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  While there are many vital targets that you need to protect during an unarmed self- defense encounter; the most important one is your head. Your head (this includes front, sides, and back) is the computer center that controls the functioning of your entire body. Since most of your vital functions (sight, hearing, breathing, and equilibrium) are processed in the head, you must keep it out of harm’s way.

  Remember, when your adversary goes postal, your objective is to prioritize your defense and protect your most vital and sensitive anatomical target from attack — your head!

  Statistically speaking, when your opponent delivers his assault, the odds are that he will deliberately attack at your head. Remember, when humans become enraged and physically violent, they generally don’t focus their anger at random body parts. For example, when was the last time you witnessed someone being sucker punched in the chest, shoulder or back? It seldom occurs. This is because everyone projects their anger, hostility, and rage at the face or head of another person. It’s just how humans beings are made.

  The head is the central communication system between humans. It’s where people express their feeling and raw emotions (i.e., happiness, sadness, love, and hate, etc.). If and when your attacker “goes postal”, the odds are that he’s going to direct his attack at your face or head.

  Anger, especially rage, is generally directed to the face of another person.

  Finally and most importantly, it’s very difficult to recover from a blow to your head, neck or throat. In many cases, a head or throat strike can knock you out or even kill you. Prioritize your defense with the shielding wedge and protect your head, neck, and throat.

  If you are concerned about receiving a debilitating blow to your stomach during a postal attack, try tensing your abdominal muscles and expelling air from your lungs when strikes make contact. Also, abdominal conditioning exercises and impact training can also strengthen your lower body to withstand the most powerful body blows.

  Shielding Wedge Stances

  Before addressing the specific mechanics required for effective shielding, I need to briefly talk about stances. While the shielding wedge maneuver can be delivered from a variety of combat postures, there are two stances that are ideal. They are: the De-escalation and Natural stance. Let’s take a look at each one.

  As I discussed in my previous book, Stand and Deliver: A Street Warrior’s Guide to Tactical Combat Stances, a stance is a vital component of any fighting system because it defines your ability to attack and defend, and it can play a substantive role in the outcome of a high-risk self-defense situation.

  A strategic stance is crucial when performing the shielding wedge technique. Here are just a few reasons why:

  It minimizes your target exposure when performing the maneuver.

  It enhances your stability and balance when shielding.

  It promotes rapid foot work and mobility when defending.

  It provides both a kinesthetic and psychological reference point when deploying the shielding movement.

  Creates a psychological comfort zone for the defender.

  Helps reduce the chances of spectator intervention.

  It’s a “court defensible” physiology.

  Remember, a strategic stance in a real luxury in self-defense. There will be situations and circumstances that will not afford you the opportunity of assuming a protective posture. So always be prepared to deploy your shielding wedge maneuver without any foundational structure. Let’s take a look at some of the strategic stances.

  The De-escalation Stance

  Pictured here, Sammy Franco demonstrates the de-escalation stance, one of the strategic stances used for delivering the shielding wedge technique.

  The de-escalation stance is used prior to initiating your shielding wedge technique. It facilitates invisible deployment of your defensive maneuver while simultaneously protecting your vital targets against various possible counter attacks.

  When assuming this de-escalation stance, keep your head straight and focused directly at your adversary. Like most stances, you should keep your chin slightly angled down. This diminishes target size and reduces the likelihood of a paralyzing blow to the chin or a lethal strike to the throat. However, it’s very important that you appear nonthreatening and non combative to your adversary.

  The centerline of your torso should be strategically positioned at a 45-degree angle from your adversary. When assuming the de- escalation stance, place your strongest, most coordinated side forward. For example, a right-handed person stands with his or her right side toward the assailant. Keeping your strongest side forward enhances the speed, power, and accuracy of your first strike. This doesn’t mean that you should never practice from your other side. You must be capable of de- escalating from both sides, and you should spend equal practice time on the left and right stances.

  Keep your hands open, relaxed and up to protect the upper gates of your centerline. Never drop your hands to your side, put your hands in your pocket, or cross your arms. You’ve got to have your hands up to strategically protect your anatomical targets and, if necessary, to fight back with your offensive techniques. Don’t point your finger or clench your fists! Keep your hands loosely open, both facing the hostile person.

  The hands are generally placed one behind the other in a staggered formation along your centerline. The lead arm is held high and bent at approximately 90 degrees. The rear arm is kept back. Arranged this way, the hands not only protect the torso centerline but also allow quick deployment of your body weapons. Finally, when holding your hand guard, do not tighten your shoulder or arm muscle. Stay relaxed and loose.

  When assuming your de-escalation stance, place your feet about shoulder width apart. Keep your knees bent and flexible. Your weight distribution is also an important factor. Since self-defense is dynamic, your weight distribution will change frequently. However, when stationary, keep 50 percent of your body weight on each leg and always be in control of it.

  The Natural Stance

  Here, the author demonstrates the natural stance.

  The shielding wedge can also be delivered from the natural stance. When assuming the natural stance, keep your head straight and focused directly at your adversary. The goal is to appear relaxed and at ease, hence the name — natural stance. Also, keep both of your eyes focus on the stranger when communicating with him and avoid locking eyes. Once again, a quick glance every so often is okay, but avoid becoming transfixed.

  The centerline of your torso should be strategically positioned at a 45-degree angle from your adversary. When assuming a natural stance, place your strongest, most coordinated side forward. For example, a right-handed person stands with his or her right side

  toward the assailant. Keeping your strongest side forward enhances the speed, power, and accuracy of your first strike. This doesn’t mean that you should never practice from your other side. You must be capable of fighting from both sides, and you should spend equal practice time on the left and right stances.

  Both of your hands must always remain up and moving. The goal is to keep them moving in a natural manner. For example, you can rub your hands, scratch you elbows, chest, hands or face. Just remember to make it look natural. A good rule of thumb is to get into the habit of gesticulating when talking to strangers. This type of continuous hand movement is beneficial for several reasons. Some include the following:

  It masks the defensive nature of your hands being raised.

  It helps set up the shielding wedge maneuver (if morally and legally justified).

  It masks hand trembling that often occurs during the pre-contact stages of unarmed combat.

  It aids in communication skills.

  When assuming your natural stance, place your feet about shoulder width apart. Keep your knees bent and flexible. Think of your legs as power springs to launch you through the ranges of unarmed self-defense (kicking, punching, and grappling).

  All footwork and strategic movement should be performed on the ba
lls of your feet. Your weight distribution is also an important factor. Since self-defense is dynamic, your weight distribution will change frequently. However, when stationary, keep 50 percent of your body weight on each leg and always be in control of it.

  The Reaper’s Cousin

  Don’t confuse the shielding wedge with its cousin the webbing strike that was featured in my original Widow Maker Program. While both look similar, they possess antithetical objectives and require significantly different hand and arm configurations. Moreover, the webbing strike is an offensive “first strike” technique, while the shielding wedge is a defensive maneuver designed for the most volatile type of unarmed attack.

  Pictured here, the webbing strike featured in the original Widow Maker Program.

  Shielding Wedge Body Mechanics

  While the shielding wedge is a gross motor skill movement, it does require specific arm, shoulder and head articulation. Proper body mechanics and correct timing are also crucial. However, once mastered, the shielding wedge maneuver will become an instinctual defensive tool that can be deployed under the stress of a ballistic postal attack.

  What follows is a detailed breakdown of the proper body mechanics necessary for effective shielding. Keep in mind, proper shielding body mechanics are executed in one fluid and definitive movement that should take less than one second to perform.

  1. Begin from a right lead (your right leg is facing forward) de-escalation stance. Simultaneously, insert the edge of your right index finger between the index and middle finger of your left hand.

  2. The ideal angle of your shielding wedge is approximately 120 degrees. Make certain that both of your hands are joined securely together.

  3. In order to maintain the structural integrity of the shielding wedge during combat, you’ll need apply a substantial amount of isometric tension to both of your hands. I recommend using a push-pull technique that stabilizes your hands. To do this, simply pull your right hand toward your body while simultaneously pushing outward with your left hand. This creates an isometric “locking effect” that prevents your shielding wedge from being dislodged during the fight.

  4. Once your hands are properly joined, extend both arms toward the adversary. Both of your elbows should be straight and locked. Your head is tucked in between both of your arms with your eyes focused directly at the adversary. Let your vision diffuse and make certain not to look down to the ground.

  5. Next, lunge forward at your adversary and close the distance gap between you and your opponent as quickly as possible. (For more information, see Lunging Into Battle.)

  6. As you close the distance gap, place both of your hands directly on the attacker’s face. Remember, you’re not trying to hit the adversary’s with your hands.

  7. Once contact is made, allow both hands to split apart. Your left hand grasps the nape of the enemy’s neck (this is referred to as “anchoring”) while the right hand begins the razing method of attack.

  In this photo, the shielding wedge begins from a right de-escalation stance.

  Next, insert your right index finger between the index and middle finger of your left hand.

  When assuming the shielding wedge technique, make certain that both of your palms are perpendicular to the ground.

  The ideal angle of the shielding wedge technique is approximately 120-degrees.

  Closing the Distance Gap

  Depending on the type of self-defense situation you are faced with, you can launch the shielding wedge technique while moving or remaining stationary, however in most postal attack situations, you will most likely be use lunging footwork to quickly close the distance gap between you and your adversary.

  Lunging Into Battle

  Lunging Forward – this footwork movement generates maximum distance coverage. To perform the lunge, move your front foot forward (approximately 24–26 inches) and then move your rear foot an equal distance. Explosive forward movement is generated by pushing off the ball of the back foot.

  Step 1: A student assumes the de-escalation stance prior to delivering the shielding wedge.

  Step 2: He executes the shielding wedge while simultaneously lunging forward.

  Step 1: Here, Sammy Franco demonstrates the starting position of the shielding wedge.

  Step 2: Notice how the shielding wedge completely protects his face.

  Never look down when performing the shielding wedge technique. Here, the author demonstrates a common mistake beginners make when performing the technique.

  Time and Distance Works Against You!

  Strategically speaking, every violent confrontation must end quickly. Remember, the longer a fight lasts, the greater your chances of serious injury. This is especially true when your adversary goes postal. Actually, time works against you during a postal attack.

  What follows is a list of things that can go wrong during the course of the fight:

  The opponent’s friends or spectators can intervene and assist him.

  You can make a tactical error that can cost you your life.

  Your immediate physical condition will worsen.

  The level of force between you and the assailant will escalate.

  Distance can also work against you during a postal attack. For example, if you allow the opponent to maintain punching range, he can unleash a barrage of vicious blows that will eventually overwhelm your defensive structure. This will most certainly force you into an irreversible defensive flow that will inhibit you from issuing a quick and efficient counterattack.

  Therefore, it’s imperative to close the distance gap between you and your adversary, so he doesn’t have the time or the distance to continue his frenzied postal assault.

  When your adversary goes postal, your objective is to get from point A to B as quickly as possible. Remember, danger and vulnerability can be found in time and distance. Your objective is to eliminate both as quickly as possible.

  By closing the distance gap between you and your adversary, you drastically reduce your vulnerability during a postal attack.

  Full-Contact Shielding Wedge Demonstration

  Step 1: The defender (right) assumes a de-escalation stance.

  Step 2: The assailant prepares to attack.

  Step 3: The defender closes the distance gap by lunging forward with a shielding wedge to the attacker’s face.

  Step 4: The attacker’s blows are feckless.

  Step 5: The defender’s hands split apart and he begins razing his opponent.

  Seeing Violence Before it Happens

  You’ll stand a much better chance of defending against a postal attack if you can see the impending danger before it actually happens. These few precious seconds might allow you to quickly escape from the dangerous situation or maybe attempt some smart de-escalation techniques.

  Regardless, of which tactical option you choose, a properly trained self-defense technician must be aware of everything in their immediate surroundings, including the assailant’s intentions to attack. He or she should possess the ability to recognize both verbal and nonverbal signs of impending aggression or assault. What follows is a list of both verbal and nonverbal indicators that violence is probable.

  Verbal Indicators (Assault is imminent)

  Abnormal stuttering

  Rapid speech

  Incoherent speech

  Extreme sarcasm

  Threats

  Challenging statements

  Screaming and swearing

  Nonverbal Indicators (Assault is possible)

  Increased breathing and pulse rate

  Excessive sweating

  Pulled shoulders

  Clenched teeth

  Direct and uninterrupted eye contact

  Acting as if he is ignoring you

  Drunken behavior

  Immediately changing from uncooperative to cooperative

  Nonverbal Indicators (Assault is imminent)

  Clenched fists

  Quivering hands

  Cessation of all movements
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br />   Reddened face (from blood surge)

  Protruding veins (from face, neck, or forearms)

  Extreme body tension

  Shoulder telegraph

  Target stare (looking at groin, jaw, etc.)

  Finger pointing

  Quick pacing

  Quick turning

  Fist threats with arm bent

  Hands on hips

  1,000-yard stare (looking through you)

  Hand concealment

  Chapter Three: Anchoring the Adversary

  ANCHORING THE ADVERSARY

  In my original book, The Widow Maker Program: Extreme Self-Defense for Deadly Force Situations, I discussed the critical importance of anchoring the opponent during the razing method of attack. This tactic is vital and certainly worth reviewing for Feral Fighting. So, let’s begin.

  First, after you make contact with the opponent with the shielding wedge, you must immediately anchor him. Essentially, anchoring means controlling and preventing the adversary from disengaging the range of engagement. Remember, for your offensive quarter beat techniques to work effectively, you must maintain closequarter combat range and keep the pressure on the adversary.