MASTERCLASS PRO takes our Masterclasses to the next level.
MASTERCLASS PRO is a feature which gives you a brief insight into highly effective and natural striking combinations used in Krav Maga self defence.
Scenario: Moving in preemptively or in-fight with a circular open palm strike to the ear to disorientate / affect the balance or floor the opponent, immediately followed up with a low kick to outside of the opposite leg to remove the footing of the attacker to drop them to the ground.
This Masterclass Pro covers: CIRCULAR OPEN PALM HAND STRIKE TO EAR followed by a DIAGONAL (LOW) KICK to the oppside side outside leg.
HOW TO DO THE CIRCULAR OPEN PALM HAND STRIKE (TO EAR)
With your hands already up and in front of, but away from your face, send the chosen hand forward with the palm facing the opponent’s ear with fingers forward / thumb on top in a locked-frame at the elbow, aiming to reach the ear with the centre off your palm (not fingers).
Don’t move the striking arm far backwards to create more power (it delays the strike), simply use your body movement (pivot into the strike with your hip and upper body) and shoulder-into-the strike to optimise the power and the impact. Aim to go through the head (think of the opposite ear being the actual target).
On connection, quickly recoil the hand back to its starting position using the same trajectory. The transmission of energy into the target is created by the swift recoil motion. Cover the ear with the palm on impact to optimise the effect of the strike, which will at least temporarily destabilise and disorientate the opponent or at worst drop them and / or in some cases burst the eardrum. Breathe out as you strike.
Picture: The circular open palm strike to the ear practiced on a training head by Krav Maga Master Gheorghe Husar. See www.Spartans-Edu.org for online instructional videos.
HOW TO DO THE DIAGONAL KICK TO THE OUTSIDE OF THE LEG
The aggressor should already be leaning towards the direction of the hand strike if the circular open palm strike was effective (but didn’t floor them) and the diagonal (low) kick is aimed to ‘help’ them further on the journey towards the ground.
If the attacker responds to the strike by moving, somewhat losing their balance, your next natural kick could be to ‘cut their legs in two’ with a diagonal (low) kick to the exposed outside of the leg. The diagonal kick (see our Masterclass on it by searching for ‘MASTERCLASS’ on the home page) is a more direct style of round-house style kick, just more versatile in enclosed spaces and less observable as it travels less distance.
Make a step suitable to close the required distance to reach the opponent’s leg (with the shin of your back leg) by pushing off with your back leg, but land with your forward leg placing your toes facing the direction of your kick to come, almost 90° to the side of the front of the attacker. This is important, as the toe position enables your pelvis to be more flexible and faster with the diagonal kick.
With the base leg toes moved into the kicking direction, kick diagonally and directly towards the aggressor’s leg with a locked-leg frame (slightly bent at knee, ankle and toes; to create a hard, robust striking entity).
Connect with your shin travelling sideways into and slightly upwards against the outer thigh (c. 5-10cm above knee) to ‘cut the opponent’s leg in half’ by squeezing your shin bone into the thinner muscles on the outside of the upper leg into the aggressor’s thigh bone on impact. Aim through the legs as if to exit the shin at the pelvis height of the attacker on the other side of his or her body. Dig the shin in on impact for extra pain. Recoil and bring leg back to a position sideways to the standing leg. Repeat if necessary.
Picture: The diagonal kick practiced by TKME Orjan Pettersen. See www.Spartans-Edu.org for online instructional videos.
The two strikes worked in unison by initially moving the head and upper body of the opponent towards one side with the palm strike and the legs being wiped in the opposite direction with the kick, creating a double impact to drop the person to the ground.
Exit to a safe place after strikes, or continue with necessary self protection action if unable to leave the opponent due to e.g. confined areas, restricted access or with third parties.
Further strikes are then available if needed. See our MASTERCLASSES and MASTERCLASS PRO for options.
Find all our MASTERCLASS PRO articles by clicking on the theme selection on the website home page. Chose MASTERCLASS for individual strikes and techniques.
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