Self-defense Techniques

~ Goshin ~

(Special Thanks to Aldo Sensei and Mike Sensei.)

These notes are for student reference only. It takes a great deal of training to master these techniques. In thinking that one could merely read through these and become proficient in their use is foolish in the sense that you are only fooling your self in believing so. To practice these without proper training will most defiantly result in injury.

Needed for promotion to 3rd Kyu  (brown belt)

1. ATTACK: Wrist grab straight across. (right hand to left wrist of opponent.)
   DEFENSE: Twist wrist free and step forward with punch, or elbow strike. Strive to make this all one sharp and powerful move.

2. ATTACK: Wrist grab across. (Right hand grabs right wrist of opponent.)
   DEFENSE: Trap with opposite hand. Grab over top of opponents wrist with same hand that was grabbed, turn to the side that was grabbed so you face the opposite direction. Put your elbow on top of the opponents elbow, force opponent to the ground by putting your knee to the ground. (Knee on same side as opponent) Apply pressure to the opponents elbow with your elbow. Palm strike opponents elbow, counter punch opponent and assume a sparring stance.

3. ATTACK: Grabbing top front of Gi top with one hand. (lapel or shirt collar grab.)
   DEFENSE: With opposite hand (opponent grabs with right hand you use your right hand.) strike across face and grab opponents hand, apply pressure with thumb into the back of opponents hand and twist opponents wrist so their thumb is facing down. ( Do not remove it from your Gi.) Reach up and grab with opposite hand the same way with your pinkie fingers at the opponents wrist joint and your thumbs wrapped over opponents thumb. Step back. (Front stance. Opposite side opponent grabbed you. Opponent grabs with left hand. You step back with left foot.) Force opponent Down by Appling pressure to their wrist. Counter with a rear leg knee up to opponents head, or front kick. (You judge the distance.)
   Strive to do this in a sharp precise manner. As a punch to the face is generally following the grab. 

Previous and the following are required for promotion to 2nd Kyu (Brown Belt / One Stripe )

4. ATTACK: Bear hug from behind.
   DEFENSE: Trap opponents hands by grabbing their hands with both of yours, step out to the side with one leg into horse stance (making sure that your waist line is lower than opponents), take your other leg and put it behind your opponents leg making sure that our leg is against the back of your opponents leg, force your body backwards to force our opponent to the ground with you on top, elbow strike to the groin, roll over counter punch and assume a sparring stance. (Push off opponents face to get yourself up.)

5. ATTACK: Middle level stepping punch.
   DEFENSE: Step back with opposite side being attacked, use front hand to push punch aside, hooking opponents attacking forearm with the hand that did the block spin to your back, with other arm elbow strike opponents back, spin back in the direction you came from and ridge hand to opponents throat with same arm as elbow strike and assume a sparring stance.

6. ATTACK: Upper level stepping punch.
   DEFENSE: Step back, rising block with the opposite arm as opponents attack, step forward moving closer to opponent and use your other forearm to strike down on the opponents elbow joint causing it to bend, use the hand that did the rising block to grab your opponents attacking hand with your thumb on their wrist and fingers on the back of heir hand and bend it away from you, keep your opponents elbow on your chest for leverage, turn to side and force opponent down backwards to ground, reverse punch and Assume a sparring stance.

7. ATTACK: Upper level stepping punch.
   DEFENSE: Step back, rising block with same arm as opponents attack, step forward putting your foot behind your opponents leg, hook your opposite arm under the blocked punch forcing your forearm down into your opponents inner elbow joint forcing it to bend, grab the back of the hand that did the rising block with the hand that hooked under opponents arm, force opponent down backwards, counter punch and assume a sparring stance.

All Previous and the following are required for promotion to 1st Kyu (Brown Belt Two Stripes)

8. ATTACK: Head lock from the side.
   DEFENSE: Turn head so you can tuck your chin into your opponents inner elbow joint (this will allow you to continue to breathe), with the hand that is behind opponent reach up behind opponents head and grab under their nose (grab hair if you can't reach nose), with the other hand reach under opponents leg behind their knee, pull up on their knee and pull back on nose (hair) forcing opponent backwards onto ground, counter punch and resume a sparring stance.

9. ATTACK: Middle level front kick or roundhouse kick.
   DEFENSE: Step in with the opposite side and use the same arm as opponents attack to catch the kick by hooking your arm under opponents leg from the inside, sweep out opponents other leg (still hanging onto opponents leg) and strike opponents chest forcing them down backwards, counter punch and assume a sparring stance.

10. ATTACK: Middle level stepping punch.
    DEFENSE: Step back into horse stance with opposite side being attacked, use rear hand to block punch and grab opponents wrist, slide under opponents arm with an inside elbow strike to their body and with the same arm deliver the same strike to opponents head, with same hand force opponent to ground by applying pressure to the back of opponents elbow, counter punch and assume a sparring stance.

All Previous and the following are required for promotion to Shodan. (Black Belt)

11. ATTACK: Grabbing top front of Gi top with one hand.
    DEFENSE: Trap opponents hand against your chest with hand from same side, step forward with opposite leg and place it behind opponents front leg, with other arm strike your elbow down on opponents inside elbow joint (bending opponents arm) and reach with the palm of your hand around and under to their stomach, with the other hand release opponents hand and grab the back of their hair and pull down into your legs and use your legs to choke opponents neck (ends with opponents submission).

12. ATTACK: Lower level stepping punch or grab.
    DEFENSE: Cross block, raise opponents attacking hand up to your shoulder (same side) trapping their hand on your shoulder with opposite hand, push down on opponents elbow joint forcing them down, strike opponents head with knee-up and assume a sparring stance.

13. ATTACK: Grab around opponents neck from behind with one arm.
    DEFENSE: Step to the opposite side being attacked into horse stance (making sure your hips are lower than opponents) and reach back as far as you can with both hands grabbing opponents attacking arm, push your hips against opponents and throw opponent over your shoulder, still holding on with one hand counter punch, grab same arm again put one leg over opponents neck and the other over their body with their arm between your legs fall back and apply pressure to their elbow joint (ends with opponents submission).