Comments on: How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/ Tim Ferriss's 4-Hour Workweek and Lifestyle Design Blog Fri, 29 Aug 2008 23:27:26 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.6.1 By: Kevin Rix http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-23963 Kevin Rix Thu, 17 Jul 2008 02:18:04 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-23963 You talk about not hitting with your knuckles. I wish you would get into greater detail about that subject in a You Tube movie for us to view. I assume you are refering to either the side of your hand & or the finger bones under the knuckle? Got any advise or feedback please lt me know. Thank you, Kevin Rix.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-23963">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> You talk about not hitting with your knuckles. I wish you would get into greater detail about that subject in a You Tube movie for us to view. I assume you are refering to either the side of your hand & or the finger bones under the knuckle? Got any advise or feedback please lt me know.
Thank you,
Kevin Rix.

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]]> By: Emily http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-18156 Emily Sat, 05 Apr 2008 03:47:29 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-18156 Hey I noticed that no one responded to Mad's comment, and I know that its a little late, but I think that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu would be a great choice for any "shorties." I'm a 16 year old girl who weighs 106 lbs, and Im in the Martial Arts club in my school with 30 guys who weigh 200-300 lbs each and I can still put up a fight. Within a few weeks, I was named President of the club due to my enthusiastic spirit and the fact that I never back down even though I'm less than half their size. Just recently I fought the teacher and won, so if you want to learn a martial art that will give you an equal advantage, Jiu Jitsu is it.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-18156">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Hey

I noticed that no one responded to Mad’s comment, and I know that its a little late, but I think that Brazilian Jiu Jitsu would be a great choice for any “shorties.”

I’m a 16 year old girl who weighs 106 lbs, and Im in the Martial Arts club in my school with 30 guys who weigh 200-300 lbs each and I can still put up a fight. Within a few weeks, I was named President of the club due to my enthusiastic spirit and the fact that I never back down even though I’m less than half their size.

Just recently I fought the teacher and won, so if you want to learn a martial art that will give you an equal advantage, Jiu Jitsu is it.

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]]> By: Sex is FREE! » Blog Archive » Self-defense techniques http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-10517 Sex is FREE! » Blog Archive » Self-defense techniques Thu, 17 Jan 2008 21:31:06 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-10517 [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes. Read it, watch it, it’s good [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-10517">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes. Read it, watch it, it’s good [...]

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]]> By: Someone from Sweden http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-5553 Someone from Sweden Thu, 11 Oct 2007 09:16:41 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-5553 I don't really think your videos are valid from a self defense perspective. As you said in the video, in a self defense situation you don't need to win, you "only" need to survive. Always run when possible/practical. To even be able to clinch someone as a novice, while he/she is punching you and have control over the clinch is a challenge in itself. I think that the choke defense is more accurate, but very basic. To be able to break(?) someones grip is hard. If you want to learn self defense I personally think Krav Maga or Defendo is the way to go, but I don't know about the quality of the training in the US. I've heard it's very fitness oriented. Any system/studio/whatever who trains under "realistic" conditions should be fine. Self defense and fighting is really two different things. My 2 cents.. wait euro cents.. no, öre! :)<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-5553">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> I don’t really think your videos are valid from a self defense perspective. As you said in the video, in a self defense situation you don’t need to win, you “only” need to survive. Always run when possible/practical. To even be able to clinch someone as a novice, while he/she is punching you and have control over the clinch is a challenge in itself. I think that the choke defense is more accurate, but very basic. To be able to break(?) someones grip is hard.

If you want to learn self defense I personally think Krav Maga or Defendo is the way to go, but I don’t know about the quality of the training in the US. I’ve heard it’s very fitness oriented. Any system/studio/whatever who trains under “realistic” conditions should be fine. Self defense and fighting is really two different things.

My 2 cents.. wait euro cents.. no, öre! :)

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]]> By: Productivity Zen - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Productivity - Powered by SocialRank http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-5218 Productivity Zen - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Productivity - Powered by SocialRank Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:29:37 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-5218 [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-5218">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes [...]

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]]> By: Productivity Zen - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Productivity - Powered by SocialRank http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-5217 Productivity Zen - Today’s Top Blog Posts on Productivity - Powered by SocialRank Mon, 01 Oct 2007 10:29:34 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-5217 [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-5217">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes [...]

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]]> By: Ron http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4192 Ron Tue, 11 Sep 2007 02:25:35 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4192 First off, protecting yourself from an overhand right or a hook would work well with your technique. However, if you have any striking training, you realize the closest distance between two points is a straight line, and if someone throws a straight right or left jab, you're gonna get caught. Second, holding someones head and giving them a knee invites them to catch the knee and body slam you on a very likely, hard surface. Grapplers don't seem to care about this, because "ground and pound" is their game, but speaking from experience it makes a difference. Low knees to the groin would be better than going for the head, the exception would be that nice combo where you move the arm and pull the head down for low knee strike the head. The elbow advice is good, breaking your hand on someones skull, is no fun, whereas again speaking from experience, an elbow will absolutely obliterate a persons face with minimal incurred damage.<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-4192">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> First off, protecting yourself from an overhand right or a hook would work well with your technique. However, if you have any striking training, you realize the closest distance between two points is a straight line, and if someone throws a straight right or left jab, you’re gonna get caught. Second, holding someones head and giving them a knee invites them to catch the knee and body slam you on a very likely, hard surface. Grapplers don’t seem to care about this, because “ground and pound” is their game, but speaking from experience it makes a difference. Low knees to the groin would be better than going for the head, the exception would be that nice combo where you move the arm and pull the head down for low knee strike the head. The elbow advice is good, breaking your hand on someones skull, is no fun, whereas again speaking from experience, an elbow will absolutely obliterate a persons face with minimal incurred damage.

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]]> By: Karl http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4166 Karl Mon, 10 Sep 2007 16:54:00 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4166 Worth reading: Gavin De Becker's "Gift of Fear", an interesting study of typical patterns of violence, recognizing the 'ladder' of pre-violent actions, reading conversational subtexts that suggest sketchy behavior, etc. Deals nicely with the 'myth of the rational attacker'. Great stuff re situational awareness. You can get it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Gavin-Becker/dp/0440226198 Best, Karl<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-4166">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Worth reading: Gavin De Becker’s “Gift of Fear”, an interesting study of typical patterns of violence, recognizing the ‘ladder’ of pre-violent actions, reading conversational subtexts that suggest sketchy behavior, etc. Deals nicely with the ‘myth of the rational attacker’. Great stuff re situational awareness.
You can get it on Amazon here: http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Gavin-Becker/dp/0440226198

Best,

Karl

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]]> By: How to Survive a Physical Attack - Coach Levi’s Cycling and Fitness Blog http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4156 How to Survive a Physical Attack - Coach Levi’s Cycling and Fitness Blog Mon, 10 Sep 2007 13:05:52 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4156 [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes [...]<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-4156">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> [...] How to Survive a Physical Attack: Punches and Chokes [...]

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]]> By: Karl http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4134 Karl Sun, 09 Sep 2007 23:27:08 +0000 http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2007/09/07/how-to-survive-a-physical-attack-punches-and-chokes/#comment-4134 Hi Tim / Et Al - Re "2. I am a fan of some of the Krav Maga weapon defenses (some, but not all), but I’ve never seen a Krav Maga person beat a good MMA or BJJ fighter, even when illegal moves are permitted." ... I totally agree that 1-on-1 a good MMA/BJJ fighter would usually win vs most Krav practitioners. Krav suffers from being over-hyped and perhaps over-marketed as well, resulting in a lot of semi-trained / out of shape folks with an exagerated sense of their capabilities. Plus, it's really not designed for one-on-one submission fighting. That said, I think there's a lot of value to the Krav mindset and toolbox. You might not know who /how many opponents you are facing, you might or might not be dealing with weapons, the attacker might or might not be rational, etc. I think it teaches valuable lessons about adaptability, and uses easily trainable gross muscle movements to deal effectively with a lot of situations - some of which straight BJJ isn't a good fit for. Don't get me wrong, I'm spending 6 hours a week on BJJ now, and love it! On another topic, an instructor of mine when I lived back East recommended the following book, which I'm re-suggesting to anyone interested in situational awareness: "The Gift of Fear" by Gavin De Becker. See http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Gavin-Becker/dp/0440226198 Great stuff re assessing the typical escalation ladder of violent encounter, reading conversational subtexts, etc. Check it out... Best, Karl<p class="top-comments">Current score: <span class="top-comments-karma" id="karma-4134">0</span> <small>(to vote for this comment, please visit the site)</small></p> Hi Tim / Et Al -

Re “2. I am a fan of some of the Krav Maga weapon defenses (some, but not all), but I’ve never seen a Krav Maga person beat a good MMA or BJJ fighter, even when illegal moves are permitted.”

… I totally agree that 1-on-1 a good MMA/BJJ fighter would usually win vs most Krav practitioners. Krav suffers from being over-hyped and perhaps over-marketed as well, resulting in a lot of semi-trained / out of shape folks with an exagerated sense of their capabilities. Plus, it’s really not designed for one-on-one submission fighting. That said, I think there’s a lot of value to the Krav mindset and toolbox. You might not know who /how many opponents you are facing, you might or might not be dealing with weapons, the attacker might or might not be rational, etc. I think it teaches valuable lessons about adaptability, and uses easily trainable gross muscle movements to deal effectively with a lot of situations - some of which straight BJJ isn’t a good fit for. Don’t get me wrong, I’m spending 6 hours a week on BJJ now, and love it!

On another topic, an instructor of mine when I lived back East recommended the following book, which I’m re-suggesting to anyone interested in situational awareness: “The Gift of Fear” by Gavin De Becker.
See http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Fear-Gavin-Becker/dp/0440226198
Great stuff re assessing the typical escalation ladder of violent encounter, reading conversational subtexts, etc. Check it out…

Best,

Karl

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