Don Draper Judo: Unarmed Self-Defense

from the Mad Men Era

As I was browsing through some old magazines the other day, I came across a fantastic
issue of Popular Science from 1962 that contained a feature on unarmed self-defense.
The article was adapted from a book entitled Modern Judo and Self-Defense by Harry
Ewen, a “police judo” expert. The best part of the multi-page article are the fantastic mid-
century illustrations by Dana Rasmussen, featuring a well-dressed judo expert who looks
like he might work with Don Draper when he isn’t throwing ruffians over his shoulder.
Even the “thug” in the article is pretty dapper, proving once again that everything was
just swankier back in the day — even the bad guys.

Below you’ll find step-by-step illustrated instructions on how to defend yourself from
chokes, bear hugs, kicks, and knife attacks when you’re unarmed, all while still looking
incredibly handsome. Enjoy.
Three Ways to Defend Yourself from Chokes from the Front

Finger Lock

Grab the thug’s little fingers, with your thumbs under the tips (fig. 1). The knuckles of
your index fingers should be over the the second joints of his little fingers (fig. 2). Move
your wrists in a circular motion down toward your hips. Applied pressure will force the
thug to his knees to avoid broken fingers. As he goes down, strike him in the face or jaw
with your knee (fig. 3).

Nose Break
First, clasp your hands (fig. 1). Then, with fingers locked and elbows bent, swing hard
from the waist and strike the thug’s forearms with the bony parts of your arms. Follow
through until your clenched hands are above your assailant’s head and the choke is
broken (fig 2). Finish by bringing down your still-clenched hands, with all the force you
can muster, on the bridge of his nose (fig. 3). Stop short of this, naturally, while
practicing this move.

Basic Arm Lock

Grasp the thug’s right forearm with both your hands (fig. 1). Holding his right wrist
firmly with your left hand, slip your right thumb under his right palm and pull his arm
toward you to ensure that it is straight (fig. 2).
Keep on turning until you are almost at your assailant’s side (fig. 3). Keep his hand
elevated above the level of the rest of your arm (fig. 4). Now put all the weight of your
body behind your left upper arm and elbow, pushing down on his right arm just above the
elbow (fig. 5). Unless he submits, he will end up with a dislocated shoulder.

How to Break a Grip from the Front That Pins Your Arms

Force the thug to move back by giving him a couple of sharp jabs in the groin with your
thumbs (fig. 1). As he draws his hips back, pivot on your left foot and move your right
foot across in front of him (fig. 2). You should now be facing the same way he is. As you
turn, slip your right arm behind his back and grasp his right sleeve with your left hand to
keep his body close to yours (fig. 3)

Keep your knees bent slightly, maintain a steady pull on the attacker’s sleeve, and keep
your right hand in the small of his back (fig. 4). Straightening your legs will now raise his
feet off the ground (fig. 5). Your opponent is now balanced on your right hip, and you can
toss him by turning him over as you continue to pull on his right sleeve (fig. 6).
How to Break a Bear Hug from the Rear

This defense works as well against an overarm grip as against an underarm one (fig. 1).
With your feet apart, bend your knees, stoop down, and grab your assailant’s right ankle
with both hands (fig. 2). Pull his ankle forward and upward to throw him on his rump
(fig. 3).

Defense Against Kick Aimed at Face or Stomach

Trap the thug’s foot by bending your knees and crossing your hands in front of you (fig.
1). As the kicker’s shin contacts your wrists, turn your left hand (fig. 2) so that you have a
firm hold around his calf. Assuming that the kicker uses his right leg, spin around to your
right, throwing him forward on his face (fig. 3). Once he’s thrown, follow up by going
down on the ground with him. In the final position (fig. 4), your left forearm is behind his
calf, your left hand is on your own right bicep, and your right hand is on top of his foot.
Use care when practicing this lock: doing it jerkily could dislocate the leg.

Three Ways to Subdue a Thug Who Tries to Choke You From Behind

Arm Lock

Grab the choking forearm at the wrist with your left hand and place your right hand under
the assailant’s elbow (fig. 1). Pull down with your left hand and push up with your right,
turning and bending your body as you do so. This should give you enough space to
extricate your head from between your attacker’s elbow and body. Bring your left foot
back as you turn, so you are at his side (fig. 2). Twist his right arm behind his back (fig.
3).
When his right arm is twisted almost as far back as it will go, slip your left hand under his
right wrist (fig. 4). Slide your left arm across his back (fig. 5) until your left hand is
trapped in the crook of your left elbow. To apply the pressure part of the lock, raise your
left elbow in a forward circular motion while holding your assailant’s right elbow steady
with your right hand.

Shoulder Throw

Grab the thug’s sleeve at the elbow with your left hand while your right grips his shoulder
(or as high up on his sleeve as you are able to reach) (fig. 1). Bend your knees, but keep
your torso upright. Bend your body forward. Pull down and to the left with your left
hand, forward and slightly to the left with your right (fig. 2). Push your hips back against
your attacker’s thighs as you pull, and he’ll be thrown over your shoulder. (fig. 3)

Shoulder Drop

This throw starts the same way as the shoulder throw. You first grab your opponent’s
right sleeve at elbow and shoulder. All you have to do now is drop onto your left knee,
stretching your right leg sideways as you do so (fig. 1). Pull down with your right hand
and the thug is tossed over your shoulder (fig. 2). This and other throws that are shown
on these pages should be practiced only on well-padded surfaces or on a soft lawn.

Dislodging a One-Hand Hair Grab

Grab the attacker’s wrist with your right hand. Hold his hand on your head (or throat) as
you turn right and raise your left arm high (fig. 2). Bring that arm down upon your foe’s
upper arm, placing your left foot in front of him (fig. 3). If you do this swiftly, you may
well injure your assailant. Better go slow when you’re practicing, though.

Two Defenses Against a Boxer

As your opponent aims a blow, spin to your right with your full weight on your right leg.
Bend your left knee and then straighten that leg right out at the attacker, catching him just
above his right knee with the sole of your left foot, backed by the full force of your body.
As your left leg kicks out, jerk your head right. This counter-balances the weight being
pushed left. It also gets your head nicely out of the way of the aimed fist of your
opponent (fig. 1). An alternate method is to deflect the blow with your right forearm and
counterattack with a knee to the groin (fig. 2). Skip the knee jab, however, during practice
sessions.

How to Protect Yourself from a Knife Wielder

As the knifer raises his blade (fig. 1), parry the blow by striking his forearm with the edge
of your own left forearm (fig. 2). Quickly seize his clothing near his right shoulder with
your right hand. Then with a strong, but smooth movement, pull his right shoulder toward
you while also pushing his right (knife) hand upward and away from your body (fig. 3).
Grab his right wrist with your left hand as you push his knife up, while still holding on to
his shoulder with your right hand (fig. 4). Now move your right hand from the knife-
wielder’s shoulder to his right elbow. Pushing down on that elbow keeps his knife arm
straight (fig. 5). Pulling his wrist toward you applies a very drastic shoulder lock. Unless
your assailant drops his knife, you can easily dislocate his shoulder.

2 Rich March 14, 2013 at 6:42 pm

Nice photos, but I want to make one amendment to the knife picture. I studied
martial arts for 16 years and learned a bunch of live knife techniques. I WOULD
NOT suggest stepping towards your opponent and turning your back to him as it
shows in figure 2. You lose sight of the knife (always dangerous) and actually
give a lot of your body to him to hit. I would suggest stepping back so that you’re
facing his knife while using your left hand to slow his momentum. Then slide
your right foot forward while doing the grab and continue as described from there.

3 John March 14, 2013 at 6:44 pm

I can’t really say as I approve of the Captain Kirk Double Fist Strike of Shirt-
Ripping.

Two main reasons:

1. It hurts. You. There’s a lot of compressibility in the “fist” that move creates,
meaning that there’s a lot of skin taking up the space between your fingers, and
when you strike something, all your fingers smash together and a lot of force is
concentrated on your proximal phalanges bones of your little finger on both
hands. Very painful. Ask me how I know.

2. It takes away one of the primary means by which you generate power with a
strike; you twist your body. Especially if you’re a big guy, you’ve got the
potential for a LOT of rotational momentum just by a small, sharp twist of your
body that coincides with a one-handed strike. Furthermore, this twist is generated
from your hips, by your legs, which, because you’re an AoM reader and do your
squats, are pretty big and muscular (right?). Even if you’re a big, strong guy, your
arms are relatively weak compared to your legs and core, which is where your
strikes should come from, and which the Captain Kirk Fist Smash takes out of the
power equation.
4 Tac March 14, 2013 at 7:40 pm

John, I agree that the double-fist is weaker and opens up a lot of potential
problems, not only can you self-injure, you can also open yourself up to your
hands being grabbed…..and now you lose both hands simultaneously. I’d suggest
this variation:

Break the hold as shown…it’s not a bad break for a choke by the average punk.
It’s also simple and relatively easy for someone without coordination to do. When
your hands are up above your head (the choke is broken or nearly so), drive AT
your enemy with side-by-side hammerfists. Think of it like chopping wood…a
manly training exercise….the power isn’t from your triceps/shoulders, it’s from
your core and from dropping your weight INTO the blow. The side-by side
hammerfists will have the same effect of stunning your enemy, taking away his
vision momentarily, and possibly breaking his nose or giving him a black eye.
Once you hit, step back a pace forcefully (to finish breaking the choke if it’s not
broken yet, by throwing him off balance) and then engage or do otherwise based
on the circumstances.

On the ‘side kick to counter a punch’ one, I’d disagree. In the 60s, most people
that knew how to throw dangerous straight punches were boxers and the like, and
didn’t know squat about ground fighting/wrestling. Now, MMA is so popular that
many fighters or wannabees know at least the rudiments of both. Show one of
them a leg like that when they throw a punch, and you’re done. I don’t claim to be
a great fighter, or even a good one. But if I throw a jab and you counter with
that….I’m going to take you down and give you a reenactment of Lesner v.
Mir….the rematch.

I also agree that there are lots of things with that knife defense that can be
dangerous. However, I’m not going to go into detail here. Suffice to say that
knives are incredibly dangerous in close quarters….more dangerous than guns
IMHO. Successfully countering knives while unarmed is very difficult even with
training. I don’t think that any advice online or a diagram can suffice to show you
how to do it. And even if you do everything right….expect to get cut or stabbed at
least once. The best defense for a knife is to create time/space/distance, preferably
with a barrier between you and the subject.

5 Ben Cope March 14, 2013 at 8:01 pm

The method for escaping a bear hug has two big flaws. 1) When you lower
yourself, the attacker can easily slip his arms up and you’re now being choked. 2)
When you lower yourself and start reaching for that leg, he can easily knee you in
the balls.

Instead, reach up and grab both of his forearms, so he can’t choke you, then lower
yourself and get one leg behind the guy. (your right behind his left, or your left
 behind his right.) Then, keeping both feet firmly on the ground, twist your body.
Your thigh will trip him and he will end up on the ground on his back, while you
should still be standing.

6 Matt March 14, 2013 at 8:03 pm

I’ve been doing a form of traditional Japanese Jujutsu (Hakko Denshyn Ryu Aiki
Jujutsu) for almost a decade now and it’s funny to see many of the same or similar
techniques being used here. A solid technique developed over 800 years ago is
still a solid technique today.

7 Robin - Of The West March 14, 2013 at 8:14 pm

I’m not a big guy but I have studied a variety of martial arts over the years
including: Jujitsu, Karate, Tai Chi and two forms of Aikido – a Sword Form and
Fugagaki – the later being my favorite. One could look at Aikido as an ever-
evolving relative of Judo – redirecting your opponents energy rather than trying to
match or overcoming it – combining with timing with knowledge of how the
human body reacts to balance and physical stress. In my opinion, there is
physiological advantage when you put an attacker – who might be much bigger
than you – on the ground and in a compromising position using his own energy
and very little of your own. Peace.

8 Stuart March 14, 2013 at 8:19 pm

Seems like a few people have already covered some specific criticisms, so I’ll just
keep my comments brief and broad:
First off, it’s awesome to see something like this on Art of Manliness, self-defense
is pretty darn important. A lot of the listed techniques are both simple and quite
practical. However, not all of them are, and many (especially the throws) can be
incredibly dangerous to you- and the defender, of course, be it somebody you
don’t worry about hurting, an angry drunk friend, or a practice partner- if you
haven’t been properly trained in their execution. While these descriptions are
good, they leave a lot to be desired. Nothing can replace actual martial arts
training, of course, but I think that goes without saying. The important thing
readers should know is that the throws (and that kick defense! Wow! That’s super
dangerous and few people are dumb enough to throw a kick in a fight as is. If the
attacker throws a kick that high there are dozens of simpler options that could
work just as effectively.) are not that advisable to use unless they have to. The arm
lock is particularly ridiculous to have instructions to, not only because it’s
dangerous but because there is no explanation as to how somebody would get into
that position. Most attackers do not just let you hold their hands and move their
arms.

Just taking a couple Jiu Jitsu classes can give somebody a similar level of self-
defense knowledge without such a high possibility of misunderstandings or
 miscommunications. Oh, and Judo’s awesome but it was created as a sport version
of Jiu Jitsu. These days Judo emphasizes more throws than Jiu Jitsu does, but
Judo is just not as practical for self defense. Obviously people could argue this
issue for days, and it really does come down to how the teacher teaches more than
anything, but Jiu Jitsu, especially Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, from what I’ve found, has a
much more initial goal of self defense with practical applications.

Wow I said I’d keep that short, but I didn’t. Oh well, hope this was helpful and
not too negative sounding! :)

9 Stuart March 14, 2013 at 8:21 pm

An edit from my last post. I missed that the arm lock was from a front choke. Not
a bad defense so long as that is the situation. Pulling off an arm lock from
different positions can take some finesse or luck depending on the circumstances,
and I was thinking it was that broad of a guide for some reason. My bad! XD

10 john March 14, 2013 at 8:40 pm

I was 10 in 1966, which is probably around the time of this article. James Bond
and this stuff was HUGE! Everyone was into judo and Ju-Jitsu, which was new,
and it was in books and magazines everywhere. My buddies and I practiced this
stuff all the time and became quite adept. As I got older, I only remembered a few
wrist twists, armlocks, and throws, but they served me well through my teens, the
Marine Corps, and as a State Trooper. Even now as an older gent I would’nt shy
from a chance to use them. I had forgotten about some of the good times of that
era. Thank you!

11 Andrew March 14, 2013 at 9:00 pm

Interesting read, though I’m weary of the knife counter attack. As much as
possible one wants to stay on the outside of a knife attack rather than going inside.
If you go on the inside, as described, and you fail to stop the knife, you will get
stabbed in the back an awful lot… If you move to the outside and miss your
opportunity to block the knife, the chances of getting stabbed are greatly reduced,
and you are in more or less the same position to try again. Don’t forget that if you
are attacked with a knife, expect to get stabbed.

The person who wins a knife fight is the guy that bleeds out last.

12 Gerald March 14, 2013 at 9:19 pm

Old Skool Jiu Jitsu.

But the throws are the very basic throws in Judo also. O-Goshi, Ippon Sai o Nage,
Seoi Otoshi…
 ” In the 60s, most people that knew how to throw dangerous straight punches
were boxers and the like, and didn’t know squat about ground fighting/wrestling”

In the 60s there were boxers and wrestlers. And People dont knowing sh** about
martial arts kicking your ass just from learning by doing. ;)

13 Brian March 14, 2013 at 9:21 pm

This is kinda cool, but none of these are useful if you cant practice them until they
become so. Self desfense should be less a decision, more a reflex, because the
time it takes you to decide if its appropriate could easily get you deadified. Just
saying.

14 jerry March 14, 2013 at 10:22 pm

So many experts commenting while giving you their vitals. The first thing any
real fighting trainer tells you is to keep it to yourself…same as carrying a weapon.
But, I am old school old man. I never went to drama class.

15 Don Draper March 14, 2013 at 11:08 pm

Don Draper agrees it is foolish to mess with a man named Don Draper…!

16 Jess March 15, 2013 at 12:12 am

Self defense is awesome. I wouldn’t mind seeing more of it on here actually,

haha… but either way, still an awesome blog =)

17 Tac March 15, 2013 at 6:22 am

Gerald…..I was just noting that while that technique might have been reasonable
to the person that was devising this article fifty years ago, it’s not something that
would be advisable to try today. Of course there were people back then with very
well-rounded knowledge bases. Now, however, even the morons have picked up
on a few things.

18 Stan R. Mitchell March 15, 2013 at 6:27 am

These are some wonderful, basic moves, and you’re right: The illustrations are
incredible.

But I can’t help but think about how much further hand-to-hand and martial arts
have come since then. Almost all these “defenses” have been further refined,
modified, and improved.
 And I think most of the practitioners I know have taken every thing to such a
higher level. For instance, I’d never be happy with just one style, so I practice
three: Shaolin Kung Fu, Tae Kwon Do, and Muay Thai, and I even nabbed a belt
in Kajukenbo, which is some really brutal stuff.

Additionally, I spend lots of time in the gym moving weights, just like most of the
other practitioners I know.

I’m not sure why this is the case for most. Maybe we’re more paranoid. Maybe
the MMA kick everyone is on teaches us we must be uber prepared. And maybe,
we just have more access to knowledge through books, videos, etc. Probably back
in the day, you just had one or two choices of dojos to train at.

Regardless, great article. Thanks so much for sharing it!

19 Eric March 15, 2013 at 6:30 am

Back in 5th grade I transferred school and had a problem with being bullied by
larger guys. I’m 57, and at the time the only real martial art you could study was
Judo, usually taught by soldiers who had served in Japan. After about 6 months, I
had a few decent techniques down pretty well. One day on the playground, one of
the larger guys who had been bugging me stepped up and grabbed the front of ny
shirt. I threw him clean with O-soto gari and I still remember the sound he made
when he hit the blacktop. The other kids thought it was magic and that I was some
kind of kung-fu killer. No problems after that.

20 Cyrano March 15, 2013 at 7:40 am

I was a regular competitor in Judo for about 7 years before I gave it up for a
family (time and pain requirement was too much). Much of the material is more
Hapkido than Judo though the throws are definitely Judo. I would say there are a
lot of fine points of not hurting yourself when executing these actions that are
gained only through personal instruction. To improve your instruction of the
shoulder throw… Placement of the feet slightly inside of your opponent and
pulling the arm up and around your midsection as you rotate to complete the
shoulder throw are key. Just as an example. For more visuals go to
http://judoinfo.com/images/animations/blue/ogoshi.htm

21 A.S Falcon March 15, 2013 at 7:41 am

Nice article, in real life it`s a little different, you can study the techniques all day
long, you would have to do this practically everday for it to be effective, it`s not
everyday a person fights.

22 Caleb March 15, 2013 at 8:55 am

 I did some real world self-defense some years ago, and while no master, I did
learn a great deal.

Instead of the “Nose-Breaker” a very effective way to break the choke and disable
the assailant is: as in the diagram, bring the hands up through the arms of the
attacker, in slightly crossed manner (small X), then insted of forming a fist, work
the arms outward and down. This allows you to take control of the assailants
wrists as they come off of the neck. Finally, using the wrists as leverage, sharply
pull down. This will draw the assailants nose into a headbutt to the center of the
face. You can also aim for the temple of the attacker for a swift knock-out blow.

The other techniques are similar to the basic self-defense I learned. In regard to
knives, get away if you can. If you can’t, you need to know you are going to get
cut, your goal should be to minimize damage to yourself and to disarm or nullify
the attacker. If you manage to rend the knife away, I recommend disposal. Get it
as far away from the fight as possible, thne use hand-to-hand techniques to defend
against the attack, if the coward doesn’t run.

23 Emily March 15, 2013 at 8:56 am

These tips would’ve come in very handy when I tried to “beat up” my sixth grade
bully! But who knows, they could come to my rescue some time in the future.
Thanks!

24 Joshua March 15, 2013 at 10:04 am

For the sake of your hands, please do not interlace your fingers on the nose break.
You will likely break your fingers if you do that, especially if his head drops and
you hit his forehead. Use one hammer fist or cover one fist with your other hand.

25 Rob March 15, 2013 at 10:08 am

Another great article. I do krav maga and I do really approve those techniques.
There is a simpler and equal effective way for disarming a knife but that one
works, too.

The biggest advice I can give is training! Do not think you can aply these
techniques just by looking at pictures, videos or reading. You must practice. Get a
buddy, explain him every move in detail so he is prepared and start doing it over
and over and aply natural situations where an assault could happen. Unless you
are sure you can act instinc ively you are better off running away which is almost
everytime the best choice unless you have no other choice, not alone —maybe a
walk with your significant other— or you are Bruce Lee. Be sure you can react
without thinking otherwise you can get in serious trouble if you meet a nasty thug.
Wannabes and less dangerous thugs are easily impressed and drived back. But you
will never know for sure so be prepared!
26 Steve March 15, 2013 at 10:29 am

I think that most of the above commenters are missing one important point:

These techniques, while not 100%, are a great ‘starting point’ for someone (99%
of the population) that knows absolutely nothing about defending themselves.

I think that everyone should have some knowledge in some sort of fisticuffs –
boxing, judo, muay thai, krav maga, sambo, etc.

That said – spend a couple of dollars and take a ‘self defense’ course. It’s amazing
the difference practicing SD techniques in your mind and practicing them on
someone else.

I’ve recently started attending a Sambo class once a week. I’m amazed at the
different perspective I have now on my personal safety.

27 Sartorial Madness March 15, 2013 at 10:57 am

You’re all completely missing the point! The defender is appropriately dressed in
a suit *and tie*, while the attacker sloppily skips the neckwear.

28 Frost73 March 15, 2013 at 11:44 am

Interesting… While cleaning out a late uncle’s apartment, I came across a U.S.
Army field manual on hand-to-hand combat from the 1950s. As I was looking
through the techniques and photographs, I couldn’t help but be fascinated at how
H2H has evolved.

29 John March 15, 2013 at 12:13 pm

It was okay until the last bit about knife defense. As a martial artist, if you are
confronted knife vs no knife you should simply get the hell out. Regular training
can never protect you from a realistic knife attack. Taking a knife attacker head on
should be a last resort if you’re cornered. They can cover 7 paces in about a
second.

Cheers.

30 c.w. March 15, 2013 at 1:56 pm

you shouldn’t try to move away from someone that is pullin your hair, especially
if it’s long enough for them to get a good grip. someone who is either strong
enough, or escalated enough can scalp you.
 It’s best to grab the rist of the hand that is holding the hair with your hand(s), and
then step into your attacker to put them off balance. Hopefully at this as they fell
like they are falling they let go.

31 John March 15, 2013 at 2:04 pm

Aw c’mon fellas! This was a fun and helpfull article written fifty-years ago.
What’s with all the critiques and shudda’s, cudda’s? Some of you “boys” take
yourselves a little too seriously!

32 Ozone March 15, 2013 at 4:08 pm

… of course hand-to-hand has evolved. Modern techniques involve the liberal use
of sound effects and “bullet time”! ;-)

33 Steven P March 15, 2013 at 4:12 pm

Some of these are a bit too complicated, and some of them are just plain
awesome. Dig this article though.

34 Phil Quim March 15, 2013 at 6:00 pm

If someone pulls my hair, what is wrong with me throwing a right cross to his
face? I am not interested in dancing with him.

35 Rodrick March 15, 2013 at 7:08 pm

Krav Maga is easier and faster with better results…

If no one knows is that one used by the Israel Army.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Krav_Maga

36 Jared O March 15, 2013 at 7:48 pm

When you face a knife(and compliance is not an option) there are two things you
should consider before anything else:
1.) Run. If escape is a viable option do so. Nothing is uglier than a knife fight.
And it depends on luck much more than other types of combat.
2.) Grab something longer. A knife doesn’t have much chance against lets say a
mop or a handy tree branch or a shovel. You might consider carrying a telescopic
baton if it is legal where you live.Or a taser. Or just have a gun if you are lucky
enough be allowed to do so.
Any weapon with shorter than 50 cms reach is not a defensive tool.

37 Gerald March 15, 2013 at 8:36 pm

 @Tac
I wont overrate the influence of mma and especially all that Brazilian JiuJitsu
groundworking stuff.
Why? Because its nothing new, never was..
Back to the basics it all the same Kodokan Judo Roots as in these pictures.
Some people tought it was new because of the 70/80s media hype on kung/fu,
Karate, Kickboxing etc that ignored grappling and groundwork in the popular
styles. I dont say its useless, it should be involved in any good system (and it is
and was)
But in the US all that “Ground&pound” got as clearly overhyped as Bruce Lee
and his magical TschingTschung art. But its what it is. Just a trend.

Even the US Army “updated” the proven WW2&Nam combatatives FM 3-25.15

in 2002 with lots of groundwork and “crazy” jiujitsu… cutting down the basics of
course.
“military use?” like this would work clothed in full gear..maybe they should add
mud-wrestling next time..sending drones might be more safe.

If you kick someone you have to do it as fast as punching someone to avoid

getting grappled.
This is today not different then 30 or 50 years ago. Nothing changed in the
physics. And many “untrained” people in any Martial Arts tend to grapple on
instinct if the get into fights.

38 Jed March 15, 2013 at 11:53 pm

It would be wise and advisable to PRACTICE these techniques before relying on

them…Practice-partner, foam mats on the floor and slow-movement at first…
Learning basic martial-arts (even white-belt level) would be a good start before
learning “moves” from a book or cartoons!

39 DaveGorman March 16, 2013 at 1:40 am

One of your best posts yet. Awesome

40 Gil March 16, 2013 at 5:19 am

TAoM rocks!

41 Alan March 16, 2013 at 9:36 am

As someone who was into ju jitsu before it was cool – this post serves only one
purpose, which is hopefully to get you down to a local dojo to learn.

Some of these moves are taught in JJ (and some look plain silly) but you’ll never
learn them via cartoons on a screen.
 I spent years practising such moves but it’s also been years since then, and I’m
sure I’d struggle to remember half of them in a serious fight. Which is why I got
really really good at just 7 different moves… I call it “Sevenfu” :)

42 jason taylor March 16, 2013 at 10:05 am

One thing the critics did not mention was that all of these, as I understand were
meant to be used against a thug. Now it is true someone who doesn’t train
regularly wouldn’t be much good. But your average thug will be worse. Not that
one should rely on such thing; it is usually safer to just give him the money.
Sometimes however it is useful to keep such things in the back of yourmind
though.

43 Stengel99 March 16, 2013 at 11:02 am

My favorite part of this post: The men are wearing suits.

44 Jed March 16, 2013 at 8:41 pm

I forgot to mention–we live in a different day-and-age now…This is not the

1950′s when men fought men one on one…We live in 2013 where groups of 3-4
thugs usually attack one person…So, these cartoon-illustrations on self-defense
are like a joke anymore!

45 John March 17, 2013 at 2:13 am

Men have ganged up on other men since there were men! Pick a decade. The real
difference is that back then, men didnt need disclaimers. They didn’t fret, or wring
their hands because they might not do it right, or that they might get hurt (I mean,
we are talking about fighting). Back then, men demanded the dignity to make
their own decisions, and to live or die by them. Living life without being brow
beat, criticized, and secound guessed, was taken for granted.
Now, everyone feels they must be heard. They know more and it must be shared.
What if some one gets hurt? What if they do it wrong? What if…if there’s a
MISTAKE!!
Yes, these are cartoon-illustrations, but they work for what they are intended. So
quit hovering like somebodys Mother. Assume the man that reads them is man
enough to decide when, where, and how to use them.

46 Michael March 17, 2013 at 2:59 am

Jed, learn to use the opponents energy against him. That could be in the form of a
wildly wielded weapon, a bunch of cowardly “friends” (bullies), or most often,
just him or her alone- angry, impatient, self-righteous and out-of-control.
Techniques against such attacks include issuing combinations to the front attacker,
while circling around him and pushing him into another attacker, then delivering
 another quick combination (kick and punch or other quick blow(s)) to the second
(or third if there’s more). Then while still circling, push the second into the first
dummie, or third if needed. Retreat or advance as needed.
Another common scenario is your grabbed by one nutter and a second comes at
you with a punck, kick or weapon. Grab the arms of the first attacker and use his
mass to add force to your forward deflecting kick, stomp kick or two handed
thrust or push. You may also drop all your weight onto the first attacker so that it’s
easier to throw him after you’ve attacked frontally.
A third common scenario is being held by two kidnappers or assailants at both
sides by the wrists or arms.
You may pull your arms down, causing both men bring force upwards. You then
use that force to nail them in the balls, elbow them in the chest or strike the neck,
chin, temple or nose.
Another of the escapes(there are many) is to push forward with yours arms
leading your body (only if held tightly) and use their pull to assist your reverse
hammer or chop to the groins or elbows to stomach or solar plexus. Strike twice if
you must. Then grab the two closest pant cuffs or ankles- swooping them upwards
while you walk forward all in one motion. Your adversaries on their backs and
you may retreat or attack as needed.

47 Native Son March 17, 2013 at 10:36 am

Nice nostalgic article. Judging from the illustrations, the cited article seems to be
based on an earlier law enforcement self-defense techniques (from the 1930s or
1940s, I think, the dark suited thug showed up prominently in the first work’s
photographs), that relied on the Oriental martial arts being virtually unknown in
the US.
And as with anything, “a little learning is dangerous”, you don’t practice, you’re
toast.

48 Nicholas March 17, 2013 at 2:16 pm

Nice article. As I ride the bus to work every day in a suit, I know it’s only a matter
of time before I need to employ some of these techniques on a would-be assailant.

49 Jais Henan March 18, 2013 at 6:42 am

Most of these techniques require a lot of practice to work.

Awesome illustrations, though.

If someone needs to go right from paper to reality, I would suggest eye gouging,
biting pieces off (not just biting down — bite through!), breaking fingers (grab
one at a time and bend them the wrong way — they snap easily enough), carrying
a small, easily handled blade you are familiar with and making deep, long cuts in
areas of high vascular content.
 On top of all that, being familiar and comfortable with something in .45 can be a
big help. As they say:

God made men. Samuel Colt made them equal.

50 Bria March 18, 2013 at 10:49 am

Watching a series on the Discovery Channel called “Human Weapon” made me

really want to join a Karate or Kung-Fu class. Then they showed the episode on
Krav Maga and I immediately said to myself “that’s what I want to learn!” So, I
found the nearest Krav Maga class and joined. One of the best decisions I ever
made. Learned self-defense and get a great workout as well.

51 PapaPaul March 19, 2013 at 12:07 am

At 48 the one move I learned at 6 y/o has served me well. A good firm poke in the
eye STOPS a jerk cold, drunk or sober…

52 Taylor March 20, 2013 at 1:57 am

I do not have extensive training in martial arts, but I have studied a few. The knife
technique mentioned above is a terrible idea, Knife disarms are heavily debated in
the martial arts community, there really isn’t a good knife disarm, especially for
individuals that have absolutely no experience doing such a dangerous task. I do
not recommend this move. If you think its a good idea, grab a partner and give
him/her a sharpie, try this move; he/she will mark on you with that sharpie.

53 Ben W March 21, 2013 at 12:01 am

Wow, this is a simple collection of somewhat effective techniques presented in a

manner the lay man can understand. It is unsurprising that many correlate to
elementary techniques from several forms of traditional martial arts and wrestling.

I personally take offense with the kick defense illustration for several reasons.

1) Most untrained people have a difficult time kicking above the groin.
2) Timing a cross block defense (aka an X-block) requires acute timing and
precise hand positions. Both of these can be acquired with some practice. Failure
results in a weak block, or worse… a fractured hand.
3) The illustration displays a notable error. The kick is low (and therefore rather
harmless), and defender is bending over to block it. Not only is it unnecessary to
block such a kick, it also puts his head in a vulnerable position to be punched.
Stepping back once is much easier than the cross-block as demonstrated. Kicking
the knees is also a quick way to remove an assailant’s mobility.
 My comments are drawn from my personal study of karate of 4 years. The more I
train the more I find that the simple techniques tend to be the most effective. Also,
as with anything in life, practice makes perfect!

54 Andrew S March 24, 2013 at 1:06 pm

Of course, you could just kick him in the b**ls, or failing that run.

Alternatively, remember that you can talk your way out of the vast majority of
conflicts – it’s much less dangerous, and even if you do lose a little pride in the
process, it’s a price worth paying if the alternative is to risk a knife in your chest.

With either option, you’re less likely to damage your suit.

Great post.