The forearm strike is a rather impressive strike often represented in TV shows, especially in wrestling, but it is more rarely taught in martial arts due to its dangerousness. This is logical, since a bad hit in training can be catastrophic for the impacted part.
In self defense, it is however a great weapon when you can use it.
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What is a forearm strike? How to execute it?
As its name suggests, the forearm strike is a violent strike to the throat using your forearm.
There is no consensus on the execution of a forearm strike. Should it be done with the muscle part? With the radial edge? Up and down or in a linear fashion?
One can also vary the parts to be hit, by aiming at the throat or the face (the nose, in particular).
In self defense, pragmatism takes over, because there is no certainty in the street. If the situation allows you to execute a headlock, it doesn’t matter how technically perfect it is, because you won’t be lucid enough to worry about it in the heat of the action.
That being said, it is important to sharpen your automatisms in training in order to increase your chances of using effective techniques under stress.
During a wrestling match, a forearm strike is usually executed in a linear fashion, arms outstretched, throwing the partner to the ground. Impressive but dangerous for the joints, in addition to being unrealistic.
Self defense is inspired by martial arts techniques and their military variants. In this case, the forearm strike is very different from what we can see on TV.
The impact part is still the throat, but the goal is to act at the same time on the cervical to make the opponent fall.
In the example shown in the video that goes along with this article, the forearm strike was used as a counterattack in a knife attack. After blocking a knife attack from the top down with the forearm, it was made at the throat. The sequence is fluid because the forearm is immediately available to strike the throat (or face), which is very close.
This is the concept of “closest weapons” at work!
In a way, you do a forearm strike like a hook, in a circular motion, with the arm bent to protect the joint.
This can be broken down into two steps:
- Circular impact with the forearm, from the bottom up if possible (to mask the approach), at the throat or nose depending on the threat;
- Pushing up and down towards the ground, using the elbow to leverage against the jaw or by pressing against the nose, which acts on the cervical spine and reduces resistance to the push.
What makes the forearm strike so efficient?
This technique is formidable for three major reasons:
- First of all, any blow to the throat can be fatal, compressing the trachea and thus blocking the airway, causing asphyxiation.
- Secondly, the throat is a part with many vital points, which are very often used to perform KO in some “extreme” Kyusho videos.
Touching many of the vital points taught in Kyusho can be very dangerous (hence the need to be trained and aware of the risks involved), especially those along the carotid artery.
During training, hitting these points is strictly prohibited since they can lead to cerebrovascular accidents by detachment of atheromatous plaques (for individuals with cholesterol problems, in particular). An impact to the throat at the carotid artery easily leads to a vascular KO. - Lastly, combined with an action of the elbow against the jaw (up and down, then towards the ground), the forearm strike acts on the cervical and makes it easier for an aggressor to fall. An aggressor on the ground is more vulnerable, and it allows him to escape.
The forearm strike was designed to be a circumstantial technique, as are many other techniques. You don’t plan to do one, you do it when the situation allows and requires it!
It is a devastating technique that should be used with caution in training. However, it can reverse the outcome of a fight.
