Examples of the Self Defence category for the USMA Challenge Tournament

Here are some sample clips to guide competitors preparing for the Self Defence category of the USMA Challenge. Note that this is the first time this event has been run and will be an ongoing feature of USMA tournaments.

Pairs of competitors are to prepare ten sequences: 5 as attacker, 5 as defender. Two sequences for each competitor must involve defence against a weapon such as a knife. The techniques must be taekwondo techniques as described in General Choi’s Encyclopedia of Taekwondo. No sequence should be longer than 15 sec.

Example 1
Defence against a front grab. The attacker grabs with both hands from the front. The defender breaks the grab, attacks the face with an elbow, and pushes the attacker away with a front kick. The sequence is performed realistically and the techniques are effective, but simple.
SelfDefence01

Example 2
Defence against a front attack. The attacker grabs the defender by the shoulder. The defender presses the arm at the elbow joint to bring the attacker towards him while delivering a jumping punch to the attackers face. The sequence is realistic and uses simple techniques.
SelfDefence02

Example 3
Defence against a slashing knife attack. The attacker is not sufficiently realistic so the techniques do not look sharp. The defence is to intercept and grab the arm, break the shoulder and release the knife, and to finish the attacker with knee to the solar plexus and elbow to the back. Although the sequence has a good selection of techniques, it is not performed realistically.
SelfDefence03

Example 4
Defence against a grab from behind. Body drops while delivering a stomp to the attacker’s foot. The release is effected by raising the elbows, and then delivering a back elbow to the sternum. The attacker is then removed to a safer distance with a back kick.
SelfDefence04

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