Close Combat Self-Defense Techniques

Self-defense can be taught at a young age so that a student can protect himself or herself as he or she gets older.

Many self-defense situations require you to defend yourself in close quarters. You will not always have the luxury of distance because a mugger or rapist could tackle you from the back or side before you are aware. Using elbows or a throat strike are among the defense strategies for a close combat situation.

Small Joint Manipulation

Small joint manipulation is isolating a finger and bending it against the joint. Many attacks will begin with an attacker attempting to grab an arm, shoulder or the clothing. This makes the fingers vulnerable for a counterattack. Grab a single digit and snap it back as hard as possible. This is a defense that can be used against larger attackers. The intense pain of a broken finger also should give you time to follow up with another attack or escape the situation.

Throat Strike

Throat strikes only should be used in situations where your life is threatened because a hard strike can disable and possibly kill the other party. A web strike is a blow delivered with the webbing between the thumb and pointer finger. Because the webbing is soft tissue, it lessens the risk of serious injury while still delivering a forceful strike. The throat is a vulnerable target and this is another defense a smaller person can employ to disable a larger attacker. The attacker will start choking and be unable to breathe for a short period if the strike is delivered effectively.

Elbows

A punch requires distance to generate power. Some people can throw short punches that do damage, but at close range fists usually are ineffective. As a result, Muay Thai specialists prefer using elbows at close range. Elbow strikes shorten your arm and gives you extra distance that can be used for striking. Make a fist and bend your elbow so that the fist rests against the shoulder. Sharply pivot your hip and use your legs to whip the elbow in an arc into an attacker's face or neck. Elbow blows can deliver pain and cuts that can slow an assailant.

Headbutt

The crown area at the top of the head is one of the hardest surfaces on the human body aside from tooth enamel. As a result, it can be an effective striking weapon when used correctly. A headbutt to another person's forehead is not recommended because the impact could jar your own brain and damage both of you. However, driving the crown of the head into the bridge of the nose could result in a large amount of pain to the opponent while leaving you relatively unscathed. Most people inexperienced in fighting don't expect headbutts, so driving the head forward in a close-quarters conflict can deliver a surprising advantage.

References

• Mint Hill Martial Arts: Five Things You Should Know About Small Joint Manipulation!; Al Case
• Self-Defender: Vulnerable Points of the Body
• Self Defense 4 Women: Elbow Strikes
• Hubbard Township Police Department: Headbutt