MASTERCLASS PRO takes our Masterclasses to the next level.
Learn how to take the individual self defence techniques and strikes you study in our Masterclass feature and merge them into natural and effective combinations in MASTERCLASS PRO.
Study how you can mix and match different upper and lower body strikes, with different ranges and angles of attack.
This MASTERCLASS PRO covers:
DOUBLE FOREARM STRIKE
DOUBLE GROIN KICK
Scenario: This effective, natural and flowing combination can be used as both a preemptive or reactive response to an aggressor entering your social space (hand striking range). It consists of three brutally effective strikes which can naturally follow each other based on the expected reactive biomechanics from the aggressor that could be expected from each strike.
ABOUT DOUBLE ELBOW STRIKE • DOUBLE GROIN KICK
This is a simple medium range and very powerful bursting in movement where your symmetrical arm position is striking both towards the aggressor’s neck or side of face and towards any circular-style hand attack directed towards your head, agnostic as to whether the attacking hand contains a sharp, edged or blunt weapon or not.
This strike is designed to deliver this devastating strike aimed at their neck or side of face in order to continue with further strikes or just to create distance to escape. Your follow-up strikes will be determined by the ferocity of your double forearm strike, the physics of the impact and the backwards movement of your opponent in terms of distance. It could be close range elbows, a medium range hand strikes or longer range kicks that become applicable, based on the strike impact and your continued forward movement.
In this combination, we will focus on a medium range double groin kick as a follow-up, especially as any backwards movement of an opponent will biomechanically tend to widen their foot stance position in order to rebalance, opening up the groin for a kick.
This double forearm strike can be a solution to someone starting with hard-to-block multiple circular hand strikes towards you to get safely on the inside of the punches, as an in-fight solution where you want to get really close to use further strikes or just to create space and time by sending your opponent back. It can also be done as you land forward after a groin or front kick whilst changing the range to close-quarter fighting.
A groin kick - the ‘simple’ calling card of Krav Maga - is a primary striking choice as it can be a devastating medium range option available to you. As stated previously, it is particularly relevant if the opponent is moving backwards trying to rebalance (as biomechanics dictate that the distance between the feet will widen in this motion), for example following a 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 of your hands facing each other and approx. 30cm apart, creating a pyramidical shape with a foot-wide opening at the top. Do not lower your wrists. Do not have a narrow gap between your hands. The shoulders, elbows and wrists and the entire arms should be completely rigid, creating two solid longer 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 or process the exact attacking angle anyway until it’s too late; 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. If it connects lower, onto the neck and carotid artery, this works excellently 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, maybe also 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 to remain on a striking range.
HOW TO DO THE DOUBLE GROIN KICK
If needed to close the range, make a very short step (skip) placing the base foot as quickly as possible onto the floor, in front of your centreline to optimise your mass and momentum into the line of the kick, releasing the weight from the kicking leg.
Make sure you have a slight drop of the base leg knee, acting like a suspension, to aid your balance during the motion.
Swing the kicking leg at max speed (by it being relaxed) towards the target’s groin as if you were kicking a football 45 degrees into the sky. Aim to connect with the lower or mid part of the shin (not the in-step or ball of the foot), curling toes slightly upwards to tense the shin for further hardness.
The kicking foot should disappear from view as the shin connects with the groin, ensuring that you hit with a large surface area (shin) rather than a small one (in-step or ball of foot) to optimise the chance of not missing the target. This also ensures that if the target moves towards you during the kicking motion, the higher end of the shin or your knee will still be in line to connect with the groin.
‘Dig’ the kick in momentarily, before your recoil the leg very fast back to a position in line with your base leg, ready for the next (groin) kick.

To deliver a double groin kick, simply repeat the full action described above again.
Maintain your hands up and in front of you throughout both the kicks and breathe out on each one.
This MASTERCLASS PRO combination is a devastating medium range striking trio where strikes can be executed very quickly and naturally.
Train slow and in front of a mirror to make the combination instinctive. When training with a partner, do the actions slowly and safely. Use control if not applying protective gear as the strikes are powerful and will move/impact the opponent in head/face/neck and groin areas.
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