Demonstration Speech
COM101
Topic: Self-Defense Techniques
Specific Purpose: To teach my audience about the history of self-defense and how to execute three primary techniques to escape an attack.
A. To provide a comprehensive understanding of the history of self-defense that is relevant in modern-day situations.
B. My goal is to explain to the audience which individual body parts can be used as weapons to inflict the most damage.
C. My aim is to explain the target areas of the body that are most vulnerable to serious injury, and which ones you should try to hit.
Thesis: The audience will learn how to execute three primary self-defense techniques using three individual body parts as weapons to defend themselves from an attack.
Introduction.
A. Attention Getter: Many of the fight sequences we see in movies today portray characters as larger than life, indestructible, and immune to any kind of pain inflicted upon them during a fight to the death. While these films are exciting to watch, none of us want to find ourselves in a physical confrontation suddenly fearing for our lives. However, if you ever become the victim of an attack, you must take every possible ruthless advantage and strike as ferociously as you can without warning until you have caused injuries serious enough for your escape.
Transition: Now that I have your attention and piqued your interest, let me take a moment to share my personal experience and a brief history of self-defense.
Credibility: When my husband passed away last November, I decided it was necessary to learn how to defend myself in case I became the victim of an attack. Perhaps my girlfriend may need me to help fend off a gang of biker chicks that started a brawl in the bar, and the only way to escape was by opening up a can of whoop-ass on them so we could get out of there. Whatever the case may be, I would need someone with experience and knowledge in self-defense. So, I asked my friends Mitch Weinstein and Frankie Cooper to teach me some techniques that would be simple enough for anyone to learn. Both Mitch and Frankie are veterans of the United States Marine Corps., have studied close hand-to-hand combat for self-defense in the U.S. Marine Corps Martial Arts Program, and have extensive experience in self-defense as both Security Officers and former Bounty Hunters.
Thesis Statement: In this article, I will discuss the history of self-defense and demonstrate three simple techniques that can be used to escape from an attack. These techniques utilize specific body parts as weapons for self-defense.
Preview: Tonight, I will give you some background on self-defense and tell you where and when the practices and teachings first began. I will also inform you about which body parts can be used as weapons to defend yourself from an attack. Additionally, I will discuss areas of the body that are most vulnerable to serious injury when struck and show you how to perform three self-defense moves.
History:
Overview:
Self-defense is a broad term that cannot be attributed to any specific origin.
2. The techniques I will teach you today originate from Jiu-jitsu and have evolved into modern techniques.
3. Jiu-jitsu forms the basis for many other martial arts, with origins dating back thousands of years and still used by military and police forces worldwide. Speed is essential in any form of combat, from a fencing match to modern-day self-defense (Cooper, 2007).
4. Self-defense involves using physical force to neutralize an imminent threat of violence.
5. Self-defense courses are designed to be effective in addressing situations that occur in the real world.
Brazilian Jiu-jitsu
Self-defense is a combination of offensive and defensive measures. The first account of jujutsu-like maneuvers dates back to 650 A.D., also known as the ancient periods of Japan (Yadan, 1979). Empty hand techniques became prevalent during the period of 1467 to 1574 when commoners in Japan were prohibited from carrying weapons. In the late 1800s, Jiu-jitsu techniques became popular in America among law enforcement and the military as a method to subdue criminals (Yadan, 1979). These techniques incorporate movements that are easily accessible to the average person to counteract aggressive threats.
Modern interpretations of the topic at hand.
Self-defense is a countermeasure that involves defending oneself or others from harm. It starts with mental discipline, as the human body produces a fight or flight response in high-stress situations. Knowing techniques can protect individuals through an understanding of target areas and personal weapons.
The Marine Corps Martial Arts Program consists of three components: mental discipline, character discipline, and physical discipline (United States Marine Corps, 2003, p. 3).
II. Three individual body parts can be used as weapons for self-defense.
These body parts are the bony areas or personal weapons. The idea is to use a hard area to hit a soft area, which produces more damage and reduces the likelihood of injury to the defender. Additionally, it utilizes larger muscles, eliminating the need for fine motor control – something that is reduced in high-stress situations.
Elbows.
1. The elbows are the areas between the forearm and upper arm.
2. When used as a striking weapon, the elbow provides an excellent short-distance option.
3. This body weapon incorporates several muscle groups in a short distance, making it more effective due to the power from larger muscles in the arm, torso, and back.
4. Elbow strikes can be delivered to multiple areas of an offender’s body.
B. Knees
The knees are the part of the body between the upper and lower leg. Leg muscles are some of the largest muscles in the body.
Knees provide excellent short-range attack with little training needed. In contrast, kicks require more training, and the fine bones in the foot and ankles are susceptible to injury. Damage to a foot or ankle makes escape difficult.
5. Knee strikes are most effective when in close proximity to the target.
6. Groin strikes make for an excellent target when using a knee strike.
The palm of the hand is referred to as the C. Hands.
The palm strike is a powerful technique that utilizes the area of the hand most protected from injury during a strike. This striking weapon incorporates several muscle groups in a short distance, including the larger muscles in the arm, shoulder and back, which augment the success of the strike. Palm strikes can be delivered to specific areas on an attacker’s face such as their nose, neck and chin.
6. The technique involves using a stiff arm to enable the defender to gain distance.
III. Areas of vulnerability in individuals.
The groin area refers to the region between the abdomen and thigh on either side of the body. It is a common site for injuries, such as strains or pulls, and can also be susceptible to infections. Proper stretching and warm-up exercises can help prevent groin injuries during physical activity.
The groin is one of the major soft tissue areas. This area is not covered by protective tissue and is comprised of large nerve clusters. Major blood supplies flow through this region of the body in both males and females. Damage to this area causes the attacker to involuntarily respond to protect the region. Targeting the scrotum will produce pain even in instances of general contact, and internal trauma can resonate through the attacker’s body.
B. Head
The head consists of several areas. Target areas in the head are limited to soft tissue targets such as the nose or eyes. Hard areas of the head, such as the skull, can damage the defender. The nose is composed of soft tissue and cartilage.
5. Damage to this area will produce an involuntary tearing response and cause the eyes to close.
6. A strike to this area can offset the attacker.
7. The nose is easily broken.
8. An additional benefit is that the attacker may lose vision, making a secondary attack possible.
The throat is a muscular tube that connects the mouth and nose to the esophagus and windpipe. It plays an essential role in breathing, swallowing, and speaking. The throat is also home to the tonsils, which help fight infections.
C.1. The throat is another soft tissue that is vulnerable to strikes.
C.2. Damage to this area can harm the trachea.
C.3. Damage to the trachea can limit the attacker’s ability to breathe.
C.4. This allows for additional strikes and offers an opportunity to escape.
IV. Performing the Techniques
A. Stance
1. Stance is an important factor.
2. Having a firm footing incorporates larger muscle groups in the strike, which allows the defender to produce more damage.
B. Palm strike to the nose.
1. When the attacker is in front of you, use the heel of your palm to strike their nose.
2. Follow through with the strike.
3. Aim for a spot a few inches behind the nose.
C. Elbow strike to the throat.
1. With the attacker in front, forcefully drive your elbow into their neck.
2. Strike through the target.
3. Aim for an area a few inches behind the trachea.
A knee strike to the groin is a highly effective self-defense move. It can quickly incapacitate an attacker and give you time to escape. However, it should only be used in situations where you feel your safety is at risk. Remember to aim for the groin area and use your body weight to generate maximum force.
Here are the steps to defend yourself:
- Position yourself in front of the attacker and forcefully knee them in the groin.
- Strike through the target.
- Aim for an area a few inches behind the groin.
- Target upwards and follow through to escape.
E. Yelling
1. Yelling can enhance your strike.
2. This offers the ability for you to focus your energy on the strike.
3. It can also confuse the attacker.
Conclusion.
I have shown you some simple techniques in self-defense. These techniques are only effective when you accept the mindset to protect yourself. Target areas include the throat, face, and groin. The personal weapons discussed are the elbow, knee, and palm. Combining these personal weapons with attacks on vulnerable areas offers the best protection.
In closing, I would like to leave you with some words of wisdom from an article titled Prevention is the Best Self-Defense” posted on Listverve.com by writer Melanie Penola. In her post, she writes: “When you are in a confrontation, you only have a few seconds and a few moves to try before the fight may be decided. You must do everything you can to inflict injury so that you can get away because in the end all that remains is hurt or be hurt.”
I hope that tonight’s lesson has given you an improved sense of protection. I encourage all of you to share this information with your family and friends as well.
References
Basic self-defense training (n.d.) can be accessed at http://www.fightwize.com/.
Coleman, Naomi (2013) wrote an article on simple self-defence moves that could protect you. The article was published in Mail Online and can be accessed through the following link: http://www.dailymail.co.uk/health/article-146156/Simple-self-defence-moves-protect-you.html.
Cooper, Jeff (2004) wrote The Principles of Self-Defense” which was published by Paladin Press in Aurora, CO.
Djurdjevic, Dejan (2012) wrote an article titled Gorillas In The Midst: The Business of Dealing with Wrist-Grabs” on his Blogspot page. The article discusses techniques for handling wrist-grabs in self-defense situations. The source of the article can be found at http://dandjurdjevic.blogspot.com/2012/06/dealing-with-wrist-grabs.html#links.
Hull, Jeffrey (2007). Getting Punchy: Fist Fighting, Wrestling, and Fight Books” (Revised Edition). Retrieved from http://www.thearm.org/essays/getting-punchy.
Pinola, Melanie (2011). Basic Self-Defense Moves Anyone Can Do (and Everyone Should Know).” Retrieved from http://lifehacker.com/5825528/basic-self+defense-moves-anyone-can-do-and-everyone-should-know.
What is Self Defense? (n.d.). Retrieved from the United States Ju-Jitsu Federation website: http://www.usjjf.org/articles/defense.htm
The United States Marine Corps published Fundamentals of Marine Corps Martial Arts” in 2003.
Yadan, Tom (1979) wrote a brief history of Jujutsu, which can be found in the publication An Introduction to Kodenkan Jujutsu.
