| When you step out of the gym, or the dojo, and into | | | | can give yourself an extra bit of confidence for this |
| the street; when you have to protect yourself or your | | | | kind of technique by using finger-tip push ups to |
| friends and loved ones from violent assault by a thug, | | | | strengthen the tendons and ligaments of your fingers; |
| then you have to be willing to fight dirty. Throughout | | | | a few months of this kind of training and you shouldn't |
| my martial arts career my attitude has always been | | | | have to worry about hurting yourself. |
| that you should do everything you possibly can to | | | | The most obvious target to aim for is the eye. Not |
| avoid fighting, but once that invisible line has been | | | | only is this very painful and distressing but even without |
| crossed by an attacker, and there is nothing that you | | | | causing serious damage you can have a big |
| can do to avoid violence, then you are justified in doing | | | | temporary impact on your attacker's sight, making it |
| whatever is necessary to ensure your safety and to | | | | much harder for them to be a serious threat to you. |
| end the confrontation as soon as possible. | | | | This is a very effective technique to use in a street |
| Some of the easiest to learn, and also most effective, | | | | fight if someone is trying to grab or strangle you. |
| techniques for fighting dirty are finger strikes. There | | | | A less obvious target, but still very effective, is the |
| are a number of different hand-forms that you can | | | | armpit. Obviously this does depend somewhat on |
| use, but the simplest is to just keep your hand flat with | | | | what your attacker is wearing - striking through a |
| your fingers pressed together, and then use the middle | | | | t-shirt or sweatshirt is no problem, but a thick winter |
| finger for striking. | | | | coat is something else. This can be a very effective |
| The whole point in finger strikes is to concentrate the | | | | counter against someone trying to punch you, and can |
| force of a strike onto a small area on a soft vital area | | | | give them a 'dead arm' with a temporarily reduced |
| of the body. When doing this choosing a target and | | | | strength and range of movement, as well as being |
| being accurate is very important, whereas the power | | | | surprisingly painful. |
| of your strike in not important. If you end up hitting a | | | | Another effective target is the 'jugular notch'. This is |
| solid part of the body with your fingers then you will | | | | the soft area above the v shape in the center of your |
| just end up hurting yourself more than your attacker, | | | | collar bone at the base of your neck. The effect of |
| but you can mitigate against this by moving more | | | | being struck here is very similar to being winded. |
| slowly, only hitting out at full speed just before you | | | | Ultimately finger strikes can be used against any soft |
| make contact. Being slower and more careful will | | | | area of the body, as well as against pressure points, |
| reduce the power of your strike, but if you hit the right | | | | and are a highly effective way to defend yourself on |
| place then this won't matter at all. If you want to you | | | | street fighting. |