NEWFOUNDLAND
WHEELCHAIR DEFENSE 2
A while back I was confined to a wheelchair and quickly gained from this experience a deeper understanding of the ancient martial arts, as well as an appreciation for those who are handicapped. I realized also that while some "attacks" are unique to those in wheelchairs, others are similar to those experienced by anyone sitting in a chair, on a bench, on a train or subway, or on the floor. This is especially true for attacks from the front.
I also learned some of the principles of movement I used also reflected those of aikido, and that many of the movements came right out of many of the karate kata I had practiced for so long.Choke Or Grabs From The Front
The dynamics of the wheelchair dictate that a person trying to grab you from the front has to bend and get close in order to reach you. The same applies if you are sitting in a chair or on a bench.
The taller they are, the more they bend, and the less balance they have. You can add a punch to the groin or knee, whichever is closest, or a pinch to the inner thigh, near the groin at this point to distract the opponent, and cause him to bend over even further. Defense Technique 1: An opponent chokes you from the front. In defense, place one hand, palm open, on the opponent's chin, the other hand grabs the back of his head or hair. Push up on the chin, pull down on the back of the head and pull him toward you at the same time. Done quickly enough, this can result in a broken neck for the opponent.
If done more slowly this technique turns the attacker, and lays him face up and off balance on your lap. If you choose to do this technique this way, slide the chin hand to grab your opposite arm and slide the other hand to the other arm, creating a vise-like choke. Squeeze the throat or carotid arteries until he goes unconscious.
Practice starting this technique with either hand. This technique sequence is derived out of both Seisan and Naihanchi katas.
This technique also works well for those confronting you by stopping your wheelchair with their hands on each of your arm rests. One added advantage of the wheelchair is that if your wheels are not locked, the laws of motion will dictate that when you pull on the opponent, the wheelchair will be pulled in the opposite direction as well. This means that your foot rests will bang into his ankles as you are turning him. His actions to avoid the footrests will actually work against him and assist you in taking him off balance.Defense Technique 2: A simpler technique comes out of the first opening move of many kata. When the attacker grabs your throat or shirt collars from the front, the defender raises both arms between the attackers arms. The defender then rotates the arms inward and down against the attacker's arms. This releases the grab.
Now the defender follows up with double palm-heel thrusts or eye-gouges to finish up. Remember that anytime you strike while in a wheelchair, if the wheels are not locked the laws of motion take over.
This means as your strike connects, your chair may move backwards. This can be overcome by striking quickly, then pulling back the strike just as quick. I tell my students to pretend you are striking flypaper. Retrieve the punch as quick as you deliver it. This passes energy into your opponent, without it returning to you. With practice, you can then strike without the chair moving in the opposite direction.
Defense Technique 3: Assume that your wheels are not locked, and opponent does a double lapel grab from the front. With your right hand reach over the top of both of his arms and grab his right hand, and from beneath grab his left hand with your left.
Pull your right to the right and left to the left very quickly. Simultaneously, pull opponent toward you. This will result in the chair going toward him. The chairs foot rests will crack him at the shin/ankle locations, and if you pulled quick enough, he'll spin, landing in your lap facing away from you.
If he does not spin, he still will fall forward into your lap, and will still get his shins cracked, only now the back of his neck/head is exposed to you.
Either way, from there, he's at your mercy for a number techniques such as cupping your hands and slapping his ears, choke holds, sleeper holds, temple hammer-fists, etc.).
On a side note, when grabbing your opponent place your hands so your four fingers wrap the fatty side of his hands just below his pinky fingers, and your thumbs on the back of his hands between the bones of his fore and middle fingers. This creates greater pressure on the wrists, and can be quite painful to the opponent, which will make him release his hold quicker. It also gives you better leverage.Defense Technique 4: A simpler version of technique 3, is again using the right hand, reach above opponent's arms, grabbing the fatty portion of his left hand, putting pressure between the knuckles with your thumb. Rotate his left hand, augment your grip on his now inverted hand with your left and rotate both of your hands forward and down--imagine his hands as the hilt of a sword and do a downward slicing motion. His left wrist will break if you perform the technique rapidly enough. Defense Technique 5: Another collar grab release: In order for an opponent to grab a seated person's lapels, the opponent has to be real close. Just go for an Isshin-ryu style inverted-fist uppercut? Another interesting alternative is the Isshinryu o-uchi, or "big punch", really a two-handed hooking punch to the temples, jaw hinge or other convenient target.
The Walking Cane
Kuk Sool Won's Secret Self-Defense Weapon
by Jane Hallander
The so-called traditional weapons of martial arts training are often taken
from chronicles of military tools, such as the spear, broadsword and other
bladed weapons. Of course the staff, or bo in Japanese, is certainly a
traditional weapon. In fact, it is history's oldest fighting tool.
Most martial artists agree that everyday implements, such as the fan and
cane, are also traditional weapons. However, some people argue that fans
and canes lack the excitement and culture of a samurai and his swashbuck-
ling sword, or that these weapons lack the speed of a wushu artist with his
stylish spear. But martial artists are first judged by their self-defense
teaching; afterward, they're evaluated for their fancy movements.
Firearms and other modern weapons are probably the most efficient tools for self-defense. However,
when you carry a gun for self-defense, you are doing just what true martial artists discourage - using
force against force. Only the strongest and toughest survive, which leaves most people out in the cold.
Some traditional weapons that still have a place in modern society can become powerful self-defense
weapons without inspiring fear and antagonism just by their presence. Cane techniques, for instance, are
the same techniques that might be used with an umbrella, broom handle or a tree limb.
Technique #1
The Korean martial art of kuk sool won contains a vast array of cane techniques that are easily
converted into effective self-defense moves for a long umbrella or a short stick. "I like the cane because
it is a gentleman's defense weapon," says Chun Duk Lee, a seventh-degree black belt in kuk sool won.
"It can be easily used for self-defense by almost anyone, young or old."
Lee, who has studied Korean martial arts for over 20 years, came to the U.S. five years ago to teach
kuk sool won in San Leandro, California. He shies away from glamorous martial arts self-defense
weapons, preferring the cane or umbrella.
Known as ji pang-ee sool, cane techniques first became popular in Korean martial arts during the Silla
Dynasty (A.D. 650). A famous Buddhist monk, Won Hyo Dae Sa, made cane techniques well known
throughout Korea. One popular story about Won Hyo Dae Sa concerns the time that General Kim Yu
Shin, one of the most famous military leaders in Korea's history, lost his son in battle. Won Hyo Dae-Sa,
using only his cane for defense, entered the battlefield and retrieved his son's body, returning it to the
general for a proper burial.
Korea's martial arts are products of three ancient fighting arts: sada mu sool (tribal martial arts), Buldo
mu sool (Buddhist martial arts), and koong joong mu sool (royal court martial arts). Fighting with a cane
comes directly from Buldo mu sool.
Buddhist monks were not allowed to take lives, but due to their innocent nature, they were subject to
harassment from ruffians and thieves. In order to protect themselves without killing their attackers, monks
developed fighting techniques that used everyday tools, such as the cane.
Technique #2
One ancient story tells how the cane went from walking stick to weapon. A Buddhist monk, walking
along the road with his cane, found a man with a paralyzed arm lying in the road. The monk examined the
injured man, poked him in the arm at a pressure point with his cane, and cured him.
Korean monks were the anatomy experts of their day. This one reasoned that an energy block
paralyzed the man's arm and that hitting the central pressure point for that area would cure him. After
restoring the ailing man to health, the monk realized that he not only could clear energy channels, but with
his cane he could strike a pressure point and cause paralysis or pain. Hence, the beginning of cane
techniques.
The cane became such a popular weapon in ancient Korea that many "souped-up" versions appeared,
including hollowed out canes containing sharp swords or knives. Today, cane techniques vary according
to the shape of the cane or umbrella. Hooked canes and long umbrellas are useful for staff-like striking
and hitting, joint locking (using leverage from the longer length), grabbing with the hooked end, and
poking (including pressure point strikes) with the pointed end.
There are several advantages of using a cane for self-defense. First, it's legal to carry one, concealed
or otherwise. No one, including a would-be attacker, thinks of a cane as a weapon.
A long hooked cane has the advantage of length. It can be very effective for keeping an attacker away.
Both ends are equally useful too. The sharp end is good for poking and striking, while the hooked end
can be used for grabbing
Of course, any direct strike can be easily made, but its effectiveness depends upon what part of the
body receives the blow, because some body targets are more susceptible to pain and injury. These are
called pressure points. Pressure-point strikes are an important part of kuk sool won. Therefore, pokes
and strikes with a cane often are directed at those sensitive and vital areas of the body.
A cane is useful against almost any attack. It makes no difference whether the attack is a grab, a kick
or a punch. The amount of damage inflicted by a cane is determined by the speed of the technique. This
is good to know if you only want to stop an attacker rather than seriously injure him. If necessary,
though, a cane can become a weapon capable of seriously injuring an attacker whose intention is to
commit a violent crime.
Almost anyone can use a cane as a weapon. Its light weight doesn't require much power, and dozens
of techniques can be quickly applied to any situation.
As with any other self-defense techniques, you need a reasonable knowledge of anatomy, including
joints and pressure points. Cane techniques are not something that allow an untrained individual to just
pick up a cane and suc- cessfully use it for self-defense. Cane defense skills require training before they
will work. In kuk sool won, students first learn these techniques when they reach the second-degree
black belt level
Canes can also be used to administer joint locks. The rigid cane can serve as a brace with which to
wrap an assail- ant's arm and lock his elbow. If the cane has a hooked end it can become an excellent
grabbing and twisting tool. The hooked end is the perfect shape for the choke holds and throwing
techniques associated with some joint locks.
Long umbrellas are equally effective in self-defense situations when used as canes, especially when the
umbrella has a hooked end. For example, a long umbrella in its closed position can be aimed at an
oncoming attacker. When he is close enough, the umbrella can be quickly opened in his face. The
attacker is stunned and can no longer see his intended victim. who now spins around and slices the
umbrella spokes across the attacker's face while holding the umbrella overhead.
Technique #3
Several of kuk sool won's more common cane self-defense techniques are:
1. Defense with a hooked-end cane against a punch. Here, the cane is used as a hooking and choking
weapon. The assailant's punch is stopped by the hooked end of the cane, and his punching arm is
instantly wrapped around his neck in a disabling choke hold. From there, he can be taken down.
2. Defense against a kick and punch combination. The traditional cane defense is to strike the kicking
leg at a sen- sitive pressure point. When your opponent follows with a punch, his punching arm is also
struck on a pressure point to stop the punch. Next, the straight end of the cane is forcefully brought
down upon a pressure point on top of your assailant's foot, causing great pain. While your attacker is
distracted by the pain in his foot, finish him off with a choke hold using the cane's hooked end.
3. Defense against a punch. With this technique you redirect the oncoming punch and push the
punching hand backward. Simultaneously hook your assailant's arm at the elbow with the hooked end of
the cane. After hooking your assailant's arm with the cane, bend your wrist back and take him to the
ground.
4. Straight poke to stomach. This is a quick and easy defense against almost any attack. After you
poke your assail- ant's stomach, strike straight down on his head with the cane. After the strike to his
head, insert the cane between his legs and pull to the side in a circular fashion, causing him to spin out of
control.
Although the cane is lightweight and easy to use, don't try these techniques without practice and a
good instructor. Self-defense is serious, and it requires serious training and preparation. Cane techniques
are not cure-alls, but their easy availability makes them an attractive alternative to empty-hand
self-defense.
How Self-Defense Works
by Laura E. Goodin
©2000
| This article is provided for informational purposes. No warrantees, guarantees, or promises are contained in this article, nor may they be inferred. The choice to use these techniques is yours, as is the associated risk. |
Self-defense -- in other words, keeping yourself physically and emotionally safe -- usually boils down to stopping a dangerous situation as soon as you recognize that you're in it.
Attacks come in thousands of different forms: a holdup, a beating, an argument, stalking, harassment, long-term physical or emotional abuse, attacks with weapons, attacks by strangers, by family members, by bosses, by friends -- in each situation the safest response may be completely different.
When you're deciding on strategies for yourself, it helps to group attacks into several different categories.
Property crimes -- the attacker wants your wallet, your car, your CD player -- some thing that you have.
Attacks by strangers -- these are usually physical (such as an attempted beating or rape), although they can take the form of verbal intimidation, or combine both. They are usually a surprise to one degree or another.
Acquaintance attacks -- these run the gamut in terms of mode (physical, verbal, or both), severity (from mere annoying to life-threatening), and suddenness.
Virtually all attacks -- sudden or expected, planned or impulsive -- have one thing in common: the attacker has certain expectations about what is "supposed to happen" during the attack. You can use these expectations to maximize your own chances of escaping serious harm.
NOTE: there are no certainties. Every situation, and every individual's response to a given situation, is unique. However, you can prepare yourself for dangerous situations and improve your odds.
Property crimes
Most of the time, the attacker in a property crime neither wants nor expects violence. Fine -- you both want the same thing, at least as far as your safety is concerned. In this case, the attacker's expectations -- that you will surrender your stuff and go your way unharmed -- work for you. Statistically, you are safest in a property attack if you immediately accede to the attacker's demands.
Attacks by strangers
In marked contrast to property crimes, attackers in an attempted rape or assault are expecting violence -- theirs. Your response depends on your gender. The overwhelming majority of violent attackers are men. However, men attack men with different motivations and methods than men attack women.
Male versus male
Usually, a man will attack another man when he wants a fight. Using the pretext of some perceived violation of space or rights, he relies on men's social conditioning to provoke and escalate a conflict. You can use his expectations to your own advantage by calmly and politely acknowledging his complaint and doing what you can to accommodate him. For example, if he starts trying to provoke a fight by accusing you of talking with his girlfriend, apologize and leave the situation as soon as you can. He is expecting either conflict or cowardice: thwart him by offering neither. If he continues to pursue you, keep yourself calm; don't let his insults trigger your "fight or flight" response. If the situation does deteriorate to the point where you have to defend yourself physically, strike quickly and effectively, with no posturing, swearing, or theatrics. If you choose to report the incident to the police, do it immediately.
Male versus female
In this case, the attacker is expecting you not to fight. His aim is to intimidate, humiliate, dominate. He is relying on the fact that most women don't know what to do in an attack, and that they've been told not to resist a physical or verbal assault. Again, you can use these expectations to your advantage. If the attack is verbal (such as insults, name-calling, or threats), you can often deter not only the shouting but possible physical violence as well by immediately and firmly telling the attacker to stop.
Attacks by acquaintances
While acquaintance attacks can happen suddenly, most of the time tensions build up slowly. An acquaintance attacker will often "test the boundaries," annoying or upsetting you in small ways to see how you react before escalating the attack. The attacker's expectation is that patterns of behavior that have developed over a period of time (often years or even decades) will persist unchallenged. As the defender, your strategy is particularly demanding: you must find a way to break the pattern not only for your attacker, but for yourself. This could involve something as simple as responding to a familiar taunt with a laugh instead of withdrawal, or as complex as professional counselling.
Some strategies you might use for changing the pattern of a threatening or uncomfortable situation include:
Suggesting an alternative activity instead of one that leads to tense situations (for example if you always fight when you go bowling together, try a movie or a trip to the climbing gym).
Minimizing the time you spend alone with the person or people who make you uncomfortable.
Practicing speaking your opinion in small matters without letting emotions or old habits of conflict take over; work your way up to being able to assert yourself in situations that are serious physical or emotional threats.
Tell someone -- or many people -- about any of the possible attacker's behaviors that bother or upset you. Another expectation of the acquaintance attacker is that you will be too ashamed or afraid to speak out and tell what has happened or could happen.
If the attack escalates suddenly or takes you unawares, you may need to use the verbal and physical defense techniques outlined for stranger attacks.
Physical techniques
These street-tested techniques rely on speed and decisiveness rather than strength: that is, if you decide you need to fight, do it wholeheartedly. Strike quickly, with no hesitation or vacillation, and remember to use the power of your voice. It doesn't matter what you yell; just make a lot of noise. It gives your strikes markedly more power, it can make your attacker reconsider and break off the attack, it can attract the attention of passers-by, and it keeps you breathing.
| Eyestrike | |
| Palm strike | |
| Stomp | |
| Groin strike | |
Thank you for stopping by ! Their will be more pics and techniques coming in the near future geared for the disabled. Any questions please email me at:
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