High Percentage Techniques
How many people train in specific high percentage techniques? If you do what is your personal favorite (stupid question I know but...) to deal with an aggressor who is throwing/thrown a right cross? Obviously this is very general and it would depend on when you see/react to it and the kind of environment your in etc but say there is only the one attacker, you are in a big open space on the street, no threat from other attackers and you see/judge the right cross just being thrown from in front of you. Do you have a favorite couple of techniques that work for you and that you think you would most likely apply or try to in this situation? Also do you pressure -*test*-('") these techniques?

Runaway! Nah would of liked to attack him before he launched his punch but if i missed that opportunity... I’d probably cover up/parry and at the same time try move/lean out of the line of fire slightly, 45' back/right usually, hopefully hands were already in some kind of guard at that time, fence etc. (Dont really like to move back but probably would with a straight right cross, if its slightly circular than would move back less and try cover/block on inside and strike at same time or just after). Then counter with right cross, palm or fist depending on available target followed by lead leg knee. Really is too many variables though, counter would also change to the difference in momentum/follow through and forward movement of the attacker etc. I think 7 out of 10 times my reaction would be something similar to the one stated above though. Can't remember training that set of techniques specifically under pressure but have probably used it many times while sparring.

High Percentage techniques
Interesting topic this,would be interested members answers. Personally,I would suggest moving in to attacker blocking his right cross with a knife hand to the bicep which on contact converts to a tiger claw grip to elbow joint(with fingers working the nerve junctions in this area) Simultaneously with the block a Tiger claw strike to the face. Fingertips into eyes then a full force grip to the face. The grip on its own can be very painful and distracting, Even if you dont get the Tiger claw attack to the face on correctly you will still obstruct your opponents vision long enough to follow up with other techniques. If you havent already,try it,let me know what you think. And tell me your favourites Patrick

I always think keep it simple as poss as when you are attacked like above odds are you won't be doing anything fancy to counter the attack. Usually try and protect face, intercept attack/attacker if poss (this is easier when its not a surprise attack obviously, i.e. not that you know what techniques coming but the aggressor has made it clear shouting, body language etc he is in an aggressive frame of mind.) Then your alertness should be on full and you should be expecting trouble from the aggressor, so may be more able to react to the proposed right cross. Shuto imagining the technique you described reminds me of a technique in an old kata I have done but I can't just remember which kata it is (I’ll try and think and get back to you when my brains woke up a bit more). Interesting and practical, as well as effective counter. I have practised techniques similar to what you describe either blocking with both hands at same time on different parts of the arm or as you say blocking with one while simultaneously striking to the face. Then turning the block/strikes into tiger claws on the nerves of elbow and vital targets of face (although to some may sound like an exotic technique) is actually very simple in reality and effective. The hand that has just struck the bicep or wherever could even grab the bicep with the tiger claw or as you say could go down to the elbow where it would be stronger giving more control of opponents limb, this would be simpler than sounds as you just follow the arm down a few inches you don't even need to look. Also if it did go slightly wrong you can still just grab the sleeve or even use your open hand to apply/feel pressure against his attacking arm to control/feel his attacking arm to help control/feel further attacks with that hand. The tiger claw to the face at the same time is a fast and effective technique, I like to smash the palm in with power first so it is a strike then use the fingers to gouge the eyes etc and continue to drive forward/down for the takedown or finish. Great takedown/unbalancing technique as soon as you poke someone’s eyes etc they soon move their head out of the direction of force usually away from their centre line which then makes for easy takedown. Only prob is that this technique can be difficult to practise under pressure, however it can be done. Either do the techniques but keep fingers together and flat and do the sequence but without using the full tiger claw to face so you would gently strike and drive the face back with a flat palm, (maybe do once slowly with full tiger claw but with control so opponent knows how it WOULD feel). Or alternatively I guess you could use some king of face protection or just stick some shades on :lol:

Tigers Claw
Budo The Knife hand block to the arm is not really neccessary with tiger claw techniques,I only put that forward as it (a) explains the direction your counter takes (b) it is easier to train the technique using this in the initial stages. eg.If you were instructing a kyu grade in the techniques. The Tiger claw to the face should not contain a power strike like a Palm Heel. Tiger techniques are mainly gripping and ripping techniques,designed to cause pain. If you have a training partner that can stand a little discomfort (or pain) and if you can yourself (Its only fair that if you -*test*-('") it on them ,they -*test*-('") it on you),its also the only way to appreciate how it feels. Place the Tiger Claw on your partners face,as if you had just struck the eyes with your first two fingers, now slide the hand down and hook those two fingersinto the bottom of the eye sockets. At the same time your thumb grips into the face on one side and your other fingers on the other side,approximatelywhere the jaws meet,squeeze these digits in as hard as you can,little finger canbe used here as well or can curl under chin. When you get this on correctly it will be like you are squeezing a ball as hard as you can. Try this very carefully. Step in claw block arm and claw face similtaneously Then reap opponents leg still with the claw on the face,as opponent starts to fall rip the claw down and back (still maintaining Full strength grip on face) at the same time release control of arm and deliver a palm heel to the temple. Not many would come back for more When trained its a very quick very simple technique. Instead of a reap you could use a side stamping kick to leg. As you say they are hard techniques to train but as with everthing there are was to train the techniques and the grip strength. Patrick

Yep I agree, nice and simple but still effective, stamping kick to leg is also good idea I will have to have a go at drilling it in the next class, also what do you think about stepping in/back/sideways/diagonal etc fot this kind of attack, good to drill the different approaches and see what seems to work best, think it really depends on the kind of attack/distance and when you see/react to it etc... What you think? Anyone else got preffered techniques for this kind of attack?

Mine would be relatively simple, and possibly not the best, but I've tried it and it works pretty well! I hope the following makes sense!! An "X" block, left fist in front of right. At the point of impact, grab their wrist with your right hand. Rotate their arm clockwise and apply pressure to their elbow with your left arm, pushing down as you go. Now, they either go down or their arm snaps!! You could of course knee them in the face for good measure while you have their arm hyper-extended!!

Hi Mike Yes have trained that technique and others very similar in the past all work well,I just like the claw to the face to obstruct vision and Shock value. Merry Xmas to all Patrick

Hey Mike, Shuto, interesting about the X block I think this block is often overlooked by some as a practical block that can be used in high adrenalin reality self defence situations but I played around with it (by mistake at first without realising it) a couple of years ago and found that it does work well. I found that when drilling it at high intensity (padded up) as a response to straightish punches i.e. crosses like stated in the described scenario it can be an effective technique however it didn't look like the nice X block form done in kihon and kata with straight arms etc but the hands and arms were in an X block position. I think this was because it wasn't a pre arranged drill i.e. the attacker/partner could attack with any technique, therefore when the punch came in by the time I had acknowledged it the hands/arms shot up in front of my face but a little outstretched towards the punch as a natural cover up type of response, (imagine a high boxers guard only with arms crossed in front of your face) this allows you to cover a big area of your face but still allows you to see the attacker. This was a fast natural reaction type of block/cover up that managed to protect my face while intercept/parry the punch, from this situation I then found it natural to go into a full x block easily as my arms are already in the right place, just a matter of extending the arms more to redirect/take control of the opponents arm. From which point your hand and arm can flow fast and smoothly to the immobilizing lock Mike described. This arm control is used lots in aikido and law enforcement, if you want to be really nasty you can really drop your whole body weight onto the opponent’s hyper extended arm which can be very effective. My point is, many ‘reality self defence practitioners/instructors’ sometimes seem to view the X block as unnatural, complicated and a bit static and not so effective for ‘real’ self defence, however the technique comes quite natural and doesn’t always have to be performed as ‘neatly’ or perfectly as in kihon (like most techniques don’t), also have a go at using it as a type of guard slightly closer to your face first, this is a quite natural cover up response when suddenly attacked but it works really well as a guard covering your chin, mouth, cheek and nose area as well as the temples from which you can also flow into the more orthodox X block position and then the arm lock described. Like all the above described techniques give it a go under a bit of ‘pressure’ in training and see how it works for you.

Hi Martin Lots of variations available from X Block. Attacker with right middle punch. Defense X block with right hand on top Right hand controls attackers wrist Left armcontinues to slide under attackers arm then curls over the elbow to grip bicep From there a small change in stance and circular downwards movement to right produces a very effective take down and arm lock. Simple technique but works well Patrick