If you’re approaching someone who is flat on their back with their knees pulled in to their chest be very, very careful. It’s a sign that the other guy could have some training and might be planning to kick your teeth down your throat as soon as you close the distance.
This is a legit threat; many MMA fights have ended suddenly because of an upkick from the ground. And if pro fighters can get caught by this then so can you!
Of course, if your opponent is on his back in a self defense situation you should generally run away but that’s not always possible. What if he’s a much faster runner than you? What if you’ve got kids with you that you can’t abandon? What if you need to restrain the other guy until the cops get there? It’s these “what ifs” that make self defense more complicated than sport, and also make it impossible to say you should always do this or always do that….
Fortunately if you can’t simply disengage and have to keep pressing the attack for some reason then there are ways to pass the guard somewhat safely.
Here’s a video I shot showing how to approach and pass the guard when there are kicks in the equation…
RELATED RESOURCES
Kicking from the Ground – How to Do It Properly!
Many self defense systems teach that if you get knocked down to the ground you should get into a defensive position on your side. From there you should then lash out at your opponent with sidekicks to keep him away.
In this article and video I’ll show how staying on your side when you’re knocked down is mostly an outmoded technique and that there are much better options available to you.
Click here to learn how to kick properly from the guard.
How to Defend Yourself When You’re Being Kicked on the Ground
I’ve been training in the martial arts for over 40 years, but I recently got a question that I had no good answer for, namely how to survive a stomping.
So I put on MMA gloves, forearm guards, mouthguard, helmet with faceshield and grew my moustache out extra fuzzy. My training partner put on semi-soft rubber shoes and shin guards. And then we went to work.
Here’s what I learned from getting kicked in the face to do research on your behalf!
Back Pain from Martial Arts Training
Almost every martial artist experiences back pain at some point in their training. It hurts like hell and brings your training to a screeching halt. And in the worst case some people are even permanently sidelined by it.
When it comes to fixing your back there’s really nobody better to talk to than Dr Stuart McGill.
He is professor emiritus at the University of Waterloo where he researched and taught spinal mechanics for more than 30 years. He’s written and published more than 300 scientific papers, written 3 textbooks, and has worked with countless combat athletes.
Click here to learn how to fix your back with Dr Stuart McGill.