Faking Out Your Attacker
Fakes and feints help you to out-think your
attacker as opposed to having to depend solely on strength or
speed
What is a Fake?
A fake is the
beginning of a strike in which the intention is to redirect your
opponent's attention toward the uncompleted attack.
What
is a Feint?
A feint is a body motion implying the
beginning of a strike in which the intention is to redirect your
opponent's attention toward the implied attack
The goal in
a fake or feint could be defensive by confusing your opponent just
before he/she (watch your opponent's weight shift, tension and
eyes for this) or as a part of an attack to attempt to get your
opponent to move his/her guard away from your target area.
How
Obvious?
Basically the more experienced the opponent
the smaller the motion of the fake or feint. One of the best Fakes
that was pulled on me was a reverse punch towards my face followed
by a kick to the groin WITHOUT her eyes dropping at all when
executing the front kick to my groin.
Examples of Fakes
and Feints
Many of us saw the youtube video in which
the martial arts instructor protected the hooker from being beaten
by her pimp. As the pimp approached him the martial artist raised
his right hand away from his body shaking his wrist slightly then
executing a knife-hand strike to the neck of the pimp. This was
more of a redirect but I believe qualifies as a feint since no
beginning of an attack was executed.
Looking down and
executing a quick backfist is a feint
Raising your knee
slightly and sliding in as though you were going to execute a
roundhouse kick then executing a quick backfist is an example of a
fake
Stomping the ground with both feet setting yourself
often will generate the same reaction from your opponent.
Naturally you execute an attack right afterwards while your
opponent is still in a set, stable stance.
A favorite fake
of mine is to execute an easily blocked hooking punch. Then
wrapping my arm around the my opponents blocking arm and executing
a backfist into his/her unprotected face. It's amazing how many
people think they only have one hand with which to block. If you
do anything to get that arm busy you'll often execute a successful
attack. See my ebook Bringing The Martial Artist Out from Within
for some excellent blocking drills.
Stutter Steps
Stutter movements are an example of a fake in which
you may actually end up striking the same area you faked toward.
Raising your knee and sliding in with a front roundhouse
kick, pause,then kick
Double jabs and backfists also work
this way as well. Though these may not technically be fakes if the
initial strike is meant to make contact with your attacker. A good
example nonetheless.
Multiple Fakes and Feints
Don't
be afraid to double or even triple up on your fakes and feints.
Remember the more you can get your opponent's arms moving the
better chance you have of a successful attack. Conclusion
Please
do not just practice your fakes and feints during
sparring. Sparring is fun and wonderful exercise, but there is
not enough repetition and focus to improve any particular aspect
of martial arts and self-defense. Fakes and feints are an
important addition to your arsenal. Be sure to practice them
individually then combined with an attack. Again see my ebook
Bringing The Martial Artist Out from Within for some good drills.
About
The Author

J. Richard
Kirkham graduated from Eastern Illinois University as a dual
certified teacher. He is the author of Bringing
The Martial Artist Out from Within and
Step
by Step Learning Martial Arts Internal Energy Strikes.
Recently he's written several $2.00
books with resale and giveaway rights including some martial
arts books.
Mr. Kirkham's
also a martial
arts instructor with
over 30 years experience in martial arts and self-defense and has
expertise in alternative
teaching methods and
positive reinforcement methodology. He currently resides in
Honolulu with his wife Jan and son Rylan. Feel free to visit his
website at http://KirkhamsEbooks.com
or you may email
him at help@kirkhamsebooks.com
. This material
is copyrighted but may be printed or reposted in its entirety.
Get
a FREE Speed Drills Book for Subscribing to Kwik Self-Defense and
Fitness Tips
Self_Defense_Tips-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
Get
and Share Your Education and Behavior Kwik Tips and Articles
EducationProblemsNSolutions-subscribe@yahoogroups.com
|