Darren Levine - Krav Maga for Beginners

IMMEDIATE DANGER→ Hands on neck and throat. The primary danger in this attack is the pressure on the sides of the neck, which restricts the carotid arteries and potentially the windpipe, depending on the position of the hand choking in front.

SECONDARY DANGERS→ Headbutt. After the initial defense, an incidental headbutt is possible. If the defense is performed properly, this danger should be mitigated or removed altogether.

SOLUTION→ One-Hand Pluck

1Creating the same hook with your hand as in the front choke defense, this time using only the hand furthest from the attacker, reach up and beyond the attacker’s hand.

2In order be as explosive as possible, pluck where the wrist and thumb meet in a diagonal motion downward across your chest. To guard against an incidental headbutt, turn your head towards the attacker while simultaneously tucking your chin, exposing the top of your head to the attacker, not your face or the side of your head. As the pluck continues along your chest, pin the attacker’s hand to your body. While this is not essential to the technique, it limits the attacker’s weapons.

INITIAL COUNTERATTACK→ Strike to Groin. The strike to the groin should be delivered as close to simultaneously to the pluck as possible. The preferred strike is an open-hand slap because of the increased surface area it offers, but other strikes (such as hammerfist, page 88) are acceptable.

NEUTRALIZING THE ATTACKER→ Typical follow-ups to the groin strike are elbows to the face and head (hammerfists are also an option, if the attacker begins to move away from the strikes). The defender should continue to strike while turning to face the attacker, which will allow the defender to transition to a more advantageous fighting position. Once this position is obtained, further combatives, such as knees and kicks, may be used more readily. Regardless of the combatives used, students must focus on rendering the attacker unwilling or unable to continue the assault.

• explosive pluck, diagonally across the chest

• trap the plucked hand to body

• simultaneous strike to groin

• aggressive, follow-up combatives while turning to engage attacker

• disengage when deemed safe

Why would anyone attack this way?

While it’s certainly possible to attack in this manner, it’s also possible that the defender’s initial reaction to such a threat from the front is to turn the head and upper body away, creating a choke from the side (even if the intent was to choke from the front).

Do I have to pin the attacker’s hand?

While it’s not a must to pin the hand, it will serve to prevent or delay secondary attacks. It’s also a good training habit, since keeping the hand tight will make for a stronger pluck.

Can I go for the elbow immediately, instead of the groin strike?

Absolutely! As a matter of fact, if your hands happen to be up when the attack happens, this is probably a better option, but it’s still important to strike simultaneously to the defense.

Training Tips:In order to make the pluck as successful as possible, reach beyond the attacker’s hands, as if you’re trying to touch your ear. Keep your hand and the defender’s hand tight to your body. This action will allow you to maximize both power in the pluck and control of the attacker.

Be aware that it’s very common for students to step away while making this defense and counter. This will work against the defense, since it moves towards the strength of the attack (the four fingers). Stepping away will also diminish the power of the counter and perhaps even take the defender out of range for the initial strike.

ATTACK→ This attack happens to the defender’s dead side, and the attacker places both hands on the neck and throat. The defender should train from a neutral position. The attacker should simulate a realistic attack, building in intensity as familiarity with the defense increases.

Safety in training note: Do not “punch” the hands into the defender’s neck when training, since this can cause a “whiplash” effect.

IMMEDIATE DANGER→ Fingers on throat. The primary danger in this attack is the potential of the fingers crushing the windpipe.

SECONDARY DANGERS→ Balance, strikes. In the initial defense, it’s possible to be exposed to an increased risk of tripping or being swept to the ground. The defender should also be aware of the potential for strikes from the attacker.

SOLUTION→ Two-Hand Pluck

1-3Send your hands as far back as you can, plucking the attacker’s hands straight down, bringing your elbows to your sides. As your hands begin to move, tuck your chin and round your shoulders (you may find this happening instinctively). This pluck, like the others discussed, should be explosive and performed as close to the thumb and wrist of the attacker’s hands as possible. While performing the pluck, step back diagonally, moving both feet.

INITIAL COUNTERATTACK→ Strike to Groin. While not simultaneous, this strike should occur as a natural continuation of the plucking motion, using a slap or hammerfist to the groin. Making the diagonal step mentioned above will not only help reduce the chance of being tripped or swept, it will also line up the attacker’s groin for this strike.

NEUTRALIZING THE ATTACKER→ After the initial counterstrike, the defender should continue to strike with elbows to the body and face while turning to face the attacker, still controlling the attacker’s outside hand. Depending on the attacker’s reaction to these strikes, longer-range weapons such as hammerfists may be employed, and the hand may be released to continue with knees, kicks, and other combatives. Regardless of the combatives used, students must focus on rendering the attacker unwilling or unable to continue the assault.

• explosive pluck at the wrist and thumb, straight down

• diagonal step to open up the groin, establish a good base, and move away from the attacker’s free arm

• strike to groin, continuing the plucking motion

• aggressive, follow-up combatives while turning to engage the attacker

• disengage

I thought Krav Maga used simultaneous counterattacks?

While this is preferred, it’s not always possible. In this case, the attack is to the defender’s dead side, so strong counters are not available in tandem with the defense. The groin strike should still be made as soon as the immediate threat is addressed.