Arm Swims

[Greg Newton]

Hi Larry and others,

Today I started self-defense training for my junior law enforcement class. Over the past five years I've tried a lot of different things based on my training in Hapkido and Kajukenbo, but this time I have teed off with the principles in your Split Second Survival videos. It seems to go over much better letting students adapt to their individual capabilities and body movements, rather than setting them into a prefixed series of steps.

One of the things we practiced today was "swimming." If I have seen it once, I have seen it a hundred times in my law enforcement career where a suspect was grabbed by an officer and he "swum" his arms around like a backstroke or crawl and spinning his body around was able to get out. No tension or technique, just a natural instinctive movement, and the guys gets away. After seeing your videos, I wondered why this wouldn't work just as well for victims of a predatory attack.

In practice, as long as the students stay relaxed and go with their natural body movements, it works well. I am curious as to your take on this.

Greg Newton

[tom]

As a non-law enforcement guy, non-Larry, and a non-expert, my take is that if the ambusher (I'm emphasizing that it is random and no begging, paying, or wetting the pants will help) was ambushin', he probably would not merely be grabbing and restraining as an officer would. In the example as I understand it, the officer is not trying to injure the grabbee. The scenario would be different if the officer were out to maim or kill.

Or I don't understand the scenario.

Tom

[Big Bear]

Hi Greg,

Yeah that is a good one to start with and so many applications!
In football we use the,'rip',and the 'swim',they are incredibly effective for getting through the line.
The secret,you are right is being relaxed.I remember once a cocky grappler,wanted to try some stuff on me.We did,and I was able to get out of everything he applied,simply by relaxing totally.Don't usually like this sort of thing,and this was a long time ago,but it served the lesson.He became more focused,respectful and is a fine gentleman and incredible grappler.

Anywho,great move,and you are so right-relax!

peace,
jason

[Larry Wick]

Hi All,


The technique of arm swimming may work if you are larger than the person that is grabbing you. Howeveer is the person is larger than you, or has a powerful grip, what you will find in most cases that his grip will get stronger as you try to break away, because you has wakened his body up. Also as he pulls back you may loose your balance letting him use his other hand to possibly use a weapon. You may also find that your clothing may get in your way as you try to escape, such as a jacket or shirt accidently be pulled in to you face. Your goal is to try to never wake up your attacker and use aproprriate technques to protect yourself. Get thought guys, thanks.


be safe, Larry

[Greg Newton]

Good comments men. Let's throw a "what if" in there. What if the victim goes with the power of the grab (I hate to use this term, but blending so to speak) before they swim?

By the way Larry, I really enjoyed my conversation with you today. You've got some remarkable things going on. I should have asked this question of you while I had you on the phone.

Greg Newton

[tom]

I like the "don't wake up" way of thinking about it - don't tense, don't wind up, relax, just one direction, be at your target not going to it.

It's the same thing taught in sparring, except your partner will, by definition, be awake. That makes feinting a move a good thing in sparring. Don't do it. It just wakes 'em up. I've been told they don't react to it on the street anyway.

I'm glad I don't have any first hand experience.

Tom