Fight Fast Blog

If you keep up with the blog or have read my fight guide you know that I do not recommend taking a self defense situation to the ground. There are a lot of reasons why fighting on the ground is more dangerous than staying on your feet.

However there are times when taking a fight to the ground is your only option. For that reason I do recommend everybody know at least the basics of how to take an attacker to the ground and how to take care of business once down there.

In this video former Delta Force Operator Dale Comstock shows you one great way to take a bigger stronger attacker to the ground with you on top.

As you can see this self defense technique is pretty simple. Although it looks complicated when you watch it full speed there only a few things you have to get right.

First to make this take down work you must have your foot behind his keeping him from stepping back and maintaining his balance.

The other important thing to remember when using this self defense technique is to keep your leg locked out. Without having your leg locked out there is a good chance he will wind up crashing down on top of you totally defeating the purpose of the takedown. The last thing you want is to give him the advantage on the ground.

You’ll want to practice this technique full speed to get the feel of it. I highly recommend you use training mats or some form of floor padding when practicing this move. If you don’t your training partner probably won’t want to come back.

If you don’t have floor pads or access to a gym that does practice this technique half speed on grass or some other softer surface.

Remember this is simply a takedown technique. Once you take a fight to the ground you have to know how to finish it down there. For some easy to learn, no-nonsense ground fighting techniques check out Dale Comstock’s Active Duty.

The Active Duty Package is a comprehensive fighting system that not only includes unarmed standup and ground fighting, it also includes a complete edged and blunt weapon disarmament and knife fighting system.

Active Duty it’s a great package coming from a decorated Delta Force operator with the real world life-on-the-line combat experience to back it all up. Oh and did I mention he was also a competitive boxer and kick-boxer.

Needless to say Mr. Comstock knows what he talking about. Check it out know by clicking the link below:

Dale Comstock’s Active Duty

I don’t normally recommend using throws for self defense. They can be effective, but most throws require way to much practice and skill, and should be reserved for Hollywood and showing off in the dojo. The throw shown above is an exception. It’s easy to learn, it’s not showy, and can be learned in a very short amount of time.

The other advantage of this move is that it never requires you lifting your attacker off the ground, yet it creates a large fall which can cause a lot of damage. Instead of lifting you are simply rotating your attacker around his waist.

This self defense move is great even if you are smaller than your opponent. The key is getting in close (where most fighters don’t know what to do). Getting in close takes away most of your attackers tools, since most fighters rely on punches and kick that are ineffective when you are in close.

As Christophe explains in the video the secret to getting this throw to work is pushing and pulling at the same time. If you just pull or just push it won’t work. When you push and pull at the same time you are forcing your attackers center of gravity to move way behind his feet, falling is the only possible result when this happens.

No matter how big or strong he is he can’t defy the laws of physics. If you push your attackers body weight behind his heels he is going down.

The basics of this move are simple. Close the distance (a finger flick to the eyes is a great way to distract him and get his hands up setting up the baggage toss). Once you are in close you have to do two things at the same time.

First, drop down low enough to get your arm between his legs reaching your hand up to the small of his back and pull while standing up.

Second you thrust your forearm into into his throat or chest (either one works it really depends on how tall you are) pushing his upper torso backwards.

When you do both of these things together you can put a much larger attacker on the ground.

For more from Christophe Clugston check out his Savage Street Fighting Package.

Stay Smart and Stay Safe,
Bob Pierce
Head Honcho, FightFast.com