'skinning Cats' And Self Defense - 4 Ways To Handle An Attacker Trying To Punch Your Lights Out!

Blocking is not the only way to deal with an incoming punch. In fact, the art of Ninjutsu - the original mixed martial art - teaches students no less than 5 methods for avoiding and/or neutralizing an incoming punching attack from an attack who isn't looking to score "points."

But before we get into that, I want to ask you what may seem like a strange question. Okay?

Have you ever heard the expression, "There's more than one way to skin a cat?"

If you're not from the U.S. or maybe even Canada, you may not have heard this idiom, or saying. If you do know what it means, then you're ahead of the game. For those who don't, it's not so much about the "cats" as it is about the options, and having more than one way to do anything.

So, what does this have to do with self defense training? In a word...

Everything!

You see, the Ninja understands the need for options. He knows that "flexibility is the key to longevity." You know, if you're able to adapt, you'll live longer! It's a key principle in evolution, and it's certainly a vital component of real-world self-defense training.

But, for many students and practitioners of the martial arts, there is this tendency to suspend reality and only focus on the "official" moves of their style or system - as though nothing else exists, or anything else is wrong. Unfortunately, this kind of thinking - or non-thinking as the case may be - seriously limits a defender's ability to respond with the best answer to what the attacker is throwing.

But, if we can see beyond the "style" game that is so often played in the martial arts world, we can see that there are at least four options, or strategies, for dealing with an incoming attack. In this case, we're exploring a punch-defense, but the strategies are just as applicable to kicks and grabbing attacks as well.

One of the tactics that we can employ to defend against an incoming punch is to block. In the art of Ninjutsu, we prefer to avoid an incoming attack, rather than hope that we are strong enough, or fast enough, to block. But, the reality is that we may be in a situation where the attacker launches the punch before we even know what's going on - and we become aware of it at a point where we just don't have time to move. We could also be looking at a case where the student is fairly knew to the whole "moving out of the way" concept, doesn't know enough techniques...

...and needs something "now!"

In these cases, or in situations where you might be in a corner, or in a tight spot like between parked cars where you simply don't have the room to move, we can learn to effectively jam his incoming arm and literally stop the punch from reaching it's target.

Another tactic is to use long-range, defensive angling to pull away from his punch, while shifting off of the line of the attack. This strategy causes the attacker to over-extend in his attempt to reach us, simultaneously exposing his weak points for our own counter-attack.

Yet another strategy is to intercept his movement - to get him first. The idea here is to recognize when his punch is initiating - when it starts - and then beat him to the punch with one of your own.

We can use lateral shifts of the body to slip by the incoming punch - causing the weapon to completely miss its mark. This method is the exact opposite of the blocking strategy and requires split-second timing because, if he sees you move - he'll track you, and if you move too late, well... you need a dentist!

And, finally, we can use distraction tactics. We can toss something at him like dirt, grass, loose change, etc. When this is done at the right time, it causes his punch to stall in mid-air because his body has to instinctively switch to defensive mode to protect itself. I've even seen someone hold up a flower in front of the attacker's punch and literally made the attack vanish! How's that for "Ninja Magic?!"

Please note that none of these methods should be seen as right, or "best." And, although different martial arts systems favor one or more over others, the idea here is to have strategic options. Each of these methods works equally well, but each is also best used in certain types of attack situations. And, of course, sticking to the main theme, having and being able to use all of them equally well gives you "options." So...

Just in case one method isn't working and he's defending against your defense - you can change tactics...

...4 TIMES!