subject: 5 Martial Arts Techniques Everyone Should Learn [print this page] Let's start by getting one thing absolutely clear: there are no magical martial arts techniques that will let you win any fight no matter how much of cowardly couch potato you are. Too many people seem to think that a black belt is like 'leveling up' and all of the sudden they'll master their chi and be able to leap over cars and kick through windshields. No matter what anyone tells you, it's just not true -- but then, when the stuff hits the fan, it's not relevant, either.
See, most fights are won with remarkably simple techniques applied by someone with the intent to kill, and nothing more or less. Martial arts training not only doesn't necessarily help, but it often gets in the way. Martial arts techniques are most often applied by novices, and they're effective because the person doing it has no idea how to do it. That's what the masters mean when they say that "thinking gets in the way." If you're not experienced enough to do the motion perfectly by reflex, you're actually better off doing it imperfectly by reflex than you are doing it perfectly by thinking about it.
So, what are these five techniques that are best done without thinking and win so many fights?
The Hammer Fist
Otherwise known as "pounding on someone", the hammer fist is just plain balling up your hand and smashing something with the bottom of it. It can be used to smash an attacker's nose, his wrist, his ankle or knee if you're on the ground, or his temple if he's not too much taller than you. It's simple, it's effective, and it's surprisingly effective if it's targeted well.
The Straight Punch
Basically, you make a fist, and you push that fist as fast as you can into the other guy. No chambering, no windup, just a quick lean forward and push with all your weight behind it. This same action can be used to block an attack if you're coordinated, but it's best to leave that to the masters and just pop your attacker in the nose, throat, or testicles. There are so many variants to the straight punch among the world's martial arts techniques, but the simple basic knuckle sandwich is one of the best.
The Front Kick
Ever kicked a soccer ball? Then you can do a front kick. The only complication is that, if your shoes are flimsy or open-toed, you need to curl your toes up as hard as you can when you kick someone. Aim for the shins, knees, or groin, and get ready to do it again the instant you regain your balance: all three targets cause enough pain that if you connect once, you can usually do it again and again.
The Claw Strike
Even if you have no fingernails, a fingertip raked across the face can do so much damage to such vital organs that any assailant has to pay attention to the possibility that you'll do it again. Just grazing an eye, catching an ear or nostril, or even hooking a finger into his cheek and ripping it out will make any would-be attacker think twice about coming at you again. The same attack is also highly effective against the testicles, breasts, or the sensitive insides of the wrists.
The Stomp
It might seem like a simple stomp of your foot isn't worth considering when you're being attacked, but the tops and toes of every human foot are extraordinarily vulnerable to stomping. You can break bones, cause extreme pain, and most importantly keep someone from chasing you if you deliver a strong stomp. Also worth noting is that the stomping action, if you've been knocked onto your back, can keep a would-be rapist or mugger at bay for several moments. Just aim for the groin or, if he bends down to take your wallet or purse, his face.
Even if you are a cowardly couch potato, it's worth taking a day or two with someone who knows a bit about martial arts techniques and studying these five. Do some basic martial arts training, get an idea of how it feels to use these maneuvers, and then decide if you want to shoot for your black belt or go back to the couch. Even if you forget all about them, these martial arts techniques may still save your life!
