Kurumaisu Jutsu:
Wheelchair Techniques
Part 3- Attacks From The Side
By Ronald van de Sandt
Editor's Note: This
is the third article in a three part series. Part
2 discussed several common attacks
from the front against someone seated in a wheelchair.
Part
1 discussed self-defense responses
to a push from behind.
This article, and the others in the series, was the
result of being confined to a wheelchair for a period
of time, an experience which gave me a better understanding
of the martial arts as well as an appreciation for
those who are handicapped. I realized also that while
some "attacks" are unique to those in wheelchairs,
others are similar to those experienced by anyone
sitting in a chair, on a bench, on a train or subway,
or on the floor. In studying self defense techniques
for those confined to wheelchairs, I was surprised
at the number of defenses that I recognized as coming
right out of the karate kata I had practiced for so
long.
This article discusses how to defend against attacks
from the side, where the attacker is usually trying
to restrain the person, or tip the wheelchair. Often
there is insufficient time to use seemingly complex
defenses, so presented here are a variety of defenses,
both simple and complex.
Defense Technique 1: By far the simplest technique
is a crane head strike (back of wrist) or a rear crane
beak strike (finger tips) to the knee, or groin (here
shown), depending on where to the side your opponent
is standing. Here
the defender is sitting in a chair to show the similarity
of defensive techniques that can be applied to someone
sitting in a wheelchair or in a standard chair.
The inside of the thigh, just above the knee, is
one of the most sensitive areas for a crane beak strike.
If he's close enough, an elbow to the knee can also
be devastating. Pinching the inner thigh near the
groin area usually causes the opponent to back away
very quickly as well.
Defense Technique 2: An attack comes from
your right side. Here again, as the attacker reaches
for you with his right hand you can counter with a
crane head strike (back of wrist), a rear crane beak
strike (finger tips) to the knee, or groin, or pinch
to the inner thigh. As the person responds, hook your
right arm under the opponent's right elbow while also
grabbing his wrist with your left hand. Now pull with
your right arm and push with your left to turn your
opponent so he falls over your lap.
Defense Technique 3: Another response to a
potential attack from the right side is to initially
respond as in #2 above. In this case, however, as
the person bends forward, reach up with your left
hand to grab the back of his neck (or hair) and pull
him forward toward your lap. As you do this allow
your right hand to come up under his throat. Your
left hand can then grab your right wrist to affect
a choke.
Defense Technique 4: In this defense as your
attacker is reaching toward you with his right hand,
intercept and grab the arm with your left hand while
also executing a right palm heel strike to the opponent's
groin. Immediately move your right hand between your
opponent's legs and begin to lift and pull your opponent
towards you using both arms. The attacker will end
up lying across your lap (here shown from the side).
Continued
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