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Feral Fighting
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Feral Fighting
Advanced Widow Maker Fighting Techniques
By Sammy Franco
Published by Contemporary Fighting Arts, LLC
http://www.SammyFranco.com
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Copyright © 2015 Sammy Franco. All Rights Reserved. No content may be reproduced without the express written permission of the author.
First Edition
ISBN 978-1-941845-10-3
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This e-book edition was created at FoliumBookStudio.com
Warning!
The self-defense techniques, tactics, methods, and information described and depicted in this book can be dangerous and could result in serious injury and or death and should not be used or practiced in any way without the guidance of a professional reality based self-defense instructor.
The author, publisher, and distributors of this book disclaim any liability from loss, injury, or damage, personal or otherwise, resulting from the information and procedures in this book. It is the reader’s responsibility to research and comply with all local, state and federal laws. This book is for academic study only.
Before you begin any exercise program, including those suggested in this book, it is important to check with your physician to see if you have any condition that might be aggravated by strenuous exercise.
Epigraph
“If you are going through hell...keep going.” - Winston Churchill
The Reaper Returns!
Feral Fighting is an advanced companion book that builds on the skills and techniques of my original Widow Maker fighting method. For those who have not already read and studied my Widow Maker program, I strongly encourage you to do so, before reading this book. Once again, be sure you have either watched the Widow Maker video or read the original book before moving forward with this advanced self-defense program.
Feral Fighting takes you beyond the initial Widow Maker program by teaching you my most vicious and advanced razing techniques. As I mentioned in my earlier publication, razing is a very unusual and unorthodox form of hand-to-hand combat. As a matter of fact, it’s a revolutionary style of fighting that you won’t find in any martial art school or self-defense class.
The self-defense techniques featured in this modern fighting style are hard-core, indefensible, and utterly devastating. However, the actual power of razing comes from its ability to psychologically terrorize your adversary while simultaneously ripping him to pieces.
The objective of Feral Fighting is to teach the law-abiding citizen how to use extreme force when faced with the immediate threat of unlawful deadly criminal attack. This combat program is also particularly useful for military personnel who require an efficient and effective way to eliminate a formidable enemy when engaged in unarmed combat.
The information presented in this book is not intended for sports combat, tournament competitions or any self-defense situation that does not justifiably warrant the use of deadly force. Deadly force is defined as violent action known to create a substantial risk of causing death or serious bodily harm. A person may use deadly force in self-defense only if retaliating against another’s deadly force.
Much of the information contained herein is lethal and should only be used to protect yourself or a loved one from immediate risk of unlawful deadly criminal attack. Remember, the decision to use deadly force must always be a last resort; after all other means of avoiding violence has been thoroughly exhausted.
Feral Fighting has five chapters. Each one covers a critical aspect of my unique fighting methodology. Like many of my previous publications, Feral Fighting is both a skill-building workbook and strategic blueprint for combat. Feel free to write in the margins, underline passages, and dog-ear the pages.
Finally, I strongly recommend that you read Feral Fighting from beginning to end, chapter by chapter. Only after you have read the entire book should you treat it as a reference and skip around, reading those sections or topics that interest you
Welcome back!
- Sammy Franco
www.SammyFranco.com
Chapter One: Adrenaline, Rage and Fear!
Feral Fighting Breakdown
Feral Fighting is divided into two sections: defense and offense. First, I am going to begin with defense and the strategic application of my Shielding Wedge technique. However, before discussing the nuts and bolts of the shielding wedge, it’s important first to explain when you would use this unique self-defense maneuver.
When Your Adversary Goes Postal!
The Shielding Wedge is the most effective counter-measure when your adversary goes postal during a self-defense situation. Essentially, “going postal” means your opponent has gone off the deep end and suddenly and unexpectedly attacks you with an explosive and frenzied flurry of blows.
When your attacker goes postal, he will often simultaneously swing both of his arms wildly and uncontrollably as he rushes or runs inexorably towards you. There is no skill and no finesse involved with a postal attack.
Adrenaline, rage, and fear are the three primary ingredients that fuels your assailant’s attack. However, psychoactive drugs like alcohol, amphetamines, cocaine, and PCP can also play an active role during such an attack. Regardless, an opponent who goes postal will often look and act like an enraged madman hell-bent on your destruction.
Going postal is artless, but extremely dangerous for two reasons. One, the sudden outburst of violent energy often overrides the defender’s cognitive brain. This prevents him or her from applying the appropriate defensive technique (i.e., block, parry, slip, duck, bob, weave, etc.) at the proper moment. In most cases, the defender will momentarily freeze up and this split-second of vulnerability is when they can get knocked out.
Two, the rhythm, angle and trajectory of your opponent’s attack are often unpolished, uncoordinated and unpredictable. The punches are often frenetic and delivered at very awkward angles.
Unfortunately, martial artists, self-defense practitioners, and mixed martial artists are trained fighters who are only prepared to fight skilled opponents. They spend years and even decades preparing to fight opponent’s who have mastered the fundamentals of unarmed combat such as proper body mechanics, footwork, timing, etc.
Going postal is fueled by three primary ingredients: adrenaline, rage and fear.
Trained fighters are ill-prepared to deal with an unskilled opponent who goes postal in the streets. As I stated earlier, this type of attack is too fast, unpredictable, and unpolished. Conventional defensive techniques won't work effectively against someone who goes postal. A trained defender cannot safety and effectively apply conventional defensive techniques (blocks, parries, slips, etc). The nature and unpolished characteristics of this type of assault are too strange and unfamiliar.
An opponent who “goes postal” will often look and act like an enraged madman hell-bent on your destruction.
The Perfect Storm of Violence
The following photo sequence illustrates just how fast a person can close the distance gap once they go postal. They often start out in a relatively calm state and quickly escalate to extreme rage within a few seconds.
Screw It! I’ll Just Take Him to the Ground!
Some of you might be thinking of bypassing the attacker’s ballistic assault and taking him to the ground. Then, once he’s on the ground, you can counterattack with a variety of submission chokes, locks, and holds.
While this fighting strategy appears logical and is especially popular among mixed martial artists, skilled wrestlers, and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioners, it’s too risky for the inherent dangers of real world street self-defense. Allow me to explain in detail.
Intentionally taking your adversary to the ground might be safe in a mixed martial arts competition
, but it can get you into serious trouble in the streets.
Ground Fighting Dangers in the Real World
While I am the first person to admit that it’s imperative to know how to defend yourself on the ground, it is, however, something that you should always try to avoid in a self-defense situation. What follows are some important things to always keep in mind:
Multiple Attackers - since ground fighting requires maximal body entanglement, it is virtually impossible to ground fight more than one person at a time. The unfortunate fact is you will be in serious trouble if you get jumped by multiple attackers.
Knives and Edged Weapons — it is extremely difficult to defend and disarm knives and other edged weapons when ground fighting. It’s not that it can’t be done, it just requires a lot of specialized training and a ton of practice!
Spectator Intervention - there is always a possibility that witnesses observing your ground fight might decide to jump in and help your adversary out — even though your opponent was the one who committed the criminal assault!
Dangerous Terrain & Environment - ground fighting on certain types of terrain can be hazardous to your health (i.e., broken glass, sharp metal objects, splintered wood, concrete pavement,etc.). Your environment and immediate surrounding can also pose danger (i.e., heavy traffic, a cliff, a street curb, steep hill, marsh, thorn bushes, bridges, etc).
Psychoactive Street Drugs — if your adversary is high on psychoactive drugs he will have freakish strength and will often be immune to pain. Imagine how difficult it would be to ground fight a large man on such powerful drugs.
Limited Mobility — since ground fighting requires maximal body entanglement with your adversary, you are temporarily “locked up” with your opponent. This can be a big problem if you need to immediately escape from the scene.
Positional Asphyxia - positional asphyxia is another concern when ground fighting a very large and heavy assailant. In simple terms, positional asphyxia is the arrangement, placement or positioning of your opponent’s body which interrupts your breathing and causes unconsciousness or possible death.
The One Technique Solution for All Styles OF FIGHTING
As I said earlier, my shielding wedge maneuver is one of the most effective techniques you can use against an adversary who goes postal in the streets. Best of all, it can be seamlessly integrated into any martial arts style and self-defense system. As a matter of fact, it can be applied to all styles, systems, and concepts of fighting, including:
Boxing
All Karate styles
Kung Fu
Muay Thai
Krav Maga
Jeet Kune Do
Mixed Martial Arts (MMA)
All you need to do is incorporate this relatively simple technique into your repertoire and you are good to go. So, if you are ready, let’s move on to the next chapter and learn how to master this unique self-defense technique.
Two of the greatest dangers about ground fighting in a self-defense situation are multiple attackers and street weapons.
Chapter Two: The Shielding Wedge
Phalanx Warfare and the Shielding Wedge
The shielding wedge technique found in my Feral Fighting program is predicated on the ancient Greek military formation known as the Phalanx. Essentially, the phalanx was a cohesive rectangular military formation, consisting of heavy infantry armed with pikes, spears, shields, and similar weapons.
Foot soldiers (called hoplites) were organized into rows, typically about eight ranks deep, and stretching as far as a quarter mile long. Hoplites would lock their shields together and form a massive wall of spears projecting toward the enemy. The phalanx would then advance at a walking pace to ensure that it would not disturb its formation.
The Greek Phalanx Formation Strategy
The strategy behind the phalanx combat formation was if individual foot soldiers stayed in tight formation and acted as a solid unit, they could dominate their enemy. It was a team effort that required each foot soldier to trust his life to the man standing next to him.
As a military formation, the phalanx was practically unstoppable. It functioned as both a slow moving battering ram and a massive meat grinder, designed for direct, head-on, bloody combat.
So what does an ancient Greek military formation have to do with my Feral Fighting program? Actually, a lot! There are several important tactical parallels between the phalanx formation and the shielding wedge technique. To better understand this, we need to first take a look at the equipment used in the phalanx formation.
The Foot Soldier’s Accoutrement
Each foot soldier was armed with several pieces of equipment that would maximize his chances of survival in battle. It included the following items:
Shield
Helmet
Breastplate
Greaves
Spear or Pike
Sword
Illustration of Greek hoplite carrying a hoplon shield.
The Ancient Hoplon Shield
The primary piece of equipment that ensured the defensive success of the phalanx formation was a large circular shield called the hoplon. It was generally made of wood and bronze and it weighed approximately twenty pounds and was thirty-six inches in diameter. It’s the hoplon shield along with the protective armor that was responsible for giving the phalanx its “defensive” characteristics.
From Ancient Greece to Present Day URBAN COMBAT
I have adopted several core strategies of the Greek phalanx and integrated it into my own unique style of fighting. Just like the Greek foot soldiers who used the phalanx formation to win on the battlefield, you too will be using similar principles to defend yourself against someone who goes postal in the streets. It’s this battle-tested, balls to the wall defensive formation that I am going to scale down for personal hand-to-hand combat.
Pictured here, the author demonstrates the shielding wedge technique.
The Shielding Wedge Technique
As I said earlier, the shielding wedge is specifically designed to protect you when your adversary goes postal during a high-risk self-defense situation. Besides being an ideal counter maneuver technique, it also possesses numerous tactical advantages for the self- defense practitioner. Here are just a few:
Tactical Advantages of the Shielding Wedge
SIMPLICITY - The technique is simple, direct and can be applied under the pressure and stress of high-risk combat conditions. The shielding wedge doesn’t require a lot of strength, conditioning, or agility to perform. It’s a gross motor skill movement that can quickly and easily be applied in a dangerous self-defense situation.
NATURAL REACTION - The act of shielding and protecting your face with both of your hands in a natural and instinctive response that’s built into your DNA. The shielding wedge, however, is a more refined version of this evolutionary instinct that you’ll use to your advantage.
INNOCUOUS - When deployed from either a de-escalation or natural stance, the shielding wedge doesn’t appear threatening to the opponent prior to deployment. This is particularly important during the pre-contact stages of a self-defense altercation.
FOLLOW THROUGH - The shielding wedge technique allows you to naturally flow into the razing method of attack, so you can quickly and efficiently incapacitate your attacker.
Phalanx and Shielding Wedge Similarities
As I mentioned earlier, the Greek phalanx and my shielding wedge share several tactical similarities. Here are a few:
Battering Ram - Like the phalanx formation, the shielding wedge is a defensive position that also functions as a linear battering ram directed straight for the opponent’s face.
Mobile Meat Grinder - Once the phalanx formation made direct contact with the enemy, it turned into a virtual meat grinder creating carnage all over the battlefield. The very same can be said for the second phase of Feral Fighting. After the shielding wedge makes contact with the opponent, the razing method of attack is activated and the assailant’s facial targets are often rippe
d and torn to pieces.
Pikes — In the phalanx formation, the extreme length of the pikes were used to keep the enemies from closing in on the foot soldiers. Likewise, when assuming the shielding wedge, both of your outstretched arms function as pikes that inhibit the opponent from closing in and overwhelming you with blows.
Hoplon Shield -Like the ancient Greek hoplon shield, both of your hands are strategically joined together to create a shield that uniformly protects your face from direct linear strikes.
Side by Side Formation- For the phalanx to be successful, it required a very tight formation. Each Greek hoplite stood side by side with the next foot soldier, to create a densely packed military formation. Similarly, when assuming the shielding wedge posture, your shoulders are raised up and your head and chin are dropped down, as if to replicate the formation of hoplite soldiers protecting both your right and left sides of your head. Pictured here, a rear view of the shielding wedge technique.
Protect Your Head At All Costs!
When used correctly, the shielding wedge will effectively protect your face, neck, and throat from the opponent’s postal attack.