Straight Jab: Fastest Self Defense in the Streets

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If you want immediate effect and has 90 percent effectiveness in the streets, perfect your jab. Make it an accurate and fast jab. When an attacker comes and starts to grab or punch you, you should preempt that attack. Make your straight jab land first. But make sure you know how to throw a jab fast and accurate, in the right form to avoid injury.

I remember reading somewhere how Bruce Lee used to practice fast jabs from time to time, anywhere he was. He would suddenly throw jabs to any direction from various positions or activity---walking, running, standing, sitting, etc. And at any angle. He said you should be able to throw jabs any time, if need be, whatever you're doing.

Simple and Direct

From that time on, I always practiced jabbing. I imagine an attacker suddenly attacking me from various directions and I'd preempt it with a fast jab. Since then, I noted that I could land my jab faster than anyone during sparring sessions. My favorite is to launch a lightning-fast jab as soon as the opponent tries to throw his. His tendency is to open up to release his jab. That's when I quickly go in. Wham! Simple and direct!

You should also have enough courage to launch a counter which is a defense-offense attack. Often, the best defense is a good offensive. But this is stalled or prevented when you lose courage to quickly counter and hope that the attacker would just pity you or change his mind. Your first enemy when sudden attack happens is your hesitance or double-mindedness, and that's when you lose courage to counter or attack first. This e-book should help you understand how to be brave.

Click the image above for more information.

You need to keep practicing your jabs until they're fast, accurate and solid enough, like a sledge hammer thrown at the enemy with great speed. A quick, unexpected straight jab to the face can stop any fight pronto, especially if you hit with your knuckles, not with a flat fist, and hit a soft spot on the face, like the nose or eyes. When I had a job, I used to do this in the restroom or conference room when it's not used and I was all alone there. I even practiced my kicks and push-ups there.

A good, fast kick is a good defense-offense if you can manage it, but I still prefer a straight jab. It's simpler and easier to execute in a split second if you know how and trained well. A wrong kick can be dangerous if your opponent manages to catch it and trap you, unless you're Tony Jaa or Scott Adkins. With a jab, you can always counter-trap easily. I'll probably demo this in a video, if I have time.

Below is a demo of a simple jab. When I finally arrange for a good cam and schedule, I'd post my own training videos here.

Or click here to see the video.

Quick Escape 

A successful jab landed on the attacker's face or neck shocks him to immobility. If his neck is hit, he needs time to recover from the stabbing choke and difficult breathing. If on his face--especially on the nose--it will cause temporary dizziness similar to vertigo or even a near knockout. That will give you enough time to follow up a bit and then go. Fast combinations to the head (on the eyes, lips and nose area) can send an attacker to the ground needing a long time to recover--if you deliver your jab combinations properly. Train yourself to deliver 4 successive solid jabs in 1 or 2 seconds.

Put Power in the Jab

If done with the right form, speed and accuracy, a jab is usually powerful. But it's imperative that you practice your jabs on heavy bags and mitts. If you're a beginner, practice your punches first, hitting the heavy bag lightly initially and see how it affects your wrist. The same with using mitts. Avoid getting your wrist injured. It's the last thing you want. As you train, add more power to your punches as you hit the bag. Do it slowly. You don't need to be in a hurry. 

Do other punching styles later. Master the straight jab and punch first.

Do light jabs for a week. Make sure your form is correct and the wrists do not bend under pressure. Then add power the next week, and so on. The wrists should stay intact upon impact, not bending outward or inward. So you need to have strong wrists. One way of strengthening your wrists is doing regular push-ups. Do them first with an open hand (touching the floor). Later, with clenched fists.

No Such Thing as "I Have No Enemies" in the Streets

Nobody's exempted in the streets. We're all targets. Bad things can happen to anyone. To be safe in streets, never think you're innocent and have no enemies. This mindset of assuming the street is a paradise makes people easy targets for attackers. That's why we often hear of victims shocked and frozen to inaction when danger suddenly strikes them.

You say you have no enemies? You're nice and kind to all? Well, truth is, you really can't tell. You can't control people's thoughts and motives and inclinations. They can like you so much one moment and want to kill you the next. That's street reality in most places---it's street reality in most places in Manila.

I'm not saying you should be paranoid and think everyone's out to get you. I enjoy places I go to and appreciate the scenery. I smile at people in the streets and show kindness to them. I often pray to God. But my mind is always steadfast and alert. I'm always on combat mode---in the streets, at home, or anywhere I am. It's not paranoia---it's being realistic.

We've often heard stories of a good person mistaken to be somebody and shot dead. You want to end up that way? If not, then you should always be alert, aware of your surroundings and always living in the "here and now." Be aware. Don't walk in the streets and let your mind wander off to fantasy island. Never use headphones or earphones. They're guaranteed to make you dumb and an easy target.

At home, I stay alert. My ears and senses stay sharp (frequent meditation and quiescence help a lot here). Once I step out into the street, I quickly survey everything. I checkout the street from end to end, see anything or anyone unusual. Is that guy supposed to be standing there? What is that guy doing over there? I can do this in a quick, unsuspicious glance.

I've trained myself to assume this mode without being paranoid. I'm like this while enjoying everything. I'm alertly watching while relaxed. It's a lifestyle. Well, sometimes I miss and have something else in my mind take me to places far away from my present reality. It happens. You daydream. I'm still human. But I quickly snap out of it and resume surveillance. That's why I'm also in constant prayer mode. I ask God to always guard my rear, front and sides and be my shield and protection at all times. I always talk to God.

I often pray for safety for people around me.

I always watch people's eyes, shoulders and hands. The eyes reveal intentions and emotions. The shoulders tell you intended moves so you can preempt danger. The hands tell you what they're holding. At a glance, at half a second, you hold people in check. You have to train in this if you want keeping safe in the streets.

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