Exploring Disadvantaged Techniques
Among the many training modules in Chongdo, one finds “One-Handed Techniques.” It’s logical to ask in what situations a person would want to fight one-handed.
The obvious answer is never. This module is not designed to demonstrate skill or such confidence that a person could fight one-handed, but rather in situations where there was no choice.
Many traditional Korean systems teach techniques with a similar notion, defining one-handed techniques as a solution for staying alive and fighting even when one hand is injured. Of course, the techniques that follow are simple modifications of two-handed techniques that would cause severe pain to an already injured hand or wrist.
Instead, Chongdo looks at the likely situations that warrant a one-handed response. They aren’t nice.
- A person carrying a bag of groceries or luggage is an inviting target. The attacker will typically approach and strike from the occupied side, since this buys time to strike. And in most cases, the victim will fall to the ground, still holding onto the item. Instead, the victim could switch the item to the far hand, use the item as a weapon, or simply drop the item and counterattack.
- A parent carrying an infant cannot simply drop the baby. He or she may need to use one hand to counterattack long enough to attract assistance or make an escape. Think an attacker wouldn’t target a mother with a baby?
- A parent walking with a small child can make a choice target for attack, as nearly any parent would give up anything to spare injury. Certainly, in a situation like this, the trained parent will seek escape, but cannot expect the child to know where or when to run. As a result, he will keep one hand on the child or scoop him up. This leaves one hand to repel the initial attack.
- It may be necessary to hold one person while responding to an attack from another. Police and security see this from time to time in situations where alcohol is involved. Here, one-handed techniques can deflect the initial assault while maintaining control on another person.
One-handed techniques consist of knowing how to jam and deflect initial attacks while knowing what logical follow-up attacks are. For example, blocking a strike to the head with only one hand exposes the ribs and flank to a kick or low punch. Stopping an initial assault usually leads to grappling or clinching. The subsequent fall and clinch can be escaped, but again common-sense reactions need to be modified given that one arm is involved. With training, these situations can be addressed sensibly and quickly.