The MASTERCLASS gives key information on how to optimise a Krav Maga strike or technique.
This MASTERCLASS covers the HEADLOCK FROM THE SIDE, a situation where you effectively are attacked from behind with an inside arm strike to your neck or throat, followed by a restriction to your breathing, possibly to bring you to the floor or to control you for a second attacker to strike.
Your response can therefore be appropriately severe (as you will discover).
HOW TO DO THE HEADLOCK FROM THE SIDE
With a slight misnomer (the attack is more likely to take place from behind you, with the attacker ending up on your side only once you’re head-locked) and being a more ‘innocent favourite’ from many young people’s school years, the head lock from the side is one of the first defences taught in many Krav Maga schools.
Picture: The headlock is likely to happen from behind you.
Aimed to either control you, maybe for further hand attacks, possibly even involving a secondary attacker, or as a flowing prelude to take you down to the floor by a trained martial artist, the attack is something requiring an immediate response, especially as it involves constriction of the neck, a potential lethal force application.
Your response can therefore be appropriately severe (as you will discover).
Note: If caught unaware and by a trained practitioner, it’s highly likely you’ll be on the floor before you can fully commence this defence. See MASTERCLASS: HEADLOCK FROM THE SIDE ON THE GROUND for this defence.
Optimise the defence by:
Rebalance yourself by stepping forward with the leg opposite to the attacker’s side. This will happen naturally with any physical impact. Try to land 90 degrees to where you where, with both feet solidly on the floor, akin to the wide leg position of a deadlift in the gym to maintain a good and solid footing.
Simultaneously to the step, move to place the hand closest to the attacker up and between your head and your attacker’s face, thumb facing downwards and fingers in a claw shape. The other hand goes immediately towards the attacker’s groin, ready to hit.
Picture: Move into a position where you arrest any forward motion with hands ready to attack eyes and groin.
This full motion is similar to a front crawl in swimming, except for the hand shapes, done standing up.
The near hand to the attacker should as quickly as possible gouge one eye (ideally the far one for better control and more impact into the eye if the attacker moves the head away from you) with your fingertips, using the thumb to also press the nose backwards, then attack the groin to generate the natural inclination of the attacker to bend forward when struck in the groin, increasing the pressure on the eyes. You must gouge the eyes with the tip of the finger(s). Pressing the face or forehead with your hands or fingers have no discernible effect. Do not leave the hand in the groin area to prevent it being caught and pressed in by the opponent squeezing their legs together as a natural reaction to the groin strike.
Picture: Starting position to commence the fight back after a headlock from the side.
Now, elevate yourself as you continue to gouge, by pressing the attacker’s head backwards until the head is locked fully back, then press the head downwards.
Picture: Press the eyes/head back until the spine locks, then straight down.
Aid the attacker’s falling movement down to the floor by lifting the groin-striking hand up (removing the headlock arm in the process, if still locked, by a sharp downward scoping motion with the hand), then continue to strike the chin with open palm strikes until the attacker is floored.
Picture: Strike repeatedly as the attacker drops down.
A more aggressive option are clenched first strikes against the larynx. This can be lethal and carries a higher degree of legal self defence justification threshold, maybe against multiple attackers, male on female or a clear disparity of power between you and the assailant.
Crudely, imagine this falling movement as taking the testicles away and feeding them to the attacker to consume by mouth. Crude and rude, but a memorable metaphor.
Step towards their head as the attacker drops down, avoiding being kicked and making sure you can keep striking the chin for as long as possible, also preventing pressure on your back as you move with the attacker.
Picture: Move with the attacker‘s head as they drop to end up near it, away from feet.
Continue with attacks if you can’t escape or quickly remove yourself from the situation and run away.
Sounds raw and brutal? A headlock from the side is a potential lethal force attack as it sets up a potential choking motion. Your reaction can be significant in return.
Further strikes to follow-up are available if required and will be covered in further Masterclass PROs.