[quote]storeydp wrote:
Martial Arts in America are incredibly over rated. Most of these guys learn some silly looking dance moves, write out a check to the instructor, and collect their belts.
I’ve personally seen some sorry assed black belts get the holy shit kicked out of them by guys that had no more fighting experience than a few years of high school wrestling as their skill set.[/quote]
It’s a trend to attend a martial arts school for a few years, get a black belt, and then leave. As far as the instructor goes, many keep on giving out belts often enough to keep the students paying them- typical American response. But there are plenty of quality schools, you just have to find them.
A bigger guy does not mean a better fighter. The most important factor is to strike first. I agree with a few of the posts that suggest punching in the jaw to knock out the opponent. Hit first and hit hard. From my experience fighting several attackers, I was lucky to be bigger, stronger, and faster. Other than that you are screwed. Run bitch, run!
Simian anatomy provides its strongest protection from from sraight in attacks. This is why the upper cut and kidney shot are more effective than the haymaker and the jab with regards to psychological response.
The punch is impractical because:
The trachea’s thyroid cartlilage is strong enough to resist most blows
The punch pushed the trachea into the spine which limits travel and so reduces the risk of tearing to the connective tissue.
It’s a nutral reflex to tense the front muscles of the neck. This recesses the trachea causes a portion of the impact’s energy (based on musculature) to be distributed into softer tissues.
The concept of the attack is called laryngotracheal disruption.
It’s properly executed by forcing the trachea sideways thereby hyper-extending the soft connective tissue between Cricoid cartilage and the Thyroid Cartlilage (Voice box). This results in tearing or seperation of the two.
Also, a punch would move both pieces in the same direction requiring a much greater range of travel and would likely result in some tearing at best.
(Read: adreneline + cortoze + endorphin = hospital after the fact not end of fight)
It would be more effective to use your thumb and pointer finger (reinforced by your middle finger) in a “Open the pickle jar” motion. This is likely to cause seperation, airway obstruction, permanente phonation issues)
Good luck calling it an accident tho.
NOW, for you detractors:
Try it! Grab you throat and twist gently like I said. You’ll feel the Cricoid cartilage and the Thyroid Cartlilage start to seperate. Sprinkle in a little “I really dislike this prick!” and you should see my point.
You probably worked hard to develop a decent punch, and have a little pride in it. So if it makes you feel any better… Getting hit in the trachea hurts and I’d imagine if you land the shot unexpectedly you’ll get another round.
Every piece of the human body has a structural limit so there will always be the guy who says “you can break…” or “crush..” or “make them yield like…” and they are right. They worst technique practiced to perfection is still effective. But laryngotracheal disruption can be done by any one who can open a pickle jar and has the oppertunity.
We’ve got the Rickson quote about the P226, which one of the Gracies was it that said “Nothing is effective against multiple attackers; that’s why I have multiple brothers”? That’s one of my favorites.
Everything you guys need to know can be learned from watching “Roadhouse”. Even if the trachea can’t be crushed, it can be ripped out.
Sifu is right about the throat punch. It’s very effective, trust me, as I have been hit in the throat by my brother, who was only about 7 years old at the time, and I couldn’t breathe, and certainly couldn’t think about anything else for at least 8-10 whole seconds (8-10 seconds becomes a long time when you’re not getting oxygen).
I don’t understand these people saying it’s impractical. It’s nothing of the sort. People don’t seem to have any issue with teaching punches to the head, yet the head is more mobile, and thus more difficult to hit than the throat.
Also, Krav Maga practitioners are taught to strike to the throat, and they don’t seem to have any objections, either to its efficacy, or to its practicality.