In this video from the online course “Martial Study 8: Survival on the Ground”, I will teach you how to perform 3 scissors when lying on the ground to put your attacker off balance.
Trois techniques différentes
Let’s take an example. You find yourself on the ground, facing an opponent who is standing in front of you and who seems determined to annoy you until the very last minute.
I’m going to teach you how to perform what is called a “scissor”. Although no technique is 100% reliable, mastering scissors in this type of situation could be of great help. There are three types of scissors.
- You are going to do a first scissor from the outside to the inside with your leg.
It is important to know that any technique done with the legs can be done with the arms. Of course, you must avoid any proximity between your head/face and the hands of your attacker.
So, first scissors: you already start to “link” with your opponent, you get “closer”. The most important thing is to try not to stick to him! No need to think about executing your most beautiful Pencak Silat hold such as the “cobra”, otherwise you might get stuck and be hit by a second attacker.
So you have to get out of what you’re doing in a second, and that applies to everything.
First scissors: outside-inside. We could mention pressure points, but if you hit a little bit above the knee or whatever, no matter where you hit, there’s always one or two hanging around. Pressure points are a bonus. Hence, if you know them and manage to touch them it’s a plus, but you have to be at least precise for it to have a real impact!
Here, we’re going to stick to the “simple mechanics” of the body. You hit in the popliteal fossa. Basically, it is a “leg up, leg down” scissors, i.e. you use both your legs at the same time. Remember that the farther away you are from your attacker, the less effective it will be. Hence, if your legs are stretched, the technique will not work; at least it will not very well. You can also hit with your heel for greater impact.
- Second technique: from the inside to the outside
Note that with this technique, you are no longer hitting the popliteal fossa but the (side of the) knee.
First, grab your opponent’s ankle. Your leg on the ground is bent and you always have one hand on guard to prevent possible counterattacks. Your attacker is not armless! With his ankle captured, insert your other leg inside to create an imbalance. Of course, in an attack, you have to hit when you insert your leg inside!
Observe his reaction. Then get up intelligently! What does it mean? Well, you’re not acting like “oh boy, that was hard”, while getting up and getting closer to him. Remember that your opponent may pull a weapon out of nowhere and inflict you with a knife, cutters or whatever! Unfortunately, in self defense (in training), you have to be a little paranoid and always assume that your attacker can hide a weapon. Look at the way he is standing, if he keeps a hand behind his back, in a pocket, etc. The least detail should catch your attention.
- Third technique: frontal
Same idea: capture your attacker’s ankle with your foot on the ground and then kick his knee with your other leg. Here, we are in training, so I’m going slowly by throwing my partner on the ground in order not to hurt him. Also, and more concretely, you just have to do a pull/strike so that your attacker is quickly thrown on the ground. Obviously, if your legs are stretched out, it won’t work since you won’t have enough power.
As mentioned above, none of these techniques are foolproof, you may miss your target, or your attacker may have more strength than you. Anyway, you must remain determined and at least precise in your gestures and techniques in order to have the most impact possible.
Remember that the foot that is most on the ground is always the one that will hook in all the 3 techniques presented.
