Defense Techniques

No Touch Techniques

What is a “no touch” technique? Slipping ducking, stepping, running, feinting, are all examples of no touch. These techniques are not only defenses but precursors to your next move. Like I say to my students…” it’s not the matrix where we can dodge bullets.” Evasion and interception, deflection and redirection are as much of an art as the art itself. We know that 90 percent of people are right-handed, and I would say that 90 percent of people are what I like to call “headhunters”. So the odds are that your opponent or attacker is going to throw a punch with their right hand to your head. Observe and see yourself.

Touch Techniques

Touch techniques like the perry or swim, low bock or rising/high block are part of your defense technique arsenal. You are “defending” with a counter that dictates contact. This includes leg checks and blocks, catches, swim in, swim out, jamming, bong sau, pak sau, inner/outer block and more.

Anything Else?

Yes. Your voice can be used as a defense technique. Yelling and shouting for example. What else? Can your eyes be used as a defensive technique? You bet they can. The eyes can be deceiving. Look down and strike high. Look up and strike low. Look over someone’s shoulder as a distraction. Look at one person while striking another. How about running or walking away? This one is gross and may provoke an attacker even more, and it may be a last resort to buy you that second you need…spitting. I said it was gross. But you have choices.

Elbows - We have a tendency of thinking elbows are for striking only but no, they are an excellent weapon for defense. Block punches with a vertical or horizontal elbows and the blocks can hurt. You can also strike/use your elbows at a variety of angles. This is dependent of your line of succession, all from training and repetition.