tim,
how would a grappler prevent someone from poking/gouging them in the eyes/throat or grabbing/striking them in the groin while grabbing or tackling an opponent? i have used these techniques and had them used against me in fights and practice. they were extremely effective in close range.

Charles

Hi Charles,
How would you prevent someone from poking you in the eyes/throat or grabbing/striking your groin when you are not grappling? Close range is close range, whether you are extending your hands to strike or grab makes little difference.

When you are free fighting, striking and grappling need to be combined.

Charles,

are you implying someone might and/or could grab your own groin and poke you in eye with it?

or are you worried someone might strike you in the throat/eye with their groin?

Eitherway- don't grapple in the buff.
Bob#2

Tim,
i try not to close my hands so my hands are free to do what ever they need to do ( which would include eye and groin striking). when the hands grab they cannot be used unless the grip is released. it seems to be a weakness when trying to tackle or wrestle. i am looking for some actual techniques for defense ( body/head position?). there is much debate on how practical moves are in combat, but most of the examples given have to do with sport fighting ( mma). i ask you because i feel you have credible skills and alot of fighting experience.

charles

bob#2,
i appreciate the come on, but i am straight and married. good luck finding yourself a "partner" to practice with.

charles

Charles,

If we are speaking of a scenario where a lesser skilled opponent (skills in this instance meaning grappling skills) is intending or relying on executing a poke or strike to sensitive areas of his opponent's body then I'm afraid much like a grappling match, the lesser skilled person will be in for a bad night. A fighter whose grappling skills are better than his opponent's would most always be in a better position to strike (or poke) his opponent. Often being in positions where an opponent is unable to answer back. Many times, a grappling specialist welcomes his opponent's efforts to grab up towards ones throat or face(the top mount position for instance). The result is usually a submission. If your goal is to be a superior ball striker/eye gouger, you'll have more success in doing this by becoming a better grappler.

Charles,

I may be speaking for myself, but if im at grapple practice, and someone "intentionally" pokes my eye....I'm gonna break his nose.

Where the hell do you train?

if these are street fights, I would recommend the 3 stooges verticle hand with the nose.

There is no way in hell anyone can stop the eye poke technique.

You think you can fight when you're blind? Who do you think you are, Zatoichi?

This is why I wear a kevlar vest, combat goggles and a steel cup whenever I fight...not to mention carrying a CAR-15 and .44 mag pistol and K-Bar knife. I've not gotten into an eye-poking situation yet. Anyone who wants to poke me in the eye is free to try though.

one of the first things i was taught was to attack the vunerable soft spots of the body. i spend most of my time learning and teaching traditional arts. i try to use my foundation to learn and understand current trends in martial arts. for self defense i am not concerned with style or skill, only what technique works best when i need it. most of the time praticioners are evasive or dismissive when i ask about how to deal with soft spot attacks. i ask the question because in the past i was raked down the face with a " leopards paw" by a senior instuctor when got him in a bear hug ( standing clinch arms under) and almost castrated by a big palooka who i had slammed through a bar table. in turn i have poked, gouged and grabbed when nessesary. i have a student who is a very good freestyle wrestler ( although smaller in size than me). after many takedown attemps we decided that it was very difficult to defend the vunerable areas of the head, neck and groin, even if the takedown was succesful. i have seen transitions to arm bars on the ground but not against a "real" poke. i am not attempting to discredit grappling's place in martial arts. i'll follow this with a post on some things i have learned.

how do you prevent someone from headbutting you, biting, scratching, pinching, grabbing your throat, etc. in a standup clinch?

Son, you should really stop fighting girls.

SOmetimes you need to restrain girls.

How do you stop someone from gouging out your eyes and attacking your groin? Wear protective gear wherever you go. Kneepads, elbow pads, goggles, mouth guard, headgear, chest-pads, gloves and everything else you can think of, but of course, only someone who wants to look like a complete idiot would do that. To stop it, don't let it happen in the first place, how to do that? Don't look at me.

my knowledge of the ground game is very basic. i am trying to learn more when i can. i see that position and control are the two main factors for attack and defense. side position with control of the arm or back position with under hooks seem to offer the greatest protection for the face and the groin. standing or on the ground, these postions force the opponent to reach across or behind themselves to attack. any further opinions, observations or clever comments would be much apprieciated.