Kubler Al is the founder and director of training for Cutting Edge Combat. Al is the highest ranking Kuta instructor in the world. Al’s 27 years of experience includes karate, judo, jiu-jitsu, aikido and Kuta. Al specializes in a revolutionary form of close quarters combat called Kuta that was used by covert operatives for extreme encounters. He has all over the United States and in 21 other countries. His articles have been published in Police Magazine and he has written How To Survive a Mugging (an eBook available online)’. Al has been a guest speaker at numerous venues including TREXPO (Tactical Response Exposition), Rotary, Kiwanis, MOPS, Girlfriends Unlimited and Soroptimist and he has been interviewed on radio and for a TV special. He has personally provided training for the U.S. Department of Commerce Office of Law Enforcement Western region, Los Angeles County Sheriffs Lennox Station, the City of San Clemente Marine Safety Division and numerous individual law enforcement officers. He has provided private seminars in the United States and in Australia.
Don't back up!
One thing I learned several years ago was that its very risky to back up if someone is attacking you from the front.
The reason its risky to back up is because you could back up into the hands of the attacker's cohort or you could trip and fall and then be stomped by the cohort.
An ancient text says, "A lion is mighty among beasts and does not back up!"
The text basically translates to 'the lion advances upon his prey'.
Obviously we don't have the strength of a lion, however this concept can be applied for self-defense.
Backing up conveys a sign of weakness to the attacker, however if you advance toward the attacker or move off to the side you are safer for three reasons:
1) When you move forward or off to the side you become a moving target and moving targets are always harder to hit.
2) You're also out of the attacker's power band, meaning that the attacker in front of you who, was planning to hit you where you were standing, that his punch wouldn't have power until it arrives at the spot where you once were.
By moving toward him you'll end up stuffing his punch and by moving off to the side he'll probably miss you entirely.
3) When you move forward or to the side, any accomplice of the attacker who's standing behind you, will have a more difficult time trying to gang up on you.
This is because you'll be a moving target, and if you add in some quick Chin Jabs, modified with Kuta, you'll be able to defeat both attackers in just a few seconds.
(Please note that in the Kuta system that we always prepare for more than one attacker, since according to my friends in law enforcement, its very common on the street to be attacked by more than one person.)
So remember, don't back up! You'll be more effective at defending yourself when you move forward or off to the side.
Stay safe,
Kubler Al,