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Getting Past Your Opponent's Guard - When Your Opponent's Arm is in the Way

Author: Keith Pascal
Date Posted: January 04, 2009

Can't Find a Line of Attack

You are facing an opponent. Desperately, you try to get past his (or her) guard. Unfortunately, that strong lead hand is in the way. It's obstructing your line to the target.

The blocking arm keeps getting in the way.

You have a choice ... you could change opponents and find someone who doesn't know to put a solid arm in your way, protecting the target. Unfortunately, you can't snap your fingers and magically get transported to a sparring match (or real self-defense situation) in front of a wimp.

Would that we could.

Forget About an Opening to The Target

You could hit right into the arm and damage it ( a very real and practical possibility). The more you know about sensitive areas, pressure points, the more you could make your opponent 'gun-shy' to just leaving the arm out there.

Note: A lot of the Filipino martial arts emphasize striking the limbs for damage. Muay Thai, JKD, and other systems, too.

Blocking Arm Paradigm Shift

You could change the way you think about that pesky arm:

Think of the solid guard of the lead arm as your friend:

* At least you know where it is. Not as much chance for surprise from it.

* The more solid the protection, the easier it is to move around. Nothing like a power arm, with tensed muscles, to slow down reaction moves.

* Move around the arm. It's a solid column. How would you move around a permanent structure in a fight? Easy, right? Treat the arm as an immovable object.

* Solid, blocking arms are fun to grab on to. Think about it. You can easily frustrate your opponent, if you know some good joint locks and counters. Think of the grab as your entry point -- you may end up locking the other arm.

Finally, if the forward arm is moving, then openings are being created and then vanishing all of the time. It may be hard to get a handle on finding a good opening. If the forward arm is NOT moving, then it's much easier to find your path to the target.

About The Author

Keith Pascal edits a Free ezine on practical self defense: Advantage Ezine (You get a great free ebooklet on elbow strikes, checks and blocks, when you join.)

Pascal has taught martial arts for over 25 years. He left his job as a high school teacher in 2000, to become a full-time writer.

Keith is the author of several books, including Wrist Locks (Revised) Wrist Locks by Pascal

Article Source: JKD Street Combat - online collection of General Interest articles.

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