How to Defend Against a Club Thrust using Bushido

Bushido Martial Arts is based, as one can guess, on the Japanese concept of Bushido, “The Way of the Warrior”. This code dictated every aspect of a samurai warrior’s life: how he should act and think in any situation. Bushido Martial Arts reflects this in that it works to teach a comprehensive martial art, based mostly on defense, but with a solid martial mindset. It also covers self defense against improvised weapons and unorthodox attacks. One such attack that many forms of self defense do not address is a simple thrust with a club or blunt weapon delivered to the midsection or solar plexus. Most people think that an improvised weapon such as a club would be used by swinging it. But a hard length of wood or metal driven into the midsection is both unexpected and incredibly effective at rendering you, the victim, helpless. To that end, here is a guide on how to successfully defend against such an attack.

Step 1:
Allow your attacker to approach and commit to thrusting his club at your midsection. As he is just beginning to lean forward, take a step back and to the left to allow the thrust to sweep past your right side.

Step 2:
Cover the tops of your opponent’s hands with your own as the club passes. Make sure to clamp the thumb of your left hand over your opponent’s right hand so he will be unable to let go of the club.

Step 3:
Use the heel of your right foot to drive a kick at your opponent’s left knee. This is not meant to break the knee, though this is an option. Instead it is meant to get your opponent to straighten his legs and stick out his hindquarters to escape the kick. This will in turn force his upper body forward and off balance, making it easier to take advantage of.

Step 4:
Sweep the end of the club in your left hand in a forward circular motion. The point of this is to force the rear of the club, which is protruding from the bottom of your opponent’s right hand, over the top of his wrist. Then all you need do is twist the club so that it is straight in line with your opponent’s right arm to lock his wrist. As he is unable to release the club or change his grip because your hand is covering his own, he will be forced forward, to the ground, on his knees, to alleviate the pressure on his wrist. It will also make him let go of the club with his left hand to steady himself on the ground.

Step 5:
Pivot to your right, sweeping the club along the ground in a semi circle as you do so, it might look akin to a truncated golf swing. In order to keep his wrist from breaking, your attacker will be forced to jump forward, landing flat, spread-eagled on the ground. At this point you can pull the club from his other hand and use it to strike him if you deem it necessary.