[DarkElfChilde]

If the opponent is expecting punches, they'll be ready for them; plus what if they have a weapon in hand? Any kind of weapon - knife, sword, stick, and so on.

I can give you an example of Aikido. The student can neutralize an aggression and render an attacker harmless, while safeguarding the attacker from any unecessary serious injury.

If an uku (the attacker) would throw a punch at me (the nage), I can easily block with a raise of an arm (I do this with making a imaginary backward 'C' with the left or vise-versa with the right).

The movements of Aikido is graceful-like and you're on an offense instead of defence like most martial arts. When they throw a punch or even a kick, their balance in vulnerable as their energy (or Ki) is used in a particular part of the body that I can use the attacker's Ki against them.

If they throw a right, block with the left...that way you can grab their wrist and twist it as you do some foot movement to get out of the way as you press down on their elbow to take them down to the ground (and hold them there if needed) or put your free hand on their shoulder of the arm you have a hold on and throw them.

You do the techniques quickly and SAFELY when you're learning, but of course, when you're actually being attacked that way, I would do the first technique by taking them down...applying pressure on the elbow...just above the elbow is a nerve (it really hurts ) If the uke is bigger than you, you can still take them down...they won't be able to get up if you put both knees on their arm. Either way works.

Sorry if I rambled too much.

- DEC

[SilverMoonLady]

Wow! Thanks for all the advice:) If nothing else, I can certainly walk more confidently to my car at 2 am
All of this will certainly be quite helpful, if not for this scene, then certainly in another.

Thanks all!

[DarkElfChilde]

Welcome.