Every now and again my taekwondo school lets us try practical application of our taekwondo self-defense skills. The nice thing about this activity is that it takes us out of our regimented step self-defense and attempts to let us practice what we know in a fluid situation.
Well after practicing our regimented step self-defense this week we played the game. The rules are simple: One person in the middle of the circle with each person on the outside attacking un-announced. For any kind of grappling if you happen to sense it the first time and totally evade before they can lock in a technique, that’s OK. However we usually have the attacker go a second time and lock the technique in so the defender is in a tight spot and actually has to figure a way out.
Well ol’ Bob was able to slow the machine down by introducing some new people to the standing rear choke. There are two ways to execute this choke:
I always prefer example two because you can make that choke an air choke by pushing forward on their head and pulling back with your forearm.
Anyhow the choke escape that I was taught comes from my prison days. Well over 10 years ago when I had PPCT training we were taught to execute a standing throw or a drop throw. One thing that was stressed is that the second you see hands coming from behind and around to your front it’s critical that you get one hand up in front of your throat. This does three things: It protects your neck from the choke and it allows you to naturally execute a standing throw or a drop throw before the choke is locked in. Doing this also allows you to duck and slip the hold before it’s put into place.
In fact, one of the trainers always emphasized that since we were not wrestlers nor did we have the time to become wrestlers, one of the best things we could do is to shrug and slip grabs. It’s simple, it can be done under pressure without much training, and it generally works. The catch is you have to shrug and move energetically the second you feel that you are being touched or grabbed. Wait too long and they’ll probably be able to complete whatever it was they had in mind!
Anyhow, back to the basic throws:
The standing throw is pretty basic: Grab the choking arm with one hand and step forward and bend.
I prefer the drop throw because it’s less likely to allow the person to keep the hold on you after the throw. On the drop throw all you do grab the choking arm and simultaneously step forward and drop to one knee. This will definitely surprise someone who is not expecting it. The other nice thing is that it allows you to throw someone who is much shorter and stockier than you which in my case is usually everyone.
Both of these will work with someone who has the choke locked in. However, in that case the drop throw seems to be better because I’ve seen people keep the choke in place after receiving a standing throw. In fact, they usually roll off your side and take you to the ground with the choke still in place which is not good.
Well part of our “game” is to put someone in a hold (or execute a technique) that they cannot escape or defend against. Then everyone helps them think it through and find a defense. If taekwondo skills fail we are allowed to bring in techniques from other arts or even make something up.
My moment of being stumped came when the rear choke was applied to me. However, in this case, the person applying it had already seen me do the drop throw so he knew I was going to try that again. The second time he bent back after having it locked in. This essentially neutralized my throws! The only thing I could come up with was to turn into the choke, grab his scrotum, then grab a leg and take them down. Now I’d hope the nut grab would make them let go where this real. Whatever the case, grabbing their leg was possible but what happens next is me on the ground with the choke still in place!
So I thought there must be a better way out of this and there is. I consulted Marc Tedeschi’s treatise on Hapkido. On p. 724 he shows something called a side foot-plant throw.
Attacker applies a Rear Naked Choke and unbalances you backward (A). Drop your chin to protect your throat. Reduce pressure by pulling their arm down with both hands. Step back with your R foot and pivot 90 degrees, planting your foot near their heel, and the back of your knee on the side of their knee (B). Pull their arm down and bend forward, as you snap your knee back into their knee. Pull them sideways over your extended leg.
From the photos it looks like Tedeschi uses the planted foot to sweep the attacker’s planted foot back, while simultaneously bending and throwing.
The only video I could find that is close appears to be from the BJJ world. The main differences being the defender steps 180 degrees instead of 90 degrees. From what I see in the video this seems to make the leg sweep part not possible. Yet it looks like pulling the attacker across your planted leg would be easier.
So next class I have to do a follow-up to being stumped and see if either varriations will work. Anyhow, here’s the video:
One last note: Tedeschi’s book on hapkido is simply outstanding. I definately reccomend it to any martial artist–whether they are ground fighters, strikers, or something in between (aikido, chin na, etc.). He has a nice selection of defenses from a particular hold or technique. Better still, he breaks down how to exectute the technqiue and you can even look things up via the comprehensive index in the rear of the book.
~BCP
