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Knee Strikes For In-Close Fighting

Devastate Your Opponent

After looking over the last dozen or so video posts, I realized I have been focusing on strikes, attacks, and joint locks that utilize mostly the upper body. You don’t want to be a one-sided fighter, so it is important to know techniques you can use if your hands and elbows are not free to strike.The knees are one of the most powerful self defense weapons a person has, so this week’s video teaches you just how simple using the knees can be.

Breaking It Down

Much like the elbows, the knees are able to do two things other self defense weapons can’t: First they are able to create a large amount of force in tight spaces, and second they are sturdy so your risk of getting your knee injured while striking is minimal.

It is best to end a fight by getting in close and striking a sensitive target. A job the knees are perfect for. Once you are inside close most fighters won’t know what to do (they rely on punches and kicks). However getting in close means that you will have to pass through the punching range to get there.

This is where distraction techniques come into play. Even though you may have distracted your opponent you still have to keep your guard up as you move in, as Gabriel demonstrates in the video.

Ending The Fight

Once you are in tight simply drive your knee into his stomach, solar plexus, or groin. I recommend the groin.

You really want to try to grab a hold of the back of your attackers head as you strike. This will pull him into your strike and set you up for a followup to the face.

A single knee strike to the groin is probably not going to end the fight, but a knee to the groin followed by a well executed knee to the face probably will.

This move is all about getting in close, taking control or your attacker (by grabbing his head), and getting a few quick strikes in to end the fight quickly.

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69 thoughts on “Knee Strikes For In-Close Fighting”

  5. These moves work ! I won a couple of fights in grade school against bigger stronger kids with knee shots to the groin. Later in life I never used legs against an opponent, but I sure will again if necessary !

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  6. These moves work ! I won a couple of fights in grade school against bigger stronger kids with knee shots to the groin. Later in life I never used legs against an opponent, but I sure will again if necessary !

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  9. Also, when you had the man down,rather than kneeing to the face, you could have taken your right knee and struck the back of his knee , which would have definitely sent your opponent sprawling on the ground

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  10. These are fantastic method’s, at 55,5″2″ and 120 dripping wet, I need all the help I can get. I Always have the element of surprise as No one expects tiny old me to be able to Do anything. Have dropped a couple of six foot frisky guys. No offense, but I don’t waste time with women, they really Are not worth it. Maybe if more took some courses.
    Thanks

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  12. One of the first things Aikido teaches is Irimi – “Entering,” basically getting inside your opponent’s guard. Give the attacker something to focus on, let him throw a punch and slip out of his way and inside his guard after he has committed to his blow. Then if the throw you were planning doesn’t work (as you constantly point out, most of ’em have no room for error!) there is always the knee in the groin or elbow in the face. . .

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  14. From up close the knee is one of the most potent weapons available.From a clinch position the knee can deliver a pulverizing gut splitting strike that can render any assailant helpless.Your favourite target should be the liver,groin or kidneys.

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  15. Great summary of a much under-used weapon. Close-in head-butts, knees and elbows are particularly effective against a larger opponent once you are inside their guard as this close range gives the shorter fighter the advantage and these are all very powerful weapons. Also very useful to apply to the opponent’s backbone or kidneys if you can move past and outside their guard rather than inside.

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  17. Another,good basic technique. Thanks for sending me these, Bob & Friends. – GDH

    P.S.- Could be that this is a good technique to use to send business to a dentist friend.(Just Teasing.)

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  18. I’m an older guy who is still active and a security enforcement officer. I like these kinds of manouvers. Good going, keep ’em coming. theyl may save my life, someday.

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  19. You should show doublestrike techniques…When using a knee,bring foot down HARD on instep of exposed foot…When elbow striking,follow up with a rapid backhand…Turn each strike’s recoil into another continuing blow…Also,on head grab,reach further around and grab chin,one strong jerk/pull and it’s all over,opponent will be dead…

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  20. Agree with Brian that some techniques should be ‘double strike’. However, with the knee strike you can hit three targets:
    1. Wherever you strike with knee cap
    2. When bringing leg down, scrap your foot on their shin
    3. Finish up by stepping on their toes.

    Following these steps make the knee strike far more effective, without any extra movement.

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  21. Thanks for these fast fight pointers, they are vary usable. I practice them on my grand master,grand daughter. By the way I throw my Stinger often. Thanks

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  24. Bob & Gabriel !
    Gentlemen thank you for these important combination moves.
    Finish the aggressor with several fist blows to the throat & palm thrust to the ears.
    Even though I carry a concealed S&W 9mm MP Shield hand gun – these personal & up close moves come in perfectly when immediate defensive action is needed.
    Thank you both & God Bless !

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  25. I so appreciate the videos and Bob being patient with my financial situation (very ill wife and many continous expenses. At 79, workong 58 bto 60 hours a week 365 days a year in a business where you get JERKS at times. I find them educating and give me more confidence. really appreciate this good stuff.art h

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  27. I use money to a guys face in 9th grade and it ended immediatelybut I did have to fight my way in and wear him down just a little bit to get there

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  28. Although knees are strong, mainly when shoved into your face (aimed to the nose), or the groin (called that way because it’s the sound you make when hit there); they can also be disabled easily if hit sharply with your heel in an inward motion, causing rupture of ligaments and meniscus.

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  30. In South Africa intimidation is rife, so is rape, assault and murder. These techniques taught have helped greatly, I us an aggressive body posture, which discourages attacks. I’m also polite to other men and woman, while this stops conflict with the average man, forwarded and prepared really helps against the troublemakers who’s only desire is violence and trouble, with these techniques, I can really ‘kick but’. Thanks Bob and Fight Fast friends.

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  31. Great demo for using knee for defense fantastic weapon when involved in close contact with person attacking you great job joe Liguori

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  32. I am also 76 and approaching 77 in a few short months. Although I don’t participate in practicing self defense moves, I still watch the video and learn. Of course it is not the real way to go about it but nevertheless, it is worthwhile, at least to me. At my age, I do feel past the point of being attacked as for one thing I live in a senior community which is well protected. The owners see to that. Another thing is when I go out, I still am aware of my surroundings and be very careful. It is not that crime is prevalent around where I live but you never know. I was parking at a large market and when I came out of the store, while walking to my car, I noticed some bad looking dudes hovering around their SUV as well as my car. They were smoking something and I did not want to proceed to my car. I did not want to take a chance on a confrontation. At my age I don’t have the coordination and stamina as I used to. My reflexes are also diminished and having a bad back and legs doesn’t help either. I walked back to the store, waited awhile and proceeded slowly to my car. These guys were no longer there. At this point I felt safe. Here it is that if I am able I will avoid a confrontation. It’s not worth it to me to aggravate a possible situation which I can get seriously hurt or dead. Not being able to practice self defense, gives me a disadvantage but I still learn how to just in case.

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  34. Excellent information, i’m a retired Deputy Sheriff and we trained a lot using knee strikes. They absolutely work no matter how big your attacker is

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  38. Your videos and instructional information is very important and useful to and for me. You see, I’ve had 8 back surgeries where 3 of the 8 resulted in me being hospitalized for 3 months. As a teen I’d had training in the arts but after my surgeries and fighting to keep my independence I am in need of boosters which will jog my memory. Thank you for your helpful information.

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  39. Thank you for the inside techniques I find them very helpful I work in a sometimes hostile environment and close quarters at a top nightclub a young crowd hip hop music is played so I will keep this in mind

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  40. Thank you Sir nothing like seeing a great technique to start the day. Great inside move like the way you have a large strong partner showing the effectiveness of technique. Great moves. Tuna

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  42. Good informative moves !!
    I’m disabled with one prosthetic below the knee leg on left side with plates in pelvis on left side from previously crushed pelvis , so would like to mabe see some effective moves to the inside using the right knee , or would the tactic be used the same way with a right handed opponent ?? Thanks for the self defense moves !!!

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  45. Another good move for the ladies in close-up threatening situations. And it’s instinctive. And you can follow up with elbows.

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  46. anyway to get the jump on being jumped is a good deal taking a forearm across a coller bone or thraot will often times, give you time to get away or put them out of the picture. knees, elbows, forearms, feet, hands.

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  48. In addition to the use of the knees, don’t forget the use of the feet for a side strike to the knee so that an opponent’s knee can be hyper-extended to the side or rear… and injury often seen in football.
    In close-in combat, the base of the palm of the hand to the nose can crush the nose and cause temporary blindness. A thumb jab to the corner of the eye, combined with a quick twist can pop the eyes out of the sockets. A sharp cupped hand strike to the ears can break the eardrums.
    All movements can give you an opening to break an opponent’s attack and allow you time to get away safely… and do so as quickly as possible.

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  49. In my last post I forgot to mention an attack to the throat.
    From a close in position, with your fingers and thumb, grab the Adams Apple hard. Twist and pull at the same time. This will crush the larynx and prevent your attacker from breathing at the same time.
    Few things will stop and attack faster than stopping an attacker’s ability to breathe.
    Remember… in any move, speed and violence is key. Your life may depend on it. Don’t give an attacker any ground. It is his/her intent to cause you to give in to their attack… with the likely intent to kill you.
    I have learned hand-to-hand combat in 24 years in Combat Arms in the Army and more than 10 years experience in karate…a good part of that time as an instructor in women’s self defense courses.
    .

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  50. Basically the same as the elbow strike. In close, grab something, strike with most aligned new movement strategy

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