dead Side (page 323).

Burst in so that you are beside or slightly behind the gunman. Your hips must be close to him.

3 Your left hand should slide up and under the weapon, trapping it to his body. Your right hand reaches between his legs as far as possible (imagine trying to reach up and grab his belt buckle).

Use your legs (not your back) to lift him off his feet. As you lift, pull with your right arm so that his feet tilt up and his head tilts down.

Drive him into the ground.

Land on him, delivering elbow strikes. If the weapon is out from under his body, be sure to control it. Additional beginning scenarios that can utilize this takedown defense when there is no other option:

Gun from Behind, in Rear Hand, Forward Hand on Right Shoulder

Gun from the Front, in Rear Hand, Forward Hand Pushing/holding Center or Left Side

One-Arm Shoulder Throw

Starting Position: Attacker has made a wide outside attack similar to a haymaker; you have defended and counterattacked.

Grab the inside of the attacker’s wrist with your left hand while stepping in. As you step in, reach your right arm under the attacker’s armpit. Your goal is to get the crook of your elbow in his armpit, with your right forearm reaching up. You should also now have your back to the attacker with your hips square with his hips and your own feet relatively close together. Do NOT pull his right arm or armpit up to your shoulder/neck area.

Drop your hips so that they are slightly below his and punch your hips back while pulling on his arm/shoulder. This should get the attacker up on your back/hips. When punching your hips back, think of “low-bridging” the attacker.

Continue to pull forward while dropping your right shoulder to your left knee. This will take the attacker over the top and drop him down to the ground.

Variation: Instead of reaching the crook of your elbow under the attacker’s armpit, you can use your right hand to grab his shoulder or upper arm.

During the throw, you can also try dropping low and in while pulling the attacker down. This causes him to roll over the top of you. It creates less impact when he hits the ground, but is possible when you cannot get him up on your hips.