It’s always important to note that when you’re fighting in built-up areas, one of the most important survival principles is to gain access to a weapon.  If you’re in the city, there should be plenty of improvised weapons around you (such as bricks, sticks, metal bars, etc.) and if you’re a soldier, you will most likely have your weapon with you when fighting.  In built up areas, however, it’s also very easy to lose your weapon due to the confined space you’re fighting in.

Built up areas often offer multiple environmental obstacles and it’s easy to trip, fall, bang into a wall or other obstacle.  If you have a weapon, you’re at a great risk of losing it and the same goes for your attacker if he’s armed.  At some point in a close-quarters struggle you or he might lose your weapon.  Your first impulse will be to try and recover it, or to fight for possession of it… and that can actually get you killed!  Here’s why…

You see, the one mistake almost every fighter makes when fighting in built-up areas, especially if he lacks training, is to focus on the weapon instead of the real threat.  The weapon, by itself, can’t hurt you.  It’s the man who can hurt you, and he’s the real enemy.  If it looks like it’s going to be a life-or-death struggle to gain access to a loose weapon, especially when you’re cramped for space follow these principles instead:

Fighting in Built Up Areas -
Weapon Retention Tip #1:

Stop worrying about the weapon and start worrying about the man.  As long as your force multiplier is on the ground or the floor, it can’t hurt you.

Fighting in Built Up Areas -
Weapon Retention Tip #2:

Use his own survival impulse against him.  He’ll go for the weapon instinctively.  While he’s focused on the bait, you can target him more effectively.

Fighting in Built Up Areas -
Weapon Retention Tip #3:

Use your combatives.  Football kick your enemy while he’s struggling to get that fallen weapon.  Rain hammerfist blows down on him.  Knee him.  Overwhelm him while he’s still thinking of that weapon he’s never going to reach.

Fighting in Built Up Areas -
Weapon Retention Tip #4:

Once your enemy is on the defensive, you can recover the weapon to finish him off or take it and escape.

When it comes to your self defense training, think outside the box and outside your traditional training environment and the hazards you may face such as those when fighting in built-up areas.

But a handgun disarm technique requires much more than just nimble fingers and a willing partner. For your disarm to truly be ready for a “gun in your face” encounter, your timing must be dead on.

Unfortunately, while handgun disarm techniques are a dime a dozen in close combat DVD’s these days, one crucial element is often ignored…

…and it’s perhaps the most important step in your disarm technique.

I’m talking about proper TIMING of your disarm of the handgun!

You see, your attacker is already adrenalized when he has the gun aimed on you and 90% of the time, his brain is focused on his weapon and you as the “target”. In this state of mind, one stupid move from you can mean a quick pull on the trigger, either on purpose or as a flinch response to your sudden movement.

Sure it helps to be quick and get your body out of the line of fire. But to effectively pull off a handgun disarm, you MUST time your movement when his brain is NOT focused on the trigger.

To accomplish this, your attacker’s brain must be disengaged from his trigger finger. In psychological terms, it’s called a “break state”, a momentary mental “hiccup” that happens when his brain is subconsciously distracted.

For you in your disarm attempt, there are two very prominent times when your attacker is in a break state during a holdup or hostage encounter…

…but only ONE of these offers you a critical opportunity to disarm his handgun and turn the tables.

Here are your options…and the winner:

Handgun Disarm “Break State” #1:
When He’s Giving You Orders

When your attacker is giving you an order to do something, his brain is momentarily focused on communicating those directions.

At that point, he is much less likely to pull the trigger because his brain must first re-engage with the intention of shooting. This may only take a fraction of a second, but in a handgun disarm, fractions of seconds can mean life or death!

However, this break state is NOT the best opportunity to disarm a man with a pistol.

Why?

Because many people, and especially a nervous thug armed with a gun, give directions with their hands. So even though he’s in a break state when motioning you to move from one location to the other, he may be using the gun to point you in the direction he wants you to move.

If you were to make your disarm attempt while he’s giving you directions, it’s probable that the gun will be in motion and you’re more likely to miss your target when you reach out to disarm the pistol.

However, there IS a better option…

Handgun Disarm “Break State” #2:
AFTER He’s Given You Orders

When your attacker has given you an order or asked you to move, his brain is even MORE focused on making sure that you’re following directions. This is an even more powerful break state because your movement is something only you control so his brain has to process your response, whether it’s the one he wanted you to make, and whether he needs to give you further orders.

THIS is the most opportune time for you to make your move and snatch the gun away!

Here’s why…

1. Since your attacker isn’t the one giving direction, he’s instead focused on your own movement, he’s less likely to have the gun in motion.

A stable handgun gives you a static “target” to aim for in your disarm move and increases your probability of success.

2. If you’re asked to move, he’s EXPECTING your body to be in motion. Therefore, your lightening quick disarm is more likely to catch him off guard because your movement was actually something he asked you to do in the first place.

3. It allows you the opportunity to TALK to your attacker. When you’re communicating with him, his brain’s focus is again taken off of the trigger and your disarm is much harder to detect. This is even more likely if you’re in movement and talking at the same time, like asking, “You mean move over here?”

So in your handgun disarm training, don’t just practice the disarm move itself. Train with realistic hostage-like scenarios to also practice creating mental break states in your attacker to perfect the entire handgun disarm technique.

]]> http://www.closequarterscombat.com/blog/handgun-disarm-technique-timing/feed/ 19 http://www.closequarterscombat.com/blog/backwards-martial-arts-training/ http://www.closequarterscombat.com/blog/backwards-martial-arts-training/#comments Mon, 30 Nov 2009 20:49:27 +0000 Jeff Anderson http://www.closequarterscombat.com/blog/?p=99 I have a problem with “martial arts”.

No, I’m not going to launch into some “anti-martial arts” rant about how it’s ineffective in a real street fight (though I have my opinions).

But the problem I have with most martial arts systems is that they teach their students how to defend themselves completely BACKWARDS!

Let me explain…

If you’ve ever taken a single class in a “martial art”, then you know that your training begins with learning how to get in the perfect stance to strike from…the perfect punching form…blocking…a fancy schmancy takedown…etc.

Eventually you progress to more advanced strikes, kicks, katas, and even more fancy schmancy takedowns.  And then finally, if you’re in a very progressive school…you MAY (if you’re darned lucky) get into how to actually AVOID using those techniques. You see…

…A “Fight” Is What Happens When
All Things Have Gone WRONG!

You weren’t able to identify and avoid a bad situation…

…you weren’t able to talk down the 300 lb gorilla snorting in your face because he thought you were checking out his girlfriend

…you let your attacker get too close to you and woke up in a hospital bed

…you let your ego get the best of you and decided to “stand up” for your wife when some guy made a comment

…the list goes on.

I’ve never attended (or even heard of) a self defense program that STARTED by taking you out behind the school to show you how to walk around a corner of a building in a way that doesn’t let a waiting attacker catch you by surprise…

…or how to use your car windows as a mirror to see what’s going on around you while you’re approaching it in a parking lot…

…or how to set aside your ego to talk down the guy at the bar who thought you were looking at his girlfriend.

I’m sure they’re out there. You may even attend one or be that kind of instructor.  I’ve just not seen it yet.

The number of potentially dangerous situations are limitless, but learning how to avoid a fight should be the very FIRST thing martial arts instructors teach in their schools.

Not in place of, but rather along side the techniques that can be used should avoidance and de-escalation fail.

Picture this…

You’re on your back on the asphalt of a parking lot.  Something sharp and unpleasant is digging into your back.  You don’t notice that, however, and you don’t try to get up.

Why?  Because you can’t!

There’s  a very large man straddling your body, punching you in the face again and again as he uses his weight to keep you pinned down.

Congratulations…you’ve just discovered the horror that is losing position to a ground fighter or mixed martial arts student out on the street.  He’s used his grappling moves to get you into what is called the “mount”, and now you’ve got to try to escape it.  If you don’t, it’s all over for you.

While you can’t play the other guy’s game, and you almost never want to deal with a self-defense situation on the other guy’s terms, the only way to get out of the losing end of a grappling situation is to…

Use “Dirty” Grappling Moves Of Your Own
To Defeat A Ground Fighter!

You’re not really accepting the mixed martial arts philosophy, here, so much as you are acknowledging that grappling got you into a bad position.  Your only choice is to counter-grapple or “anti-grapple” your way back out of that so you can use your combative skills to teach your assailant the error of his ways.

Unfortunately, once you’re caught in the mount, you don’t have many resources. You can try to cover from the blows, but that’s just stalling.  Sooner or later, he’s going to overwhelm you.  If he’s on top of you just pounding away, whittling down your defenses, you won’t last long and he’s going to break through and bust you up eventually.  Time is not on your side.

You do, though, still have your hands free so…

Here’s A Grappling Move That Will Come In Handy…

Use one hand and arm to protect your head while he rains his punches down on you.

With the other, form a “tiger claw”, reaching out with your fingers spread to claw into the side of his body.  That roll of skin and muscle, or maybe that big roll of flab, that you’ve just caught in your fingers is yours to take home with you.  Twist it with all your might.

When you do that, even a tough, determined attacker is going to flinch.  Weaker men will howl in pain. It hurts…bad!  Even in the adrenaline rush of a real street fight, it’s a force to be reckoned with.

When he’s distracted, if even for just a second, grab the side of his head with your free hand.  Twist and roll, rolling your own body with his so you end up on top and between his legs.  You’re not, technically, in the mount on him, but you’re close; you’re in a superior position, poised for bringing a knee straight up into the family jewels for a knee groin strike or to start striking him with hammer fists.

You’ve turned the tables, and now your grappling moves have him on the losing end of the fight!

Which threat do you feel is the most dangerous in a real street fight?

• Knife attack?
• Handgun?
• Baseball bat?
• Multiple attackers?

Well, there’s not a one of them that I’d like to face on a Friday night out with my family, but the “trick answer” is…

…The Attack You Don’t See!

When your brain is locked into “ultra-adrenaline” mode, one of the primary limitations you’ll experience is tunnel-vision where your senses don’t pick up on cues outside of the immediate threat you’re dealing with.  Primarily I’m talking about the “pre-fight” stage where you have someone “woofing” on your or threatening you in some way.

Your brain is trying to deal with…

• “Is he going to hit me?”
• “Should I hit him?”
• “What’s he going to do?”
• “Are other people watching me?”
• “Is my wife/kid/companion safe?”

And in this stage of bewilderment and guesswork, you’re not able to see any of that signs of attack that may already be headed your way.

• The unseen hand in the coat pocket that’s feeling for a trigger.
• The unseen clenched fist that’s gearing up for a haymaker.
• The unseen thugs coming up behind you to increase your attacker’s odds.
• The unseen tire iron that was just pulled out of the trunk of the car to the side of you.
• The unseen razor blade hidden in the palm of a hand.

But How Can Your Prepare For An Attack You Can’t See?

It’s not easy. The brain isn’t easily re-programmed after eons of biological programming.

However, here’s a “self defense training exercise” to help you prepare for the “unseen” street attack…

A couple times a day, when you’re out in public and talking to someone (like a store clerk, postal worker, co-worker, etc.), make a mental note of just these 3 things:

1. The number of rings on both their hands
2. The activity that the person to their immediate left and right is doing
3. Any activity happening immediately behind you.

It only takes a few seconds to accomplish all of these tasks and if you do it right, using your peripheral vision and conscious listening, the person you’re talking to won’t even know you’re paying attention to anything other than him or her.

Doing this exercise just a couple times a day will train you to be more aware in one-on-one contact of taking notice of what’s in someone’s hands and the activity in a 360 degree circle around you.

As a practiced skill, this is a truly powerful self defense technique because it helps you make a faster, more effective strike decision while hopefully lessening your chances of being surprised by an unseen attack.

Martial arts techniques for stick fighting self defense against a club, baseball bat, tire iron or other impact weapon often use unrealistic street fight situations.

Chalk this one up to inexperience when it comes to how real street fights happen when weapons are involved.

An attacker armed with a club is perhaps even more deadly than someone armed with an edged weapon.

They have a longer reach…can do just as much damage (scratch that…MORE damage) in a shorter time period…and can put a LOT of power behind their strikes.

So what’s wrong with the common stick fighting or club defense techniques?

Lots!

For example…

Forget Trying To Dodge An Impact Weapon!

If someone wants to hit you with a club, bat or other impact weapon, they’re going to do it.  Period!

You’re NOT going to be able to dodge the bat until you see an “opening” like you see in the movies. You’re NOT going to be able to duck under the blow and counter with your famous right cross.  And if you’re on the ground, your attacker is NOT going to miss splitting your head open like a ripe casaba melon while your expertly roll left and right just in the nick of time.

Training to “dodge” out of the way while your attacker wildly swings the bat at your head or midsection is unrealistic and you should NEVER train this way!

Forget Trying To “Block” An Impact Weapon!

Ok, arguably you may be able to time your attack just right to use the club’s momentum for a disarm…

…in the relaxed atmosphere of a dojo!

But if you think you’re going to be nice and calm and catch a 150 mph baseball bat headed toward your cranium, then I suggest you get all padded up and try it with someone with a real bat and real intent on taking your head off.  I’ve seen it and it’s an eye-opener.

Stop trying to block and counter!

Your Only 2 Self Defense Techniques Against A Stick Or Club:

First one is easy…RUN!  If you can outrun your attacker, go for it.

Second options is a bit balls-ier, but it’s often the most appropriate…

Strike FIRST!

As soon as you see someone pull out a tire iron from their trunk or baseball bat from behind their seat, if you’re close enough, you need to strike BEFORE they get the opportunity to rear back and swing.  The sooner you catch them off guard, the better chance you have of never giving them an option to use their weapon.

Even if they are able to begin their swing, the real damage results from a blow from the end of the stick, club, or bat.  If you’ve gained your forward momentum and launched a close quarters attack quickly enough, the only section of their weapon that will hit you will be near their hands and there’s no real harm as a result.

By the time they finish their swing, you’ll have already served them their own head on a silver platter.

I’m currently working in a high-crime area where I frequently come upon gangs of older teens and young twenty-something’s hanging out in a crowd on the street corner having a good time.

Sometimes that “good time” involves one of them stroking their own ego by hassling someone walking by that “doesn’t belong there”.  Someone like me!

This can be a pretty scary situation when you’re in an unfamiliar area and are faced with the very real possibility of becoming an easy target for street crime.

The best advice is always to be smarter than me and don’t walk around in high crime areas.  But the time may come, no matter where you are, that you find yourself in a situation where you’re going to be walking past a gang, whether real or “wannabe”, and need to know how to react.

While dealing with how to physically defend yourself in a “multiple attacker” situation is too large of a topic to deal with in the same article, here are some tips to dealing with your BEST defense…avoiding the conflict altogether:Do A Quick “Recon”

As soon as you notice a gang from a distance, don’t immediately look away in an attempt to avoid being noticed.  Just as you would conduct a reconnaissance of a military target, you want to size the group up to know who and what you’re dealing with.

For example, are there any stores nearby that you can duck into if needed?  What “environmental weapons” are around them that could possibly be used as weapons or obstacles if needed?  Can you safely turn around and walk the other way or cross the street to avoid them?

And if there’s no other alternative but to walk past them, the most important thing I look for is whether any of them have noticed me and is motioning the others to check me out.  That immediately changes the scenario!

Are You A Target?

If a gang is preoccupied with each other and don’t notice you, act preoccupied with something as well: dialing on your cell phone, fumbling through your pockets, or just look straight ahead without looking like a victim – chin up, shoulders back, stand tall – without looking like you’re auditioning for the next Superman movie.

Your goal is to exude confidence without being confrontational.  Regardless of how big a gang may be, it will always be one individual that has to make the first move.  That person must first decide whether you’re worth the risk of them being embarrassed in front of their friends and if you look like someone who may be a problem, they’ll most likely leave you alone.

But when you’ve been noticed and it looks like they may have sized you up as a target, this is your time to establish your ground game quick.

Eye Contact

Contrary to popular belief, it’s actually ok to make eye contact with a gang…if it’s done the right way.  Looking briefly to show you recognize their presence and even giving a quick nod to one of the members should they make eye contact with you shows you’re not some “easy target” who’s so afraid of them that you’re just hoping they’ll leave you alone.

The main thing is to understand that the LAST thing a gang will put up with is disrespect.  If you look at them in any way that communicates contempt, disgust, conflict, or that you’re “better than them”, then YOU’VE practically put them in a “must act” position.

Many gangs have members who’ve been arrested at one point have spent time in jail or prison.  In lock up, they’ve been programmed that the very LAST thing they’ll stand for being taken from them is their RESPECT.

“R-E-S-P-E-C-T”

If the gang feels you’re disrespecting them in any way, then their most likely to feel that there’s no other option than to gain it back.  And for you, that typically means the “hard way”.

Even if confronted, you want to make sure you convey respect for their status…by telling them so with something like, “Hey, I mean no disrespect at all.  I’m just on my way to work and was looking your way.  No problems here.” and then keep walking.

This shows them that you recognize their superiority and gives them a graceful exit that they can brag about later.  Walking away after making such a definitive statement also forces them to make the next move.

99% of the time, they’ll take the “out” and feel good about themselves that they got the best of you.  But if they don’t and continue to walk after you or take the confrontation to the next level, then you at least know that the danger has increased and can plan your next steps.

Beware Your Own Ego

Remember…your goal is to simply get past a gang WITHOUT confrontation.  Even when they’re seeking it!

If you’re walking past a gang and they start to taunt you by making fun of you or even making sexual comments toward you or someone you’re with…IGNORE IT!

For example, if you’re a guy, you may feel the need to “defend your woman’s honor” and turn back to speak up.  DON’T!  You only risk your own life and the safety of your companion by taking on perhaps insurmountable odds of going up against a larger number of attackers who could possibly be armed.

Well, although they didn’t have “steroid cocktails” to aid them back then, ancient warriors like the Vikings, Spartans, and Romans actually DID train in these ways…and with a PURPOSE!

Men of these days whose job it was to protect the clan…defeat enemies…or take new lands by force…were “career warriors” and their sole job was to FIGHT.

But not just to “fight”…they had to be BETTER at fighting than the men they traded blows with or they wouldn’t live to fight the next day.

For victory, they had to be in peak physical condition that required their muscles to be both STRONG and also operate for peak ENDURANCE in order to wear heavy armor, walk for long distances to the battlefield, and STILL be able to wield a heavy weapon over and over again to take on the advancing hordes of enemy combatants.

In a modern age where “endurance” and “muscle” are considered laughable if used in the same sentence, it isn’t easy to find information on how to accomplish both, eh?

So how DID they train?Well I’ll tell you something, there were…

• No split routines with “Chest on Monday – Back on Wednesday – etc.”…
• No “6-pack abs”…
• No “Ultimate Home Gym” gizmos…
• And these guys trained for FUNCTION…not the BEACH!

As I get older, I’m understanding a whole lot more about “function” and how to train my body in a way that will not only help me build and maintain muscle…but ALSO allow me to continue to “move” like I did in my 20’s and 30’s.

So I’ve been doing some mean research into different training methods that I’ve always thought were just for “knuckle-draggers”.  Turns out, these “functional” exercises work pretty damn good for STRENGTH, POWER, ENDURANCE, and yes…even some SIZE gains!

Here are some examples:

Sandbag Carry:

Ahhh…brings me back to my days in the Army!

A quick trip to Home Depot or your local beach is all you need to get some sand and fill up an old duffle bag with anywhere from 40 to 300 lbs!

Place it over your shoulder like you’re rescuing Zena the Warrior Princess from a band of blood-thirsty barbarians and feel muscles you never thought existed.

Keg Training:

Now, I have to warn you…

It kind of defeats the purpose of your “warmup” for this exercise is to EMPTY the keg of beer before using it for training!

But either full or empty, kegs are a GREAT training aid for building thick, strong shoulders and upper back.

Sledge Hammer Slams:

Here’s where you can REALLY pretend you’re a warrior on the battlefield!  Grab a heavy sledgehammer and start wacking an old rubber tire like it’s the head of a Viking invader!

You’ll start feeling the burn VERY soon into the exercise.  Just keep switching sides to work both shoulders, arms, back, and core.

I’ve barely scratched the surface of all the ways you can add this type of training to your routine.

And trust me…I’m no “Master” of these methods by any stretch of the imagination!  I’m just picking them up myself!

I got these from a friend of mine who is launching a new program NEXT WEEK that’s completely built around the “training” methods of ALL of the ancient warrior civilizations.

He and his training partner call it “Hybrid Muscle Training” (www.HybridMuscleTraining.com)

This week, they’re revealing more of these training methods in a series of short VIDEOS that explain how to implement this training into your workouts to not only achieve the PHYSIQUE of an ancient warrior…

…but the sheer POWER and STRENGTH!

I’m having a blast with the workouts and I know you will too!

Go and sign up for the videos now at www.HybridMuscleTraining.com so you can see all of them this week!

I look forward to hearing about how you like the training!

It always cracks me up when self defense instructors recommend to their students that, when faced with a violent attack, they should “just run away”.

C’mon…is that REALLY a sound self defense strategy?

No, I’m not saying that running is “sissy-like”.  You should ALWAYS avoid a fight if you can.

But if THIS is your primary self defense strategy then you’re most likely going to get killed.

Sorry…had to say it. And here’s why…

1. Arthritis, Bad Knees And Hip Replacements…OH MY!

63% of our members in the International Society of Close Quarter Combatants are over the age of 40 and many are up in their ’70’s.

Some of these guys have had to face the hard fact that they may have NO CHOICE but to stand and fight if they’re ever attacked.

Being “over 40″ myself, I can attest to the increase in creaks, cracks, and reduction in mobility that comes with getting older.  Sucks!

So your chances of outrunning a younger, stronger, more agile attacker are pretty much next to nil.

The answer is to learn brutally effective close quarters combat techniques that DON’T rely on strength or speed to get the job done.

2. “Running Away” Is Just Plain DANGEROUS!

When you’re running from an attacker (or attackers!), your adrenaline is pumping, your heart is racing, and your judgement is even MORE clouded than if you were standing toe-to-toe.

Fact is, especially in an urban setting, if you’re in the “lead” while running away, YOU have to be the one to watch for obstacles and pitfalls.

It’s easy to trip over a box, curb, trash can, bicycle, fence, bystander, or any number of other environmental challenges…especially if it’s dark out.

The guy running behind you only has to follow you and if YOU jump over something, he already knows what obstacles are in his path.  When you trip…he has you!

Worse still…run into the street to escape and a mack truck might have you!

3. Training For Gang Olympics!

Why in the world would I want to put my fate in the hands of whether or not I’m a faster sprinter than my attacker?

Besides, gangbangers and professional criminals get WAY more “running practice” than I do from:

• running from the police
• running from other gang members
• running from their 3 girlfriends and 12 kids
• running from the boyfriends or husbands of their 3 girlfriends

I think I’ll just assume that he’s faster than I am.

How To Win A Running Contest…

Ok, all that being said…running away DOES have it’s advantages!

Sticking around to fight also means that you’re open to attack by other “bad guys” in the area who come to help your attacker out.  Not good!

If you DO have a safe exit…go for it!

1. Strike FIRST…Run SECOND!

You can use any headstart you can get so…

…shove your fingers in your attacker’s eyes and he can’t see where he’s going

…stomp on the top of his foot to crush the small bones there and he won’t be able to run

…shove his testicles up into the deep recesses of his guts and he may run…but a bit “lopsided” and damn slow

…you get the picture!

2. Use Your Environment!

When running, look for something…ANYTHING…you can throw in the path of the guy running after you!

A garbage can, a bicycle, a shopping cart…anything they’ll have to maneuver around that can trip them up or slow them down.

3. Worst Case Self Defense Technique…When THEY Are Faster!

There’s always the real possibility that you WON’T be able to outrun your attacker.

You’re huffing and puffing and you can slowly hear the sound of his stolen Nike Air’s getting closer and closer.

You know the inevitable is going to happen and running away ISN’T going to help you out of this one.

So you stop and turn around to go face-to-face, right?

WRONG!

Here’s a little trick I picked up in 1st grade as a somewhat brutal game we played on the playground.

Some call it “Johnny Tackle”.  We had a less politically correct name for it, but in my opinion, it’s a GOLDEN MARTIAL ARTS LESSON for self defense and it goes like this…

Someone is “it” and has a ball.  “It” runs around the schoolyard and everyone else has to try to tackle the guy with the ball or kick their feet out from under them until they throw the ball up in the air for someone else to catch and run away with while everyone now attacks the new “it”.

One trick I picked up when I had the ball was to wait until the mob that was trying to smear my face into the ground was so close that I could hear their feet close to mine and could practically feel the snot from their nose dripping down the back of my neck.

Then I would quickly drop to the ground, covering my head and curling up into a tight “ball”.

The closest person behind me would never be able to react in time and would inevitably trip over me and land flat on his face.

If there were others right behind him, they often fell over me also and there may be a pile of bloodied 1st graders lying on the ground.

Then I’d hop up and begin running again!

YOU can use this same technique if YOU feel the hot breath of your attacker getting closer and closer and you know you can’t outrun him.

Just wait until he’s nearly on top of you and has no time to react.

Then quickly drop to the ground so he trips over you and lands flat on his face.

From that point, you can either continue to run away in a different direction to escape (hopefully)…

…or take advantage of his unfavorable position and follow up with your own close combat tactics, like a nice football kick to the face, to finish him off.

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After picking up a black body suit and 2 plastic Ninja swords to unleash an unsuspecting fury on any foolish householder not willing to fork over the loot (that’s my boy!), I noticed something…

…Halloween stores are a “Close Combat Trainer’s” PARADISE when it comes to training for edged weapon defense!
Now I’m NOT talking about grabbing your own Ninja outfit for your next trip to the mat with your training partner.

But once you open your eyes to the incredible props that are available to you for just these few short weeks out of the year, you’ll see that you can make your edged weapon defense training more realistic for just a few measly bucks.

Here are a few things I found at my local store…

Training Knife: $2.50

I’ve seen training knives go for as much as $20 in martial arts catalogs.  But the rubber ones these days look so incredibly realistic, silver blade and all, that it makes little sense to invest in expensive training models.

Look for one that already looks “bloody” like the one at my local shop.  This added effect that’s meant to scare the Hell out of other trick-or-treaters adds visual realism to edged weapon defense training.

Fake Blood: $.99

Sorry…defending yourself from an edged weapon doesn’t work as perfectly as it does in the movies or on training DVD’s where you’re able to easily kick the knife out of your attacker’s hand.

In a real knife fight, you’re pretty much guaranteed to get cut at some point and blood has a dual drawback for the defender…

For one, the sight of a large amount of blood can be enough to put you into shock and make you less effective at defending yourself.

And second, blood is slippery and can make it harder for you to grasp your attacker’s hand and stop the stabbing.

Stage blood looks and feels like the real thing and is a GREAT training tool for your edged weapon training.

Stock up now while it’s only about a buck and during your training, put some on your hands and forearms (the most likely spots you’d get cut) right before defending from your attacker’s knife attack.

Fake Machete: $12.95

Oh, you thought that people are only attacked by 4″ pocket knives?

6 years ago, a woman in my upscale neighborhood was attacked by a man with a machete…in her own driveway

Particularly for soldiers, the chances of facing an attacker weilding a machete aren’t as uncommon as you may think.

At my local Holloween shop, I found a great fake machete that was relatively heavy, durable, and even had an inner chamber where the blood oozed around the blade.

(Call me twisted if you must, but the more realistic my edged weapon defense training, the better!)

Red Lipstick Makeup: $.50

Here’s one of my favorite edged weapon training tips…

Grab several inexpensive red lipstick makeup containers from your local store.  Since these are for kids, the lipstick is meant to wash out of clothes easily.

Next, right before your edged weapon training session with your partner, apply some of the lipstick to the edge of your rubber training knife.

NOW when you go through your knife disarm training, the red lipstick marks on your clothes will show you EXACTLY where you would have been cut had you been using a REAL knife!

Realism is a key component when it comes to training to defend against a knife and as you can see, just a few dollars and a little creativity around Halloween time is all you need to take your edged weapon defense training to the next level.

Oh, and here’s a “Bonus Tip”: Wait until the day AFTER Halloween and you’ll probably find each of these items at about 50% off…IF there are any left on the shelves!