Brentwood Martial Arts & Fitness

Quick hits #35- borrowing from an earlier concept, we swing and make contact with their blocking arm, pivoting our striking hand at the point of contact and passing their guard to strike the eye, nose or throat- depending on what is open. The pen is used to clear their arm out of the way while controlling their head with your other hand, then following up.

Quick hits #34- attacking their hands. A sometimes unexpected tactic is to attack the hands of your opponent. If someone is reaching at you or has their hands up on guard, a quick snapping attack to knuckles or the back of the hand can cause significant pain or even damage their hand. In the further examples I strike their hand and follow up with another strike to their face or neck as their hand recoils- with a hinging motion attached to deal with a counterattack. Alternatively, after striking high at their hand, it sets up a nice diversion for kicking at their knees or legs.

Quick Hits#33- we can push on the end of the pen to give us more striking options on the other side of our hand. We move their front arm, but while we are swinging, they block with their other arm. We use our pen hand to hook their arm in, press so the end of the pen comes out the other side, and the rest would just be some flowing follow-ups

Quick hits #32- slight modification from #31. If my opponent puts up a block to my attack with a pen to his temple, I maintain contact on his arm while circling my hand around his guard. The contact gives him the temporary illusion his block has worked and makes it easier to get my hand past his arm. The rest of the technique finishes the same way. Alternatively, if I know my opponent is fast and will likely block, I can use that against him and employ this technique to take his blocking arm out of the play.

QUICK HITS #31- The pen is mightier than the sword Pens are very useful improvised weapons. In this scenario, we are lifting his lead arm to turn him and spoil counterattack, whilst diving in and swinging the hardened end of the pen into their temple, eye or throat. We then throw a left elbow to the temple or jaw, which helps clear their guard out of the way, and grab the back of their head at the neck- dropping some body weight on their neck and bringing them down to an upward stab toward their windpipe or eye. KEEP IN MIND THAT RESPONSES LIKE THIS ARE FOR EXTREME SITUATIONS ONLY. Stay tuned for more pen techniques..

There have been increased safety protocols placed on the city of Los Angeles. This does not affect us here at the studio as we are classified as a fitness center and we always have less than 50% capacity in all of our interactions here- so we fall within their guideline. We will continue to implement proper social distancing and require masks of all those who can wear them, as well as continue to offer virtual training to those who choose to train in that format. In addition, I get periodic Covid tests to monitor my own health as an additional measure to keep everyone safe in their training. If you have any questions or suggestions, we’re always wanting to hear from you. Thank you for your continued support Brentwood Family- we wouldn’t be here without you