- This topic has 6 replies, 6 voices, and was last updated 14 years, 9 months ago by
.
-
Posts
-
I am an intermediate student and have been told different holds for knee strikes. Do I hold at the elbow or is it at the wrist extending the opponent’s arm?
Re: holding for knee strikes
I could be wrong, but from what I’ve seen, if you’re holding at the wrist of an extended arm, it’s probably for a short period of time before you disarm an edged weapon or stick, take the attacker to the ground, or to maneuver the arm for arrest or control. I’ve learned grabbing the trapezius and triceps, arm-locks, and clinches for knees. To switch from side to side, I’ve learned to cross arms (and deliver a delicious forearm to the jaw while doing it), clinch, and to move my hands over the attacker’s head.
Re: holding for knee strikes
The arm seems like an odd spot to hold for a knee strike. The grips I like to use:
-necktie- palm on back of head and forearm applying pressure with the forearm against the neck and clavicle area, so that control can be established forward, backward and sideways. Ideally uses two hands and is also used to break the opponent’s posture, so if they try to knee, kick or punch they can’t get good power generation.
-double underhook or bodylock- arms underneath their arms and wrapped around the back or lifting upward. May also grip both hands together, pulling towards you while applying pressure backwards and downward with the shoulder. From here, you can knee the groin and they can’t pull their hips away to defend.
-underhook with butterfly grip- one underhook, and gripping the same hand with the other hand palm to palm, then use both hands to wrench the shoulder down, with or without locking the shoulder and possibly into a standing armbar. Again, the posture is broken so if they try to respond with knees their body mechanics will be off.
-holding down on the ground- knees can be thrown with very damaging effect from side control or north/south positions. There’s a position used in Dog Brothers Martial Arts that they call street side control that involves putting the opponent on their side and posting on them with your hands from the back. From here, you can knee to their kidneys and their weapons are facing the wrong direction. It’s kind of hard to describe the dynamic but it makes sense when you see it.Re: holding for knee strikes
As JS and CLF are saying, it will depend on things such as how you got into that position in the first place (e.g. were you escorting someone, did you defend against a weapon, did you attack/counter attack and enter into or end up in kneeing range, etc) and what your intention is (e.g. follow up) while or after delivering knees (e.g. do you want to disengage/spin, maintain range and keep kneeing, do you want to throw/take down, etc). When things get fast/furious, you may not get a textbook grip/hold/position. Control as best as you can and do as much damage and fast as you can. Play around with different holds with your partners and see what works well for you…
Re: holding for knee strikes
+1
There are dozens of ways to maintain control while delivering knees. I start students off with the inside hand gripping the back of the neck (Skin, hair, whatever they can get) with the elbow driving towards the ground to defend against a shot to the legs. The outside hand grips just above the elbow and is pushing into the body. Once they have that hold down, I encourage them to play with variations. L2 and above I start teaching the Thai-Clinch with variations.
Re: holding for knee strikes
In the group I train with its: grab the opposite shoulder / shirt / what you can grab and pull that towards you while you simultaneously drive in the knee, with hip rotation…devastating strike!
Re: holding for knee strikes
Two variations:
1. My right elbow is bent down (to prevent a take down), while grabbing the shirt or back on their right shoulder. My left arm is using a “monkey grip” on their tricep. I give knees with my right knee when on this side.
2. I use the same arm with elbow down, but i grab at the wrist and give knees with my right. The application for this is I see an edged weapon and make a defense, then give knees to additionally “soften them up”… I grab at the wrist to keep the weapon away.
- You must be logged in to reply to this topic.
