| Many self defense instructors teach a sideward strike | | | | strike to the jaw won't result in a knockout because |
| to the point of the jaw as a means to cause an | | | | it isn't explosive enough to cause trauma to the brain, |
| instant knockout. Although that is a very useful | | | | but, if you grab the back of the hand with one hand |
| concept, especially when used as a preemptive strike | | | | and the point of the jaw with the other, you will be |
| (striking first when a fight is unavoidable,) that barely | | | | able to twist the neck and control the head. Just as |
| scratches the surface of the almost unlimited ways | | | | any gymnast would tell you, the body follows the |
| to control or neutralize an aggressor when one has | | | | head and therefore this movement can be used to |
| the opportunity to strike or grab the chin of an | | | | turn an aggressor and move him (especially helpful to |
| attacker: | | | | make a hole in a circle of multiple opponents and |
| 1. The classic hooking strike-The old reliable technique | | | | start attacking the others from behind or the side,) |
| of striking the last three inches on either side of the | | | | throw a person into a wall to better control him or |
| jaw will cause the skull to pivot suddenly on the | | | | even take someone to the ground. |
| vertebra of the neck and violently shake the brain in | | | | 4. Tilting the head backwards-Just as when |
| the skull. This sudden and violent shaking of the head | | | | horizontally twisting, instead of striking the jaw, |
| will cause the brain to bounce around, often knocking | | | | pushing the bottom of the jaw upwards and |
| an aggressor out cold or at least causing a flash | | | | backwards won't result in a knockout, but it will |
| knockout, in which the victim is "out on his feet" and | | | | cause an aggressor to bend his spine backwards, |
| his mind goes blank for a few seconds before he | | | | which will destroy his balance and expose his |
| comes to his senses after he is already lying on the | | | | windpipe to follow-up blows. Even when incorporated |
| ground. Needless to say, a flash knockout in and of | | | | into a strike, grabbing the chin will automatically |
| itself is not a fight-ender, but the opportunity that it | | | | position your extended fingers under the ridge of |
| gives you to follow-up with other blows will almost | | | | bone covered by the eyebrows and allow you to not |
| ensure your surviving a fight. | | | | only tilt the head, but cause pain by applying pressure |
| 2. The direct strike-Popularized by Rex Applegate and | | | | to the eyes as well. This movement is a good |
| the other WW II pioneers of military close combat, | | | | follow-up for a direct palm heel to the chin that didn't |
| moving directly in and striking the bottom of the jaw | | | | result in a knockout and can be used to pin an |
| to push it upwards and backwards at about a 45 | | | | opponent by pushing him against a wall or, better |
| degree angle will often cause a knockout. Even if it | | | | yet, an object that comes up to the height of his |
| doesn't, it will cause your opponent to loose his | | | | lower back. By pushing him against such an object, |
| balance and stumble or fall backwards, usually | | | | like the hood of a car or even just pulling with your |
| exposing his groin to kicks and his windpipe to further | | | | free hand on his back just above the level of his belt |
| attacks. | | | | his balance will be gone and he can be controlled or |
| 3. Horizontally twisting the head-Grasping and twisting | | | | finished off easily. |
| the head in the same direction as the classic hooking | | | | |