The Art of War: (ABC).

Before we begin: Human bodies respond to input. Reaction is not resistance. It’s basic physiology and behavior. The attacker may no longer be in the place they started because of your input. Their posture, balance, direction, or structure will change. If that movement is not acknowledged or expressed, then regardless of how real the technique is believed to be, it has already drifted away from reality. This applies long before physical contact as well. A verbal exchange creates responses, posture shifts, emotional changes, flinching, hesitation, escalation. That is where encounters begin, and where reactions first appear. Ignoring that stage removes context before technique is even introduced. A physical response can also induce the flinch response, and that is not a mistake… it’s often by design. But if the disruption it causes is ignored, the movement again becomes tidy and predictable instead of real. No matter how practical you believe your technique to be, if it does not show the reaction created by your action, it still isn’t real. Technique without visible consequence is performance, not function. If the attacker does not move, change, or have their posture broken because of what you did, then what is being shown is belief rather than evidence. This is not about pressure, speed, or resistance, those things come later. It is about acknowledging reaction to input, even when movement is slow, cautious, or deliberately controlled. If it cannot even show consequence at low intensity, increasing speed or resistance later will not fix it.

The first set of techniques we require is called "The Art of War" as, in the book written over 2,000 years ago, these techniques embody our fighting principles all rolled up into one. (Your instructor will supply you with the answers to this). Do not be fooled into thinking this technique is only used for defense. It is very capable of being used offensively. When striking someone in the head - it is wiser to use a palm heel or tiger claw strike rather than possibly breaking your hand on his skull. The chin should be the target for dropping strikes to the front or sides of his face (Maxilla/Mandible areas) not rising or straight in. Save your fist for soft targets but remember that you must be effective at whatever you do. Meaning making sure you understand the right things. With us, the right thing is inflicting DAMAGE on the human body. Once you know that, the next thing is developing efficiency. That means doing the right things the right way. The worst thing would be getting very efficient at doing the wrong things.

(A.) Right (non-linear) Punch: Step forward slightly off the line of attack with your right foot to a fighting stance; at the same time: left outward extended knife hand block (to reduce the effect of a possible impact) against his incoming right punch, and right palm strike his face, your right hand retracts to a guard position as your left knifehand strikes his right carotid/vagus nerve area (Gb20), from there reach up with your left hand and hold the right side of his head; take a small step forward with your right foot, if need be, and pivot towards him to deliver a right elbow strike to the left side Maxilla/Mandible areas;

Possibilities

a. (his forward momentum stops, and his body moves rearward) Shuffle forward (push-drag), pivoting to a fighting stance and,

b. (his forward momentum stops, and his body stays in place) Pivot in place to a fighting stance and,

c. (his forward momentum continues) Step back with your left leg alongside him and pivot to a fighting stance and,

(if he hasn’t collapsed by this time) reach up and over with your right hand, and catch the back of his head with both hands presing his head down (Kenpo style with both forearms pressed vertically against his chest); step back with your right then left and pull his head towards your chest. Maintaining your grip on his head, push his head down to your belly button height, slide your right hand down, and grab his chin while maintaining your left hand on top of his head. While pulling him forward by his head. step back with your right foot, left foot, then pivot to a Naihanchi stance and violently twist his head counterclockwise to break his neck. (if he tries to counter by throwing his body in the direction of the twist: reverse direction and hold his head tightly so he does the break for you).

(B.) High Right Hook Punch: Slide slip forward to your left under his striking arm (to the outside of his right foot) loading up your right hand, with your left hand/forearm covering the left side of your head to reduce the effect of a possible impact; pivot forward into him shifting to a neutral bow stance, as your right-hand hook punches his gonies/bladder/solar plexus (your choice) in an upward movement; twist your torso back reloading your right side as you rise and right descending palm heel strike to his lower left mandible; (normally, this is the end of it) moving your left foot towards his rear left side a bit, drop and twist your right side towards him loading up your left hand and hook punch his right floating ribs, liver, or kidney; now step with your right foot directly in front of him and right uppercut palm heel strike under his chin, your left arm withdrawing towards a chambered position, then; reach up with both of your hands, and catch the back of his head (Kenpo style with both forearms pressed vertically against his chest); shuffle back, and pull his head to your chest and deliver a right rising knee strike, driving forward with all of your body weight, to his abdominal floor, plant forward with your right foot; Maintaining your grip on his head, step back with your right foot then your left foot while lowering his head to your waist and pulling him forward by his head; bring your right foot to your left foot and cross back 90° to your right with your left leg, maintain your left hand on his head, keeping it in place while swinging your right arm 360+ degrees in a circle to a dropping forearm strike to the back of his neck.

(C.) Either Hand Grab/Punch: (Right Punch, Left Grab). As soon as his hand touches you grab his wrist with your left webhand keeping it close to your side and step back slightly off the line of attack with your left foot to a fighting stance turning his hand over; catch his fingers with your right webhand pulling his hand up to your shoulder bringing your elbow over his forearm and apply a nikyo to his wrist and downward presure against his forearm/elbow to cause his knees to bend and drive him to the ground. Once there apply the appropriate restraint.

Line of Retribution: (ABC).

(A.) Any straight in kick including a right Roundhouse: Step forward to your left side (slightly off the line of attack) with your left leg, as you pivot towards him simultaneously downward block his kick with your right arm, and thumb thrust into his right eye with your left hand (if it's a Roundhouse kick, your left forearm will negate the kick before you execute the eye shot); as you adjust forward with your right foot, you right hook punch his solar plexus pulling your left arm to the ‘chambered’ position; twisting clockwise you left dropping hook punch his lower right side jaw as you slide your right foot back in advance, you continue your pivot 180° to a twisted stance and execute a right spinning forearm to the left carotid/vagus nerve area of his neck (Gb20); step 270° (to your right 45°) with your left foot (you are behind him now), catch his shoulders with both of your hands; bump or right knee strike his hips (to break his balance); then step back with your right foot, then your left foot and kneel on your left knee; pull him down onto your right knee to break his spine; push him forward off your knee to a sitting position with your shin against his back; apply a right handed rear naked choke. (Alternately) Once he is in a sitting position you can quickly stand up with both of your feet together allowing his upper body to fall (or you can push it) to the floor. From here you can stomp on his head with your right foot.

(B.) Right Front kick: Step back into a stance, with your front hand sweep his foot to the left outside of your body and grab his foot/ankle/calf with your lead hand, your backhand should stay in the guard position; with your rear leg, front kick to his gonies, (Cv-1), inner thigh of his kicking leg, or his support leg (Sp-10), immediately after you kick, release his leg, plant-forward and execute double palm heel strikes to his (Maxilla/Mandible areas) on one side of his head and Carotid/Vegas nerve point on the opposite side of his head; clinch his head with both hands pulling him forward a bit, and deliver a full power rising knee strike to his abdominal floor driving forward with your rear leg pushing him back; reach down and grab both of his legs allowing his legs to slide back so you have hold of his ankles, adjust your distance as necessary and push both of his legs forward, again adjusting your feet forward, push one of his legs across and on top of the other leg (below the knee joint), at the same time step across his body; sit on his thigh and gable grip his leg, pulling it towards your body applying a leg bar as you pull back with your arms push forward with your knees (and hips) to destroy his knee.

(C.) Right Front or Side kick: Step back with your right foot, right counterclockwise sweeping downward block to catch his right ankle with the crook of your right arm, place your left hand on top of his shin to pin his ankle to your right forearm; elevate his leg to reduce his balance and right Naihanchi or side kick the inside of his left knee or ankle planting forward, then step forward with your left foot close to his right hip and left palm heel strike to his chest to knock him down, return your left hand to on top of his shin and maintain your hold on his right foot and step over his left leg, between his legs close to his groin with with your right leg; execute an inside heel hook on his right heel then lower your body over his hips and rotate counterclockwise to destroy his knee.

Grasping at Straws: (A1-2BC).

(A1.) Two Hand Neck Grab or Push: [Intercept] Stepping forward with your right leg you step on his left foot as your left hand slides inside his right arm and grabs the back of his neck. At the same time your right hand catches his left hand at the wrist and scoops it to your rear. pivot your right side forward and right side elbow strike his lower left mandible. After this you might be able to use some of the other strikes your instructor will show you.

(A2.) Two Hand Neck Grab: [Too Late] Bring both of your arms over his choke thrusting your thumbs into his eyes; keeping ahold of his head, drive a right rising knee strike into his abdominal floor, continue forward with your right foot between his legs and shift your hands catching his jaw with your right hand, the top left side of his head with your left hand; push up and pull down to break his neck. Continue twisting his head to the left to take him down.

(B.) Grabbing Both Wrists: Grab his left wrist with your left hand as you Naihanchi kick his right inner knee with your right foot, twist your right wrist free, as you step forward right palm strike his face; cross back in advance with your left foot, 45° to your right, with your left-hand pull towards the chambered position and twist his wrist so you can place your right vertical forearm just above his left elbow, pivot left to a Naihanchi stance to break his left arm; then right crane hook the inside crook of his left elbow, pivot clockwise to a twisted stance and left elbow strike to his face, twist back and deliver a right cupped palm strike to the neck/cranium juncture at the back of his head.

(C.) High Right Chest/Shoulder Grab: [Intercept] Catch the fingers of his right hand with your left hand (your fingers towards his index finger, your thumb on the outside of his little finger/reversed for his left hand) slowing it, strike the back of his right hand (lower metacarpals right above his wrist) with your right reverse knife hand; pull his hand to your chest and pin it to your chest as you step back with your right foot (left if catching his left hand) and circle your right hand clockwise under your left arm to your left wrist (keeping his hand pinned to your chest), as you pull him forward pin your elbows tight to your sides (so his arms cannot pass underneath them), reverse and slam forward into him, bending forward 45° with your upper body (shifting your weight forward and downward into him), drop your chin onto your chest (to protect your face in case of a head butt), bend his fingers forward as far as you can causing him to bend his knees; step appropriately with your back foot, then pivot and corkscrew down, kneeling with your left (right for his left hand); apply a folding restraint to hold him in position or so you can dislocate his shoulder.