| People are conditioned to think that they have to do | | | | programs are more to the point and bring up these |
| a big, dramatic self defense technique to finish an | | | | kinds of techniques. For realistic scenarios a finger |
| attacker or escape from a bad situation. There's | | | | lock can be one of your most valuable tactics. |
| nothing wrong with going for a big knockout strike if | | | | Sample Scenario |
| you are in a position to do so, but you can also use | | | | If you were grabbed on the wrist or on your shirt by |
| some tiny moves to get huge results in a self | | | | a larger, stronger opponent, instead of just trying to |
| defense situation. | | | | break free you could simply go for the attacker's |
| Small Joint Locks and Breaks | | | | pinkie finger and wrench it backwards for all you're |
| There are tons of martial arts and self defense | | | | worth. You are not going for a submission in this |
| courses and classes available. Some martial arts | | | | type of scenario, you want to break that finger |
| schools and online martial arts training programs teach | | | | quickly. Apply the pressure quickly in a backward, |
| effective techniques, some don't. One particularly | | | | circular motion - like turning a door knob as quickly as |
| valuable self defense technique is to attack the small | | | | you can. |
| joints of your opponent. In MMA fights you see a lot | | | | The key is to isolate their weakest finger and use |
| of arm bars and leg locks, but you never see small | | | | the entire power of your hand and wrist against that |
| joint locks. | | | | one, isolated digit. This is not a catch-all tactic, but it |
| Why No Small Joint Locks in MMA | | | | can be very effective. Keep this type of technique in |
| The reason that you don't see these kinds of moves | | | | mind and practice it slowly and carefully during your |
| in MMA is quite simply because they are very easy | | | | training sessions. You will do it fast in a real scenario, |
| to do and cause a lot of pain. A lot of MMA fights | | | | but practice it very carefully and develop precision. |
| would end pretty quickly if finger locks were allowed. | | | | The grab and trap of the finger should occur quickly, |
| There would also be a lot of professional fighters out | | | | but in practice the lock should happen slowly until |
| of commission with broken fingers too. That's not a | | | | your training partner taps. |
| good combination for MMA promoters or fighters. | | | | These small attacks can reap big rewards in a realistic |
| Breaking a Finger Quickly Turns the Tide | | | | attack scenario. Online martial arts training programs |
| A lot of traditional self defense programs never even | | | | that emphasize practical techniques teach these kinds |
| mention how effective a finger lock, or break can be. | | | | of brutal techniques as well as others to really equip |
| Some of the newer online martial arts training | | | | people to deal with violent attackers. |