Caution: The contents of this article are for education purposes only. The principles described are extremely dangerous and are for military close combat training and operations only. Their application applies solely to the military.
I only have one arm and want to know what would be best for me to train in for my self-defence?
I would look at simple self-defence skills that provide good recognition practices and avoidance. The physical skills should be very preventative or anti-attack over counter-attack but should also include counter or combat methods.
You would be advised to employ only leg stamps and axe kicks over any hand strikes, as you will need your arm for cover or balance.
The stamping kicks are far more effective than hand strikes anyway.
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What dimensions do you recommend for a boot knife?
I like a knife that has a longer handgrip than blade as my designed short daggers are normally carried on body armour in a black role application.
I like the handgrip to be long enough to make drawing in limited or no light or with NVGs as secure as possible. I personally would never carry a knife on my lower leg and would have it on the webbing or body armour.
The overall length I use is 205mm and the blade width 25mm.
The blade length 95mm and the hand grip 110mm.
I have a large green role dagger and a smaller green role dagger being manufactured in the UK at present and enquiries are welcome [email protected]
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Some of the techniques my martial arts instructed me in for self defence in a rape situation wont even work with my little brother. I have been speaking with my friends and they all said that most of the self defence they learnt from their karate, judo, and TKD instructors was useless against even their friends they train with. What do you think about this?
Well many martial arts are sports or very traditional and are far from the best training methods to deal with modern urban violence in the western world.
Outside the services and combative enthusiasts I train more martial artists and black belts in self defence, which speaks for itself.
The problem is they never spend the time to think like a sexual predator and they do not recognize that they know how to achieve their objective and negate useless self defence skills.
The father’s advice to their daughters of kneeing to the groin or poking the eyes won’t work if you can’t get to the groin or eyes because your arms are pinned or your attackers covering his groin by using his turned knee.
Why teach several options say in an unarmed counter-offence when you can teach one the most proven. If the one objective is to stamp the knee joint then this would be the best option as all attackers have legs. That’s just one example but you’re right, they should never expose their students to increased dangers by teaching dangerous practices. They should have a duty of care to provide the safest methods possible.
It is a major concern to many of us and the best way we can do our bit to help is to get people to evaluate their skills and seek out proven training. We call it operation education and although we can’t train the masses we can make them think and re-evaluate their situation.
Interested in Close Combat Training? Todd Group Depots are located throughout New Zealand and at various overseas locations.
For more information on Todd System of Close Combat see the following books, dvds and cds:
- Close Combat Books
The Do's and Don'ts of Close Combat – Tactical C&R – Control and Restraint – No Nonsense Self Defence – Military Close Combat Systems Phase One – Combative Masters Of The 20th Century - Close Combat DVDs
Self Defence of the Elite – 80 Years of Combative Excellence – Primary Option Control & Restraint – Military Unarmed Combat – Phase 1 - Close Combat CDs
Technique To Command – Combative Code of Conduct
