I was concerned when I saw this technique being taught. In order to break away from a frontal attack as shown, it is much better to quickly bring your hands up from UNDER your attacker's and out. This serves several purposes. First, You have your hand in the UP position when you break out- ready to strike or defend. By having your hands come up, your attacker is more open and you are in a better position to kick (knee, shin, groin), strike (nose, solar plexis, eye brow ridge) or scratch/gouge(eyes, rip ear, rip mustache.) You also have the openness to run, given the opportunity. By bringing your arms over and out, you are closing your body up, not allowing for any of the options I have given you, and actually brining yourelf awkwardly CLOSER to your attacker. I have been a 1st degree brown belt in American Kenpo for 30 years. I also teach female defense and children's "Stranger Danger" classes. You must always make sure you end up in a better position than your attacker when you break free, and I do not believe the technique shown here is affective for that goal.
Comments
I was concerned when I saw this technique being taught. In order to break away from a frontal attack as shown, it is much better to quickly bring your hands up from UNDER your attacker's and out. This serves several purposes. First, You have your hand in the UP position when you break out- ready to strike or defend. By having your hands come up, your attacker is more open and you are in a better position to kick (knee, shin, groin), strike (nose, solar plexis, eye brow ridge) or scratch/gouge(eyes, rip ear, rip mustache.) You also have the openness to run, given the opportunity. By bringing your arms over and out, you are closing your body up, not allowing for any of the options I have given you, and actually brining yourelf awkwardly CLOSER to your attacker. I have been a 1st degree brown belt in American Kenpo for 30 years. I also teach female defense and children's "Stranger Danger" classes. You must always make sure you end up in a better position than your attacker when you break free, and I do not believe the technique shown here is affective for that goal.