The goal of all martial artists is to build highly honed skills in striking with hands, elbows, knees and legs. The more varied the arsenal, we are taught, the greater the defender’s ability to neutralize their attacker.
Once, while training two brothers, ages 72 and 73, I was reminded that the head is also, indeed, a potent weapon.
The younger brother had a recent injury to his right shoulder, thereby rendering his right side incapable of either offense or defense. While working defenses to shirt grabs, he successfully plucked my hand away with his good hand while immediately stepping forward (chin down/ shoulders up) and headbutted me square in the chest. The blast sent me backwards 6-8 feet and nearly knocked me off my feet.
Two points of interest here:
- We were just working the defensive pluck. I was completely unprepared for the shot.
- He intentionally hit my chest at half speed, so as to not hurt me. He could have easily hit my jaw line. I can’t imagine what full commitment to the shot would have done to me.
This moment should act as reminder to all of us to:
- Never discount the effectiveness of a head butt
- Never assume the elderly (even one with an obvious injury) cannot find victory if they understand how to deploy ALL possible weaponry available to them.
