In self defense training it is imperative to include and study techniques that utilize leverage, position, and surprise over pure strength. This can be for a number of reasons:
- An attacker may be bigger and/or stronger
- An attacker may be resistant to pain due to mental state and/or the influence of substances
- An attacker’s level of violence may become heightened in response to resistance or pain
- Legally or morally it may be preferred to have less destructive options
While self defense techniques that focus on pure destructive power can certainly be effective and should be in our defensive arsenal, they should not be the only options. For some people, it is simply preferred that these not be the go-to answer in every situation—especially considering the majority of scenarios may be confrontational, but not necessarily life-threatening.
For others, especially smaller defenders, they cannot be the only option. Self defense and self protection courses are often marketed to and for women. Primarily or only relying on a well-placed finger jab to the eyes, a throat strike, or a knee or kick to the groin to be followed up by a series of devastating strikes and elbows that crumble and impair the attacker is not realistic. I know some very nice, but dangerous, people that are not going to crumble from multiple, let alone a single groin kick. At the very least, while a near perfect shot may take its toll on them, it is the low percentage play. I can only imagine the number of truly and intentionally dangerous people that may become more violent as a response.
The Force of Leverage
For many this is the allure of arts that focus on utilizing technique over strength. I feel that self defense needs to absolutely cover and blend both options; so before anyone sees this as a recommendation for a year’s worth of Aikido study over a few months of intense training at the local Krav Maga studio, please be sure to read my previous article about choices in Self Defense Instruction. Similarly, while this popular video is marketing mastery that speaks to women and the benefit of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu for self protection, it is also quite clear that the technique shown is not widely applicable in setup to a violently dangerous attack. It requires a fairly complacent aggressor—in this case an overly eager bar creep that willingly accepts the arms wrapping around his neck as an acceptance of his advances:
Don’t get me wrong. I kind of love this video, not only for its slick production, but also for some fairly decent technique breakdown. I simply know a plethora of self defense experts and instructors that would pick it apart based upon the lack of application options across multiple scenarios. Before we go extrapolating this issue across all of Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and its effectiveness for self defense, let’s not forget some of the Myths Dispelled earlier and the great points my colleague, Stapho, made last week about the self defense benefits of Sport Jiu Jitsu.
Real World BJJ
Let’s take a look at a technique video submitted by Coach Mikal of Aces Jiu Jitsu and Cerebral BJJ fame. This video is a great instruction of the standing cross collar choke. Since Coach Mikal breaks down the steps of performing the technique so thoroughly in the video, I’ll skip the step-by-step instruction and make some points about how well this particular version can be applied to real world self defense.
The first point I’ll make is that, yes, this is a gi choke. As in the bar scene above or the recent points we have made about clothing on the streets, it shouldn’t take too much imagination to see the number of types of jackets and coats (from formal to outdoor wear) and even button down shirts that a cross collar choke can be applied with. Don’t believe me? Give it a try.
The second point goes back to the leverage and technique over strength options that can be so important to the unknowns of self defense. Not only does a choke technique offer a smaller or weaker defender the ability to overcome size and strength disadvantages (the essence of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu), but Coach Mikal’s version here begins with the angled step. This step to the outside further emphasizes a leverage advantage by strengthening the forearm frame versus a collar grip from a “squared up” position. This controls posture along with the clothing. Controlling clothing alone will limit your options to just the intended technique. This is a recipe for disaster in real world situations. There should always be an emphasis on options.
Along with creating an easier angle of entry for the initial collar grip behind the neck, it also takes Mikal’s centerline outside of his opponent’s. Readers may remember how important centerline theory is from last year’s article on Leverage the Ultimate Giant Slayer. In self defense, centerline theory becomes even more important. Positioning one’s own centerline off of an aggressor’s protects your common targets from direct strikes and out of the reach of unknown or hidden weapons. This can be the difference in walking away or not being able to.
The final aspect of Coach Mikal’s standing cross collar choke that I really enjoy and feel is especially applicable to real world self defense has to do with his adaptations for control. Instead of going for the common “BJJ 101” instruction (see first video above) that emphasizes getting the second hand deep into the collar (often with the goal of gripping directly next to the setup hand), Coach Mikal makes two important adjustments. First he grabs low on the collar (just under the jaw and fairly straight across), which is much easier to establish and is much harder to block. Second, he does so by moving forward into it, continuing to break his opponent’s posture down and away. Coach Mikal also continues this drive with his forehead and finishes the choke using head position and structure, instead of putting everything into the pull of the grips.
I like this finish because it controls his opponent’s head (“where the head goes, the body will follow”), continues to break posture, and creates a great body frame with head protection for himself. The head-to-head placement protects against strikes and headbutts, while Coach Mikal’s arm frames create a nice shoulder block of his chin on the outside and uppercut obstruction on the inside. The angled body position combined with the forward and downward drive in applying the choke is fast and off-balancing, stifles retaliation and limits striking power and range.
Plans B, C, & D
Finally, there are plenty of options (as indicated earlier and in the video), should the situation change. From takedowns, to clinches, to forearm framing for knees and strikes; this is an advantageous, controlling position from which the violence level could be quickly dialed up or down as needed. Should the choke need to be abandoned, it would be easy to flip the hand and hook the neck into a Muay Thai-style outside forearm frame with many devastating options.
I hope you enjoy this technique as an interesting option for self defense, but remember not only must you practice the technique itself, but do so with resistance and transitioning to other options. Try it with a hidden training knife on the opponent and see if you can maintain control and manage the finish, the range and/or various outcomes while avoiding any indicated serious injury.
Image credit: http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2016/2/15/10963292/judo-chop-year-of-the-guillotine-part-3
Image credit: http://muaythaianalyst.com/2014/12/muay-thai-fighter-of-the-year-muangthai/
Image credit: http://espn.go.com/extra/mma/news/story?id=3564360
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