Page 52 - Pat O'Keeffe Combat Kick Boxing

Combat Kick Boxing

Chapter Three
The Pre-emptive Strike

My dictionary defines a pre-emptive strike as: ‘a strike intended to prevent attack
by disabling a threatening enemy.’ The words ‘threatening enemy’ have special
importance here for legal reasons. If, because of another person’s behaviour or
language, you feel physically threatened, then you have the right to strike first.
When someone’s behaviour or words threaten you, a crime has been committed;
a common assault has taken place.

Example
You are driving along a road when suddenly the driver of the car behind you
starts flashing his lights. You have done nothing wrong and decide to ignore it.
The driver of the car behind continues to follow you, flashing his lights and
sounding the horn. In the rear-view mirror you can see he is agitated.
Confused as to what the problem is, you pull over to the side of the road and
get out, intending to apologise for whatever it is that you’ve done. The other
driver pulls over. He is bigger than you. He approaches you swearing and shouting
and then says, ‘You stupid **** I’m going to smash your teeth in!’ He clenches
his fist and raises his hand.
He has committed a common assault and you are entitled to defend yourself
by use of a pre-emptive strike!

The Three Ranges
The closer your potential assailant is, the more dangerous it is for you. The further
away they are, the fewer are their options. This is never truer than when there is
more than one potential assailant.

Close range is less than three feet.
Medium range is three to six feet.
Long range is more than six feet.

Logically, a weapon will increase your assailant’s reach and account must be taken
of this.

Close Range
Situation One: You are clearly threatened at close range. Grab his head with
both hands and head-butt him on the nose. At the same time perform a rising
knee kick to his groin. Push him away from you and leave the area. (Fig. 57)

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