Leading finger jab

I find it akward to do while sparring, as I'm usually wearing boxing gloves.

On the other hand, wearing gloves would make it even more effective at obscuring your opponent's view. Maybe I should try it more.

If anything, it's also great for bridging the gap.

I like a good low level kick to bridge the gap.

Well use it as a feint to cover your low line kick. Isn't the "standard" thing to throw a finger jab, while you slide up (using slide and step), to fire the hook kick?

Or good for bridging high - low kick to close, finger jab to make contact for a lap sau or whatever from "reference position."

JK, for the most part I think you're right, but it depends on what you train most. If you train open hand strikes constantly you'll use those. Last fight I was en I used a palm heel thrust instinctually so I think it's largely training effects and influence.

When attempting to HIT people clinch their fists. This says nothing about scratching and gouging.


-John

I have never been knocked out, never caught one on the chin or the temple. But I have been eye gouged. This was not your typical poke in the eye this was done in free sparring. Let me say I never thought something like this could hurt so bad. it was nothing like an accidental eye poke. The pain was terrible that it dropped me down to my knee's, I felt completely off balance and dizzy. My eye turned red and started watering and the pain...did I mention the pain

Yes I use the lead finger jab quite a bit in sparring. I find that it is (for me) faster than a jab and is usually followed by an attack on a different line. I usually aim for the forhead as it causes a flinch reaction and it gets them to focus on it, rather than what else is coming. (I liken it to driving at night in the heavy rain and getting stuck behind a large lorry. If you get fixated by looking constantly a the back of the lorry, you will never overtake it & my lead finger strike (hopefully) acts like that lorry).

I too have been poked in the eye quite severely at times. Shook it off, no problem. Sure the eye watered a little, but did really nothing to slow me down.

Unless my eye was hanging by the optical nerve down around, say, my NOSE, I doubt very seriously that my game would slow any if at all. Even then, I would still continue to fight, like a cyborg.

Two things will stop me; if something major is broken or, if I'm knocked out. Anything else, forget it.

Do I or would I use it in sparring? Could someone tell me HOW you'd do this? Aim for the brow perhaps? Not really my cup of tea. I'd rather work my jab. If I can land the jab, I know I could reach my opponent with my fingers.



-John

If I am sparring and I am being Nice, I will aim for the brow, yes. But it is not a touch or a tap, it will sting.
It is not something that replaces a Lead Jab, but is additional to it and has a slightly longer range. From the opponent's perspective, the Finger Strike is harder to see it comming. I have also used the finger strike to whip into the side of the neck, which is also fun.

In a street fight, the quicker you can get to the eyes the better. The lead finger jab is not INTENDED to take someone out, although it could happen. Look at Randy Couture when he fougt Vitor Belfort and got scratched by his glove. Fight stopper. Of course, I wouldn't plan to end the fight with an eye jab, I would use it as my lead attack to set up for a follow up attack, if necessary. In sparring, about the only way you can safely do this is to wear a plexiglass face shield or something to that effect, even then, better be careful not to jam or break your fingers.

For a street attack, I would prefer to use open handed strikes as much as possible when striking the head area. But, like JKogas said, since I have trained my whole life to punch, it would take a conscious effort to keep from doing it. When adrenaline takes over in a real fight, MOST people will instinctively close their fist and rare back for the "John Wayne"

About half the time you said you stopped them cold?

For me, I was stopped immediately. I had a very intense pain, and even with the one good eye I felt off balance. I didn't dropped to me knees because it felt like some foul shot like in a competitive match. I simply had no choice the pain was too great.

Like you said, would it knock someone out? Probably no, but it is a great opener for other possibilities. And if you just want to be humane about it, you can just end it with an eye gouge and run away.


I just finish watching Paul Vunak's Steet Safe series. In his series he deals with eye gouges and bites. He uses bites for ground grappling situations. They help to create space, which means when your in a guard position this allows you the space to get up.

A good grappler sticks to his opponents. As Mr. Vunaks states "A 150 pound man can feel like a 250 pound man if he is an excellent grappler." Bitting them in the right spot instinctively makes them want to separate from you and give you space. That is when you make your move to get off the ground.

What do you grappler's think of bitting? During your sessions in self defense, do you take bites into consideration?

Biting? BLECH - utter last resort, IMHO. I'd rather not get the opponent's blood in my mouth.

Works though, or did once anyways.

Yea that was mentioned also, that is the first thing I thought of when he said it. But he mentions all sorts of different bites, like gnawing, pinching, and ripping the skin. From little bites to small onces, you don't necessarily have to rip the flesh. Especially in this day and age when the last thing you want is someones blood in your mouth. But as a last resort is is useful and should be considered, it is better than getting choked out or when your opponent has side control.

Personally, I find it useful in fights but not suited to sparring. I don't spar with equipment,so I *could* use it, but when your sparring partner goes by Blackbelt 1st Dan, all you are doing is leaving a target open.
I use the finger jab to line up a shoulder tackle, a knee strike, or an elbow flurry, most of the time.
Against a trained or experienced adversary, using it to light up a body shot doesn't work too well, because one arm automatically covers the ribs whilst the other goes to your arm, I find.

EDIT- I don't limit myself to eyes with a finger jab though, I've used it quite effectively to attack the neck, stomach, and solar plexus.

the lead finger jab is not used by many and you talking about a technique to use on the street when you in a bit of bover but even then its likened to using a knife if you use it proper and hit the eyes or neck can be deadly .

ive never used it myself in past fights ive had. ive flicked my fingers at the face and eyes to annoy and make the eyes water but never jabbed the fingers like that .

jase .

The lead finger jab is a very good technique, if you're in a close situation where you can't punch, a finger jab to the eyes will stun them really badly. IF you don't get their eyes, it will still probably make them flinch, e.g, put their hands to their eyes, and then, they're open. It doesn't need as much energy as a normal punch either, which is another good thing.