Each week MASTERCLASS gives you brief but key information on how to optimise a simple Krav Maga strike or technique.
This MASTERCLASS covers DOUBLE FOREARM STRIKE. This strike is a multi-functional strike and used against any single and circular arm strike towards you, such as a ‘cheap shot’ or an edged weapon attack swinging towards your upper body or head.
Let’s face it, if haven’t been able to see the attacker’s hand before it swings, or if visibility is limited, there’s no way to ascertain if the attacking hand contains a weapon or not, especially if a smaller blade is hidden in it. Ergo, your defence cannot be based on making a choice on different defences trying to do the impossible; determine if there’s a weapon or not, decide on action, execute defence - all in the c. 0.2s or less it takes to swing the arm and connect with your body. Believing you can is self-delusion. Just test it under pressure.
We need a single defence. Training this singular defence against various scenarios also multiplies the amount of practice time you can engineer into it.
A number of self defence techniques against these types of attacks involve a a non-symmetrical action, e.g. one arm will ‘block’ the attacking hand whilst the other arm will do a punch or open palm hand strike towards the attacker.
There is a bio-mechanical disadvantage inherent in this move. Our brains will automatically favour one of its sides in terms of power when two non-symmetrical actions are done simultaneously. Just try this experiment: stand with your clenched fists in front of you held with your elbows at 90 degrees. Ask someone strong to push them both down simultaneously. Next, do the same, but this time lift one hand slightly up and lower one slightly down before the push. See what happens. You can also try the same experiment but on the second part just turning your upper body (only) sideways. The point is; doing disparate motions or changing your symmetry will lower the power on one side; so which side do your prefer the lower power display on: stopping the punch/knife or punching back? You cant have both. Since the defensive block will have priority in your brain, you’re likely to sacrifice the offensive strike.
Unless you actually strike the same with both arms. Welcome to the double forearm strike.
HOW TO DO THE DOUBLE FOREARM STRIKE
Assuming you’ve been able to detect the threat before the circular strike towards you occurs, lift your hands up and keep them with open palms away from you but with a bend in your elbow joints, which should be closer together. This acts as a ‘stay-away’ shield for your head and torso (against strikes towards face and heart).
As soon as you observe a striking motion (e.g. person stepping forward/back setting up a punch, shoulder movement, etc), or even pre-attack to strike preemptively, do this: Send your shoulders and arms forward and outwards as you turn your bony outside part of our forearms towards the attacker with your elbows low and fingers outstretched.
This movement should cease when you have no forward mobility left in your shoulders, with the open palms facing each other and approx. 20-30cm apart, creating a pyramid shape with an opening at the top. Do not lower your wrists. The shoulders, elbows and wrists and the entire arms should be rigid, creating two solid symmetrical striking objects.
Aim your arm matching the attacker’s striking hand to connect near to their wrist with the outside bony part near to your wrist. The connection point will however be determined by the angle of the attacker’s arm. This is irrelevant to you, as you cannot know the exact angle; you just aim to design the biggest possible tool (your forearm) to block/strike back with.
Simultaneously, aim the other forearm with the same angle to connect at the side of the neck just below the jawline. If it connects by design or by a lowering of the attacker’s chin on their face, this is effective too.
The forward movement of your body should be aimed towards the attacker’s striking shoulder, with your head slightly lowered, ending up close to the shoulder to create the biggest possible distance away from any edged weapon either in the hand or being accidentally released from the hand by your strike.
The double forearm strike is commenced by the shoulders, not by stepping first - as moving a smaller body part (shoulders and arms) are faster than the full body (by stepping). Only step forward if you lose balance forward as you strike. If so, try to land forward with the foot matching the aggressor’s striking hand, leaving your opposite leg behind, centred onto the attacker and available for further strikes (e.g. to groin).
Expect an effective double forearm strike to move an opponent backwards on impact, so if your tactics are to continue with further strikes, continue your forward motion.
Options here may include controlling the attacking arm and striking at a very close range (SEE: MASTERCLASS ON KNIFE ATTACK ABOVE SOLAR PLEXUS) or a medium groin kick or longer range front kick (SEE MASTERCLASSES FOR BOTH). Other striking options are also available.
HOW TO PRACTICE THE DOUBLE FOREARM STRIKE
Start by practicing in a dry drill, paying close attention to the frame and rigidity of your pyramid shaped forearms.
Continue to send this frame forward until you lose balance and step forward with the foot matching the striking hand.
If you have a partner to train with, commence doing the strike in a slow and controlled manner in response to the visual stimuli of your partner doing a circular attack.
Work the double forearm strike on a larger striking pad (with a partner) to work on power.
Apply various continuation strikes, either on a partner (slow, controlled) or in dry drills.
Pictures: Krav Maga Master Gheorghe Husar filming with The Krav Maga Educator Orjan Pettersen for online tutorials. Orjan Pettersen is coaching the double forearm strike. ALL VIDEOS ARE AVAILABLE IN OUR ONLINE LEARNING AT WWW.SPARTANS-EDU.ORG.