The Eyes – if a person can’t see, they are still dangerous, but will struggle to locate you if you are at a distance. As Richard says, you may play Marco Polo with them, but not recommended lol!
The Throat – is a target one may target in a life and death scenario. It is not a self-defense strike to use in a low level threat scenario. The result of a throat strike could cause death. Again, critical to understand the laws where you live.
Far too often, self-defense instructors teach to strike first, and ask questions later, but this is not an ethical, moral, or legal response to violence. High level self-defense strikes as stated in the video are for the worst-case scenarios. One should only utilize a high-level reaction like this if attempts to avoid, escape, or verbally defused have failed leaving only the option of self-defense.
Outside of the eyes and throat, the rest of the body contains secondary targets you may strike if you can’t reach the eyes or throat. In a worst-case scenario, you aim for those most vulnerable targets, but attacking the secondary targets may provide you the opportunity to access the primary targets. One may use ripping, tearing, clawing, biting, spitting, anything that either damages or creates distraction to get back to the primary targets.
Being pinned to the ground with both arms restrained is a common method adopted to control the victim. It is particularly common in a sexual assault scenario and applied to control and intimidate the victim. The attacker may seek for an opportunity to strike or remove clothing to continue their assault. While possible, the attacker may attempt a headbutt, but that is not likely their intention. To continue struggling against someone who is most likely bigger and stronger is futile and wastes a lot of valuable energy. And struggling may encourage the attacker to strike sooner, to stop you from struggling.
If the person removes their pin of an arm to strike, it is vital you strike back instantly and directly. If they release a hand to throw a punch, there may be a split-second when they pull back to strike you. This provides a small opportunity, but your reaction must be direct and without hesitation to put them on the defensive. Any pause in your defense will narrow your chances of survival.
If you attack their eyes, it is desirable to anchor to the back of the head with the other hand, keeping them as close to you as possible. Striking will cause them to move away, limiting your chance of anchoring the head, so you must then attack low in hopes of their head coming back to you. Effective options are limited in a ground attack. Your goal is to have them close, head anchored with other hand engaged in eye gouging, tearing, clawing, while you bridge to get them off. You must attack the attacker with a ferocity understanding we consider this a serious level threat scenario with sexual assault or attempted murder.
Having education in grappling arts can help you in how to move on the ground, but understand the distinction between grappling and self-defense. With little to no experience with violence, to think you can pull off armbars and other complicated grappling defenses is dangerous. Many self-defense instructors teach all you need is leverage. That advice is bullshit. Leverage has its limits against someone who is bigger and stronger. And remember, you are not defending against a “move”. You are defending against the intention behind the attack. If their intention is rape, murder, jealousy, rage, etc that is much more difficult to defend against than any singular attack as you see on YouTube self-defense videos that show no realism in relation to violence.
Back to having your arms pinned. The aggressor on top may say things that are disgusting and offensive. They may lick or kiss the person with sexual assault, but while it may humiliate, it does not hurt. Using conflict resolution skills here may be effective to lower the guard of the attacker. Telling them what you can do for them as a strategy may cause them to relax their aggression or build a false sense of confidence dropping their guard. Telling them what you can do for them is not compliance, but a strategy that may be used if you know they hope to rape you. Psychology is often your best chance here. If used, it may open up your defense.
With being choked on the ground, while it is an a dangerous, frightening attack, both hands may be free in which case there is no time verbal talk. you attack vulnerable targets as mentioned.
For more information on our programs, please visit www.studyofviolence.com and www.safe101.education
Keep SAFE!
Chris Roberts