Unlearning the Good Old Habits

It seems that around 18 women were gonna do just that today morning at the Alwarpet KravMaga workshop.  Slowly, we realized that there’s much more to the workshop. 

After some confusion regarding the directions to the venue, all the ladies managed to reach on time. Aishwarya, the serious organizer collected the fee and Sinu, the energetic one, distributed the special CTC badges (Gals, check ‘em out), and all were set to begin the session. The instructors Krav Maga Sriram and Satish were an enthusiastic duo, helping us get easy with the huge amount of info, techniques etc. 

Once the warm-up acts began, did we realize that we needed to unlearn  all the good old habits, beating a fellow CTCian on the hand or the head or stomping was a bit too embarrassing in the beginning. The first few kicks and punches were also perceived to be a bit awkward and to some extent, difficult for some to perform. All those discomfort vanished when the duo came to each participant with the punching bag to get a real feel. The constant reminder that being aggressive to an attacker is very much needed instilled more confidence in getting the moves right. 

The defending/attacking techniques were classified into 4 types depending on the distance between the victim and the attacker. The defending/attacking responses have to be aimed at the vulnerable parts of the body which is easily accessible and cuts the mobility of the opponent. Damaging these parts will not kill the person and hence there is no fear of any unpleasant legal ordeals for this. These parts are the eyes, nose, jaw/chin, groin and knee. The strongest parts of our body that we can use are the fingers, palm, elbow, arm, ball and heel of feet, knee and the whole leg as such. The entire body weight also can be used to one’s advantage depending on the position. 

1.      Long Distance: is when the minimum distance between the two people involved can be up to 3 ft or so, depending on the length of our legs as well.  The moves here involve the leg, raising it and hitting the knee or the groin. This can be done till the distance between the two people is reduced to that equivalent to the distance between the foot and the knee. If you need to be closer to attack, moving in a short distance too can be done. The whole thrust from the hip and the pelvic can help in delivering a better impact.

2.      Mid-Distance: is when the target is within the arm’s reach. One effective move here is to poke the eyes, leading to a sudden backing by the attacker giving further room to hit the groin and run off for help. Another possible move is to punch on the nose or the jaw/chin with the heel of the palm or fist (if it is very strong). Here also, the thrust from the hip and the pelvic can help.

3.      Short Distance: is when it starts becoming uncomfortable to the victim. This can be tackled by blows with the elbow. Again, thrust is required, this time more from the biceps and arms.

4.      Close Distance: is when it gets all too awkward and disturbing. There might also be no room for horizontal attacks and we need to use the vertical movements. These involve stomping the toes of the attacker with our heels, hitting the groin, keeping the palm in a lateral position and hitting the chin with the heel of the palm.  

Further, some general defensive movements were also taught.

1.      Defending on being pulled by the hair from the front: involves, stopping further pressure by the point of contact with both the palms, bowing down and then cutting the palms across the attacker’s hand in a diagonal fashion.

2.      Defending on being pulled by the hair from the back: involves, stopping further pressure by yielding along the direction of the pull, although keeping the face away from the attacker’s knees or palm, and when you are low enough, hit at the groin.

3.      When the wrist is being held tight with one hand of attacker: distract the attacker by poking in the eye and immediately move in the elbow of your own hand towards the attacker’s to break free.

4.      When the wrist is being held tight with one hand of attacker: put the free hand over the immobile hand through between the attacker’s both hands, and simultaneously pull back with your body weight and step in with the elbow of the free hand directed towards the attacker.

5.      When being thrust against a wall and being choked: Hold your own one ear with the opposite hand from behind the head and move the face inwards.

6.      When the attacker comes too close from behind: Stomp and hit around the position of the floating ribs with the elbow.

7.      When being attacked in the rape position: Use the leg near to the attacker to push him and gain space n between. Now, using this leg as a leverage point, hold him in position and hit him with the other leg at the groin. 

In all these cases, it is very important to use the extra thrust from the hip, pelvic, shoulder and arms. All these parts give mass to the punches and kicks. Also, it is necessary to complete each move into the attacker’s body giving more velocity to the moves. The product of these would be a very effective momentum in each blow, with all due respect to the good old school Physics. 

Further tips were given as to how to include simple Krav Maga movements into the regular exercises, so that it would not get boring and to shorten the response time of the reflexes.

At the end of the session we saw all women leaving more confident about their own levels of aggression if they encounter any uncomfortable situations. A booklet on Personal Safety too was given to help the participants. 

N.B. This is a summary of the basic techniques taught at the first session of Krav Maga, organized by the Women’s Forum, Chennai Trekking Club. This would be useful for participants to refresh the details taught in the class. This may not be much useful for the people who did not attend, but can surely give them a feel on how it was, so that they can join the further sessions.