GROUND DEFENSES

1.  Standing Over The Body - Defense Against A Punchng Bag (pushing kick)

Here you are lying on your back and the attacker is standing over you straddled with one foot on either side of your body.  From here he can punch straight down, most likely to your face (Figure 1).  Obviously, this is not the best position you could be in (duh!) and so you should not wait for him to throw a punch (it is pretty safe to assume that you are being attacked).  Shuffle upwards in the direction of your head, away from him, and as you do so bend you left leg and bring it through his legs (Figure 2).  As it comes through cock the leg back as far as possible and then execute a pushing kick to the side of his groin. 

Fig 1. The Attack

Fig 2. Preparing To Defend

Actually, the target is at the top of his right leg where it joins his body, and you should use the outside knife edge of your foot.  The best way to make this successful is to grab the back of both of his ankles with your hands just as you start to execute the kick, this will prevent him from being able to step back (Figure 3).

Remember that this is a pushing kick and so once you have made contact keep a strong pushing motion through his body.  Keep the pressure on until you are sure his is toppling and can not stop himself. 

Fig 3. Pushing Kick

Fig 4. Take Down and Follow-Up

Once he is on the floor there are likely to be two options to finish him off, depending on how he falls. He could fall with his legs apart so that you can kick him in the groin with a stamping motion (probably your right foot would be in the best position for this) (Figure 4).  However, if he is clever then he could fall with his left leg over his right to protect his groin (sneaky fellow), in which case the side of his thigh could be available for an axe kick with your heal.  If he lands in some other way and you can't use either of these strikes then he is too clever for me and you'll have to improvise :-) .

Tip: If your foot slips as you execute the kick, or if he moves and your foot goes passed at the side of his body, then all is not lost – you need to move to plan B. You can still get the same result if you press your leg into the side of his body or at the top of his leg and push down.  You will still need to keep hold of his ankles.  In addition, you may find that you get better leverage if you are closer to him (Figure 5).

Fig 5. Using Your Leg As A Lever

YDJ Graham Salt