The first technical point I will cover is that a joint lock or submission skillset doesn't alienate one's striking skillset. It is exceptionally difficult, bordering on impossible, to secure a joint lock on an individual that is actively trying to strike you without some form of striking being involved. In one school of hapkido (such organization I am no longer a part of, but out of respect for friends of mine within that organization I will refrain from naming it) paid this concept lip service but never really covered the subject aside from a very oversimplified generality.
The next technical point I will touch on is that if someone is trying to hit you, your number one goal is not "secure a joint lock." It is not "hit them." It is "DON'T GET HIT (because that hurts)!!! If someone is throwing a punch at your grape, your primary concern has GOT to be "not eating that punch." I've been a martial artist and boxing since I was 5 years old.... I've been hit A LOT in my day.... I've been hit just about every way, with every type of thing you can imagine.... Guess what they all have in common? GETTING HIT ANYWHERE WITH ANYTHING HURTS!!! Your first priority before executing a joint lock has GOT TO BE "Not getting hit along the way."
I mentioned earlier that one of the biggest advantages of the joint lock the latitude in force escalation options that it offers the user. It is entirely possible to use a joint lock as a contact control to move someone safely from one place to another.... but it is also entirely possible to blow straight through the control phase and destroy the joint outright if so desired. Let's take a simple armbar technique (a technique putting pressure on the triceps tendon through the elbow joint).... It is entirely possible for me to use this technique as a simple take-down to secure a subject by using light but firm and consistent pressure into the elbow joint.... At the same time, if I were to really step into the technique with a sudden shift in body weight, the elbow all of sudden has 360 degrees of mobility when nature only intended a hinge joint to have about 180.
Scenario: A bouncer needs to eject an unruly patron. The subject is overly intoxicated, highly obnoxious and annoying customers to the point that the decision is made that "he needs to go." The bouncer walks up to the subject and advises them it is time to depart. The subject refuses. After advising the subject twice more and receiving refusals that are adamant but completely non-threatening in nature. Some individuals would grab the patron in a bearhug or some other hold and physically carry them out.... Some would knock the patron out or do their level best at trying to knock them out... Both are wrong.
This is the kind of place that a joint lock shines... If done properly, some locks really don't look like you're doing anything at all. One of my personal favorite escort techniques involves uses of pressure points and the biomechanics of an armbar.... and really hurts like hell.... but to a bystander it looks like the person applying said lock is doing nothing more than holding onto the subject's wrist. I actually had the owner of the last bar I bounced at ask me why a guy I helped find the door using this technique was screaming so bad... because it didn't look like I was "doing anything to him."
The old pick them up and tote them out is highly dangerous. The subject may still have free movement and will probably flail or strike which may cause injury to staff or other patrons.... Can you say "Liability?"
There's a phrase and a code for striking someone who is not being physically combative in this state.... the code is NCGS 14-33 and the phrase is "Simple Assault." at a minimum. Translation: Bouncer is probably going to jail. Remember, the subject was NOT being combative!
When using a joint lock effective for the given situation, the bouncer will have positive control of the subject through pain compliance and limiting the mobility of one limb while also appearing to be "not doing anything" to any witnesses, whether human or electronic in nature. Think about it... Subject doesn't like being escorted out and calls local law enforcement on the bouncer (in my experience, they always forget to tell the police how many times they were told to vacate the premises before the bouncer did whatever they tell the cops the bouncer did to them). They respond to determine the veracity of the complaint. The bouncer is interviewed and witnesses may be asked for statements.... Security cameras may be checked. What are the witnesses and footage going to say? Something to think about.....
Now I'm not saying that joint locks are perfect and a replacement for striking and other force options.... I'm not saying that at all. I'm just saying that learning a few joint locks is an improvement to anyone's overall skillset.
Scenario: Patrol officer responds to a disturbance call. Officer arrives on scene and sees a large male subject in the yard yelling and trying to provoke his ex-wife to come outside. The officer remembers being dispatched to a domestic here last year when riding with their Field Training Officer.... It wasn't pretty but the ex-wife refused to press charges. The officer calls to the subject, identifying themselves as a law enforcement officer. The subject turns and approaches the officer. The size difference is impossible to ignore and the subject attempts to punch the officer with all he's got.... What now?
Taser? Too close.
OC Spray? Takes time to be effective.
Baton? Must be drawn... which requires taking a hand out of the immediate fight.
Firearm? Not the best choice... takes time to draw and typically will be most efficient when the target is beyond arms reach.
That leaves empty hand combative skills.
The officer should deflect the punch if possible and at minimum take measures to reduce the likelihood of damage (I'll do a video later on a technique referred to as a "Sensor Elbow" for this, strike the subject with a palm to the face or a forearm (or knife hand) to what we refer to as "The Triangle" (Apogee is the hinge of the jaw running down the neck to the crest of the trapezius muscle following a line over the spine and down to the suprasternal notch where the clavicle meets the sternum) which will have a stunning effect and will retard (though may not stop) forward momentum. At this point the officer should assess whether another strike is needed and deliver one. If it is not needed or after subsequent strikes, the officer should immediately seek out an arm (because the hands that kill you are located at the ends of the arms) and proceed to secure some form of joint lock. This should be used to place the subject on the deck and control them through pain compliance while the officer either secures handcuffs on the subject or calls over the radio for additional units. Should the subject become violent and combative again, the officer must decide whether they should disengage and use another force option, or if they are justified in increasing the pressure on the lock and destroying the joint.
By countering a punch with MAYBE a couple open handed strikes and a joint lock, what has been avoided?
-The officer is n't punching someone. Right, wrong, or indifferent, this looks REALLY BAD when the media gets the cell phone video someone inevitably took of the incident.
-No one is Tased. Seems video turns up of justified ECD use and everyone gets their skivvies in a wad over that too these days.
-No one gets sprayed.... so no officers have to worry about cross-contamination.
-The baton stays in the scabbard.... so no one tries to get famous with a Rodney King type video. Caveat: The baton CAN be used to enhance a joint lock if desired.
-The firearms stays silent. While all of the "incidents" involving Officer Involved Shootings here lately have seemed quite justified to me, the public likes to crucify officers that shoot someone, no matter how clearly justified the shooting may be.
Scenario: You're a concealed carry permit holder. You are travelling through a state you are permitted to carry in on your vacation. You have stopped at a large truck stop because you need fuel, to make a head call, and are hoping they have Rip-It in the cooler because you still have quite a drive ahead of you. As you step out of the vehicle and stretch your stiff legs from 4 hours in the vehicle a male subject steps out of a vehicle and asks you for money. You tell them you don't carry cash and apologize and keep walking. As you exit the head, you see the subject is close to their vehicle. You collect your purchases and walk out to your vehicle. As you approach your vehicle, the subject is nowhere in sight. When you open the door the subject turns you around and is throwing a punch......
This should be handled the EXACT same way as the patrol officer above.
By using a joint lock here, you have the control to call the police or make enough racket hollering that someone else will do so WITHOUT having to resort to trading punch for punch or using deadly force.
So what does this mean to YOU?
If you haven't, I would suggest you get good training on the use of joint locks for combatives.
If you live in a gun control state, I won't come to train you but you are more than welcome to come down to HQ.
If you desire more in depth training than a seminar can afford, feel free to contact HQ and I will call my Hapkido instructor and see if there are any school accredited through his organization in your area. If there's not, I know instructors all over the place and may be able to help you find a reputable school and instructor to train with. While seminars and training with me WILL cost you money (this is how I make my living), if you want help getting into the martial arts, I will help you do that free of charge due solely to my love of the martial arts and desire to spread the arts to as many people as possible.
As always,
Stay Frosty
Stay Safe
Stay Dangerous
-K.
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Kenny Smith
CEO, Total Force Holdings, Inc.