Street Fighting Techniques are available to you twenty four hours a day and seven days per week. The great news is you don’t have to be a martial arts master or study mixed martial arts (MMA) to use these practical street fighting techniques. As a matter of fact, if you are reasonably intelligent and have a modicum of strength and coordination, you can apply several of these techniques in a real world self defense situation.
Street Fighting Technique Requirements
Before you decide to apply any street fighting technique in a real world self defense situation, you must be ceratin that it has specific attributes or qualities that will enhance your survival. For example, in my reality based self defense system called Contemporary Fighting Arts (CFA), each and every street fighting technique that we teach our students must fulfill three essential requirements: efficiency, effectiveness and safety
- Efficiency means the street fighting technique achieves its objective quickly and economically.
- Effectiveness means the street fighting technique produce a desired effect.
- Safety means the street fighting technique provides the least amount of danger and risk for the practitioner.
“Contemporary Fighting Arts concentrates on going to the root of a street fighting situation and quickly settling it.”
All three requirement are interdependent. If just one requirement is absent, it could quickly spell disaster for you or a loved one. However, when these three requirements are united and synergistically applied, you have street fighting techniques that have the capacity to disable, cripple and even terminate a criminal adversary. Perhaps this is a good time to remind you that whenever you decide to use force against another you must be absolutely certain that your actions are legally warranted and justified in the eyes of the law.
“Each and every street fighting technique must be efficient, effective and safe. Anything less can spell disaster for you in a self defense situation.”
What Makes a Street Fighting Techniques Lethal?
There are generally two factors that really determine the lethality of any street fighting technique and they are:
- Target that you select.
- Amount of force you deliver to that target.
14 Street Fighting Techniques
For reasons of simplicity, I have identified fourteen street fighting techniques that can be used in a real world self defense situation. Once again, they are based on efficiency, effectiveness and overall safety for the practitioner. Keep in mind that just about all of these street fighting techniques can be developed on various types of martial arts equipment. Please see my martial arts equipment article for more information. Having said that, lets take a look at some very practical street fighting techniques.
“There are fourteen street fighting techniques that you will always have at your disposal.”
Head butt – When fighting in grappling or clinch range, your head can be used for butting your assailant’s nose. Keep in mind that the head butt can be delivered in four different directions: forward, backward, right side, and left side. When delivering a forward head butt, be certain to make contact with the top portion of your forehead. If you want to learn more about applying the head butt, see my DVD, Engage With Rage: Mastering the Street Clinch
Biting – The teeth can be used for biting anything on your assailant’s body (nose, ears, throat, fingers, etc.) Remember to bite deeply into the assailant’s flesh and shake your head vigorously. Note: There is an important concern to biting in a street fight: you run the risk of contracting AIDS if your adversary is infected and you draw blood while biting him.
Yelling – Believe it or not but your voice is also a street fighting weapon. When used correctly, it can distract and shock your assailant causing him to temporarily freeze. For more information, read my book, When Seconds Count: Everyone’s Guide to Self Defense
“Never use fancy or complex techniques when involved in a street fight. Such ornamental techniques are just too risky and impractical for street combat.”
Elbow strikes – The elbows are devastating weapons that can generate tremendous power. Elbow strikes can be delivered vertically, diagonally and horizontally to the enemy’s nose, temple, chin, throat, solar plexus and ribs. Note: Elbow strikes are explosive, deceptive and difficult to defend against.
Punching – The fists are used for punching the assailant’s temple, nose, chin, throat, solar plexus, ribs and in some cases, the groin. Punching is an art form that requires considerable training and practice to master. Note: When landing your punch, remember to make contact with your center knuckle. For more information, see my book, 1001 Street Fighting Secrets: The Principles of Contemporary Fighting Arts. You might also want to read my online article entitled How to Punch.
Raking – Your fingers and nails can be used for jabbing, clawing and gouging the assailant’s eyes. They can also be used for pulling, tearing and crushing the enemy’s throat and testicles. Note: Your fingers can be an awesome street fighting technique. Just make certain your actions are legally justified in the eyes of the law!
“Street fighting techniques are not the only element of combat; your mind and body must work with each other to defeat the adversary.”
Palm heels – The heel of your palm can be used for delivering palm heel strikes. A strike of the palm can be exceptionally powerful and it is best delivered on a 45-degree angle to the opponent’s nose or chin. Note: When striking with the heel of your palm, remember to torque your shoulders, hips and foot into the direction of the blow.
Edge of hand strike – The edge of your hand can be whipped horizontally into the opponent’s nose or throat, causing severe injury or death. It can also be delivered vertically or diagonally to the back of your opponent’s neck. Note: Beware! Striking with the edge of your hand can be a lethal street fighting technique.
Web of hand strike – The web of your hand can be used to deliver web hand strikes to the opponent’s throat. When striking, be certain to keep your hand stiff with your palm facing down. For more information please take a look at, The Bigger They Are, The Harder They Fall
“While a fighting stance is the ideal vehicle for hand to hand combat, many of these street fighting techniques can be applied without the structure of a stance.”
Open Hand or Fisted Strikes?
Are open hand strikes (finger jabs, palm heels, web hand strikes, etc.) or fisted blows (lead straight, rear cross, hook punches, etc.) the preferred street fighting technique? While open hand blows are generally safer to deliver than fisted strikes, both are essential for self defense (if you also like to learn more about delivering fisted blows, see my how to punch article). Open hand strikes are generally used as first strike tools while fisted blows comprise the majority of your secondary strike arsenal.
Some people are reluctant to employ fisted strikes for fear that they will injure their hands. Be Forewarned! When a fisted blows makes contact with the opponent’s skull, it often results in a fractured hand. Therefore, its essential that your fisted blow be delivered accurately and at the proper moment. For more information about specific hand strikes that you can use in a street fight, see my DVD, Armed to the Teeth (Volume 1).
Knee Strikes – The knees are excellent street fighting technique that can bring down the most powerful of adversaries. Knee strikes can be delivered vertically and diagonally to the opponent’s thigh, groin, ribs, solar plexus and face.
Kicking with your Shins – The shinbone is another powerful technique that can quickly cripple your assailant. When striking with your shin, aim for the opponents thigh, the side of his knee, or groin. Note: When kicking with your shinbone, always aim through your target.
“Kicking techniques are just one of the skills that separate the martial artist from any common boxer, wrestler or street brawler.”
Kicking with the Dorsum of your Foot – The dorsum of your foot is used for delivering vertical kicks to the opponent’s groin and in some cases his head (i.e., your assailant is on the ground and you are standing above him). Note: Kicking with your dorsum increases the power of your blow, prevents broken toes, and also lengthens the surface area of your strike.
Kicking with the Heel of your Foot – The heel of your foot is used for delivering side kicks to the opponent’s thigh, knee or shin. It can also be used to stomp down on the assailant’s toes. Note: Never underestimate the effectiveness of a simple foot stomp. They work!
Kicking with the Ball of your Foot – The ball of your foot is used for delivering push kicks into your opponent’s thigh. It can also be used to deliver a quick snap kick into the assailant’s shin bone. Note: When striking with the ball of your foot, remember to pull your toes back to avoid jamming or breaking them. If you would like to learn more about kicking in a street fight, see my self defense DVD, Armed to the Teeth (Volume 2).
“There is a direct correlation between ranges of combat and street fighting technique. You must be able to choose and apply the technique appropriate for the distance you are fighting.”
What About Street Fighting Tactics:
While this article addresses the actual techniques (the execution of a movements) of street fighting, you might want to read my other article that addresses tactics (specific actions and planned strategies) of street fighting.
Good luck. Train hard and be safe!
