Economy of Motion: ‘Aiming the Spear’
In the Paradigm Escrima-Kenpo System of self-defense curriculum, the technique known as ‘Aiming the Spear’ has been adapted for usage against nine (9) aggressive assaults. Using one (1) technique to handle or defend against several different attacks maximizes the effectiveness and efficiency of the technique while saving instructional (learning) time. This single technique approach allows the student to concentrate on and refine the movements of ‘Aiming the Spear’, thereby developing a highly responsive set of behaviors to several different attacks.
‘Aiming the Spear’ can be used to defend against and counter:
1. Forehand Slap
2. Backhand Slap
3. Single Lapel Grab
4. Double Lapel Grab
5. Front – 2-handed Choke Hold
6. Side – 2 handed Choke Hold
7. Forehand Stick or Club Attack
8. Backhand Stick or Club Attack
9. Overhead Stick or Club Attack
This technique is also known as “Stop Hit” in the JKD System founded by the late Bruce Lee. The core movement principle in all cases is that the defender’s counter strike occurs simultaneously with a blocking motion. The counter strike is an upward heel hand (heel palm) to the point of the opponent’s chin, with the goal of snapping the head back, thereby exposing the throat for a follow up strike with the opposite hand.
‘Aiming the Spear’ is a highly assertive countering maneuver that adheres to the old fighting adage that ‘the best defense is a good offense’. This technique is used to stop an aggressive physical attack immediately, with the defender’s first movement. The defender takes over the action sequence and thereafter dominates the action right through to the conclusion of the defensive sequence. Ideally the attacker will be dropped to the ground, in pain. He will be unable or unwilling to continue the confrontation and the defender can safely escape to more secure position or place.
The basic ‘Aiming the Spear’ defensive sequence as taught by the Paradigm Self Defense Instructors is in response to a forehand slap attack to the defender’s face. Assuming that the attacker is right handed, the forehand slap will be directed toward the defender’s left cheek or ear. The defender will usually step directly forward with his right foot while making an outward left forearm block and a simultaneous rising heel hand strike with his right hand to the point of the attacker’s chin. The next move in the sequence is for the defender to step forward with his left foot and use a straight left hand half-fist (Leopard’s Paw) strike to the attacker’s exposed throat; following the half-fist strike, the defender will execute a right front snap kick to the attacker’s abdominal area. After the front snap kick, the defender will retract his kicking foot, step straight back, placing the foot down on the floor and push-step backwards, establishing an on-guard position. If the former attacker can not or does not immediately try to get back on his feet to continue the encounter, the defender retreats to a safer area.
The on-guard position is used by the defender to insure that the attack has been effectively neutralized as well as to survey the immediate surrounding to determine that it is safe to leave the area. If there is no need to continue engaging the original attacker or any other person, the defender can and should retreat to a safer area.
Economy of motion as a martial arts concept has been around for quite some time and it is generally understood that the defender should not use any greater physical force than is necessary in order to successfully defend oneself. It is generally better to deliver quick, short, precise and powerful counters against an attacking opponent. The defender should, in most cases, avoid using large or wide movements which expose vital areas of their own anatomy to the attacker. The defender can use singularly or in combination, blocks, parries, interceptions, deflections or counter-strikes to disrupt and stop the other person’s negative actions. When the defender keeps his/her defensive movements, small, tight, and direct, they are using one aspect of the ‘economy of motion’ concept.
Another way to apply the economy of motion concept is to use one (1) self-defense technique against several attacks as mentioned in our opening paragraph. Since the technique will be used in essentially the same manner in nearly all cases where it is applicable, the defender has more time available to practice and perfect that technique. Generally the more practice repetitions a student has, the more comfortable the student becomes with the technique. Comfort is often accompanied by confidence. When both comfort and confidence are present the student is much more likely to utilize a particular technique when they are threatened. If a student can learn and use one technique to counter 9 different attacks, that is probably better than having to learn a separate defense for each of those same 9 attacks.
As an example, consider the following situation. Defending against a front 2 handed choke; using ‘Aiming the Spear’, the defender steps straight back with her left foot, while counter-grabbing the attackers right wrist with her left hand and simultaneously using an right upward heel-hand strike to the chin. The follow-up motion would be a right side thrust kick to the attacker’s lead leg at the knee. The ‘spear’ technique has been modified to meet the conditions of the attack and the relative positions of the defender and attacker to one another. The half-fist strike to the attacker’s would be difficult and very slow to deliver effectively. Going to the low-line side kick is much more economical and practical in this situation. The same choke defense would be applicable if the attack were a 2 handed choke from the side. On the other hand, a 2 handed rear choke defense is not realistically feasible using ‘Aiming the Spear’. The two-hand (2) front choke using ‘aiming the spear’ photo set follows:
Defending against the two (2) hand double lapel grab is very similar to what is done to defending against the two hand front choke attack. One difference with this version of ‘aiming the spear’ is that the defender will use a left hand outward forearm strike to the attacker’s right wrist instead of a wrist grab as was done with the counter to the front choke.
It is also possible to use the ‘aiming the spear’ concept to defend against a side choke attack. The defender simply steps away from the attacker and strikes with the hand closest to the attacker’s chin while pulling at the wrist of the hand attached to the front of their own throat. In the photo sequence below the defender will step to her right side, strike with her left hand as the right hand, counter-grabs the attacker’s left wrist. The defender is pulling the attacker towards herself.
Defending against a forehand stick or club attack is quite feasible if one uses the same steps as taught against the fore-hand slap attack. The primary differences are that the defender would want to control the attacker’s right hand and disarm the stick/club. The stick disarm can occur before or after the low-line kick to the attackers knee depending on the relative body positions of the two individuals. The front snap kick is usually the preferred kick with this technique.
Some defender’s would might prefer, in this situation, to change the half-fist throat strike to a trapping technique against the attacker’s right hand, then utilize a downward hammer-fist strike to the opponent’s groin as a prelude to the stick disarm. Quite likely the actual kick used would be changed to a low-line side thrust kick, which would follow the groin strike and precede the disarm.
Backhand stick attacks are defensible using ‘aiming the spear’ concepts as well. The actual ‘aiming the spear’ technique would be preceded by a blocking and/or passing movement to open up the target areas for the spear technique.
The overhead single stick attack is treated in a very similar manner to the backhand single stick attack, as follows in the next photo sequence. The operative difference between the backhand strike and the overhead strike is the attacking angle used by the attacker. The defender will want to shift to the “stick-side” in most cases. This will afford the defender a better position to counter the attack and she is less likely to have to contend with a left hand strike from the attacker. A left hand strike by the attacker is a very strong possibility if the defenders shift to the inside position at the onset of the stick attack.
Economy of motion does not require a slavish adherence to the original technique as taught. Changes are both allowed and encouraged in order to make sure that the technique is flexible enough to be effective in different situations. It is imperative that the student understands the basic principles that are inherent within the ‘aiming the spear’ technique. It is also important that the instructor helps the student to learn how to “fit” the technique to their own individual body. The principle or core movements of the technique are always applied. There are no wasted or exaggerated movements. ‘Aiming the Spear’ is a simple, direct and powerful self-defense technique with the emphasis on counter-attacking the aggressor. The adaptive flexibility of ‘Aiming the Spear’ makes it one of the best techniques to utilize when examining the “economy of motion” concept.
Jerome Barber, Ed.D.
Director and Principal Teacher
Paradigm Self Defense Arts Associates
Footnote: The original article had a series of photographs accompaning the essay portion that is being reproduced here on the blog. If you care to see the full article with photos, simply e-mail me at
paradigm.sda@hotmail.com to receive copy. Jerome Barber, Ed. D. February 6, 2011.
