Special Agent Combative System: The Fluid Shock Wave Principle

In this article I would like to introduce you to a fighting principle called the Fluid Shock Wave Principle. The Fluid Shock Wave Principle is emphasized in all of the special agent combative system counterstrikes. It is not an unknown concept in the martial arts; this striking principle has been called the focus punch, the energy sink, the heavy hand strike, and many other terms relating to a "vibration" type of strike. Unfortunately, learning how to deliver such a strike often took a lifetime of constant practice, since few individuals understood the strikes physics or a dynamics. I will explain them to you in this article.
I began researching striking principles after studying pressure point control tactics as a special agent. I learned that motor points are more sensitive to strikes, which allowed all of the strikes forward momentum to dissipate into the target before starting the recovery. The analogy that is often used to describe such a strike is the action of hammering a nail.
The foundation of the fluid shock wave principle is based upon nerve motor points as targets and a method of striking which maximizes kinetic energy transfer. We know that nerves are one of the most sensitive types of tissues in the human body. This is especially true when stimulated by various types of pressure or strikes. We also know that when a nerve or nerve motor point receives an unusually high degree of energy, the nerve may become over stimulated and experience a motor dysfunction. Since motor points are composed of large muscle mass which is saturated with microscopic effector/motor nerve tissue, the potential for injury from a strike is normally limited to a bruise. Therefore, striking a motor point becomes an ideal target for liability concerns, and very practical tactically, since over stimulating a motor nerve stops resistive muscular action.
An important aspect of the fluid shock wave principle is the mechanical aspect of the strike itself. What a strike or impact is made of a target, energy is transferred from the energy source into the target. The degree of energy, (known as kinetic energy) which is dissipated into the target, will be dependent upon the velocity, the mass of the energy source, and the duration of the energy transference. The efficiency of the strike will determine the length of the motor dysfunction.
To generate an optimal fluid shock waves strike with the hand, leg, or impact weapon, I have made the following observations:
1. Velocity: to increase the velocity of a strike substantially enough to effect a motor dysfunction, is very difficult. Velocity must be double at a minimum to have a substantial effect on power generation.
2. Mass: in contrast to velocity, the mass behind a target can be substantially increased by attempting to strike with the total body weight. This is one of the secrets of the fluid shock wave principle. This can be accomplished by several methods. The first is to ensure that all of your joints are locked on impact. This is a principle called "energy leaks," which describes how kinetic energy may be lost on the impact exchange. For example, if you allowed your wrist to buckle on a hand strike, energy will dissipate in the wrist instead of the opponent's motor point. The reduction of kinetic energy will be substantial, and will dramatically affect the length of the motor dysfunction if it occurs at all. Therefore, all joints must be locked (not hyper extended) on impact.
The next important element in maximizing the mass behind a strike is the use of your total body mass. This is accomplished by placing the emphasis on rotating your hips, or axis behind the strike itself. In conjunction with locking all of the joints on impact, you can generate power based upon your body weight, instead of striking with just the weight of your limb another important element of the fluid shock wave principle, is the concept of energy duration or "time one contact." During my study I have identified and learned measurements of the duration of the fluid shock wave itself. The length of energy transfer must exceed approximately 30 milliseconds to achieve a motor is dysfunction. Ironically, this is almost exactly the length of energy exchange that occurs naturally when you allow all forward momentum to stop before retracting a strike.
Technique considerations
With the Special Agent combative system I have developed a unique strategy of the defensive and offensive striking by combining motor points and the torso for targets, with the fluid shock wave principle of striking. Unlike other striking systems, the Special Agent combative system does not advocate striking to the head. Not the face, the head. The head as a target is comprised mostly of skin and bone, not muscle mass or sensory nerves. Therefore, strikes of any type to the head with a closed fist should be avoided if possible. This is a tactical consideration. For example, the head is generally a hard structure. You will receive severe hand injuries from striking an attacker on the head. Trust me, I have done it. This will disable you only infuriate the attacker.
The Special Agent Combative System philosophy on utilizing defensive counterstrikes is that strikes should be delivered to the torso or nerve motor points whenever possible. If you strike to the head it should be in the face with a Palm Heel strike or Hammerfist or with jabs to the eyes.
The targets of the special agent combat of system strikes are as follows;
Palm Heel strike: the Palm Hills strike was designed primarily to stop its edit and attackers forward momentum. This strike is delivered in a stiff arm motion, and can be targeted at the attacker's face or checks. Generally, this strike is followed by straight punch to the torso.
Straight punch: the straight punch is normally considered the power hand strike. Although this strike can be delivered to the head, it is strongly recommended that this strike be delivered to the torso, specifically the solo plexus region.
Forearm strikes: forearm strikes are used when the subject attacker had deeply penetrated the reactionary gap, and the straight punch or palm heel strike cannot be used. Forearm strikes are generally very strong techniques and should be delivered to the torso. I also use them when striking the brachial plexus or side of the neck for what's called a brachial stun.
Brachial stuns: the brachial stuns are, without any doubt, the most effective and reliable stunning technique within the special agent combative system. Brachial stuns were designed to replace the necessity of hand strikes to the head. This technique can be delivered with the back of the hand, the inside of the hand, the inside of the forearm, or the outside of the forearm.
Front thrust kick: like the palm heel, the front thrust kick is designed to stop an attacker's forward momentum at the edge of the reactionary gap. The recommended target for this kick is the upper thigh lower shin. Attempting to kick any higher would normally result in the attacker grabbing your foot or your leg. Front thrusts are also very effective when targeted towards the attackers groin or knee.
Knee strikes: the knee strike, as utilized by the Special Agent combative system, is delivered to the attacker's thigh, groin, abdomen, and face. Striking to the thigh creates a high level motor dysfunction to the attacker's leg, and also creates a high-level stun. I have used this technique many times when trying to control an attacker. When I strike their thigh several times with a knee strike they lose function of that leg and go down usually holding their thigh and writhing in pain.
Angle kick: also known as the peroneal kick, is one of the most effective Special Agent combative system counter strikes. The angle kick is delivered mainly to an attacker's thigh and knee. This technique will create a motor dysfunction that will often last 10 minutes or longer. The angle kick is also known to create a high-level stun that is only second to the brachial stun. The pain is often so intense, that attackers often believe that their legs are broken. The pain normally diminishes in approximately 20 minutes. Giving you plenty of time to escape.
So this week's lesson has covered the fluid shock wave principle. Embracing this principle will give you much more powerful techniques that you can use to create your reality-based self-defense system.
Derek A. Smith is an expert in self defense. He is a 30 year veteran of Law Enforcement, Security, and the Military. Derek also has over 30 years martial art and combative training. If you want some of the best training to prepare yourself for any self defense situation Derek of course recommends his courses Special Agent Combative System or Brutal Beyond Belief. In these courses I eliminate the fluff and teach only what works based on my 30 years experience. You can see them on my website at http://www.specialagentcombativesystem.com.

Are you Mentally Prepared for Combat?

Many people study martial arts and practice their moves and truly believe that they are ready to inflict harm upon another individual, including death, in defense of their own, or a loved one’s life.  They believe that because they have pretended to jab someone eyes with their finger, crush their throat; dislocate their elbow like Steven Seagal, etc, they will be able to do it in a real life and death situation. Let me tell you that reality is nothing like the classroom or dojo. Shadow boxing techniques or pretending in the dojo does not prepare you for the reality of combat. 

I remember the first time I saw a man stabbed up close.  I was in the 10^th grade growing up in Chicago.  One of my so called friends used to bully me and another friend.  One day my other friend being bullied (we’ll call him John) showed me a knife he had and told me if the bully (we’ll call him Frank) messed with him that day he was going to cut him.  I thought John was just blowing smoke, but he wasn’t.  Not ten minutes later Frank came down the stairs in our school hall and the first thing he did was push John in his face.  In a split second John pull the knife from his pocket and started stabbing Frank with short quick jabs.  Frank reached down and grabbed the knife and actually broke the blade from the hilt (cheap knife).  The fight continued until others and I broke it up.  I was just inches away when this happened.  The result was John being expelled from the school, Frank lost the use of several fingers from grabbing the knife, and I never knew what happened to the stomach wounds.  I had to go to court as a witness to the whole thing. Since then, I have seen the result of many knife attacks and have been the victim of a knife attack myself and was once even attacked with a sword by a drug dealer when I was an undercover drug agent in Michigan.

Throughout the course of self defense training, there is so much emphasis placed upon learning the specifics of each move that the mental preparation often gets overlooked. However, preparing your mind for combat is just as important as preparing your body. I will tell you that you never know how you will react in battle, but you can mentally prepare yourself for that possibility with proper self defense training. 

Here is a closer look at some different ways that the mental aspects of defending yourself will affect your physical abilities. It doesn't matter how much you train, the first time you have to use your techniques in a real situation is unlike anything you have experienced. I remember the first time I dislocated a guy’s finger when he grabbed me in combat.  I used a technique I had used many times in mock battle in my Combat Hapkido training.  But until now these techniques had been in slow motion.  His finger dislocated so quickly and so easily that I actually screamed louder than he did.  In true battle your body will get pumped full of adrenaline and your mind will start racing with fear. You will begin to wonder if the techniques you have learned, been practicing, and want to use will actually work.  It is at this point that your mind either reacts and draws upon your self defense training or simply overload and freeze. In law enforcement we call this tunnel vision.  If your mind freezes, your body has no choice but to hesitate. If you hesitate, your attacker will have the edge over you, which is the last thing you want in a combat situation. Unfortunately, there isn't a lot you can do to prepare for this, however knowing that this will, not might, happen, will help you cope with the adrenaline rush that comes with this fight or flight moment.

It is very important that you practice self defense because this training will make you more prepared for combat than the average citizen who is not used to combat and will fold with the first blow. The unfortunate truth is you will likely be attacked when you least expect it. The attacker will use the element of surprise to gain an immediate advantage over you, which is what he expects with his attack.  However, by studying as best you can for such attacks and staying mentally alert of your surroundings, you can eliminate this edge. When I go out to eat at a restaurant I still sit facing the door so that I can see trouble coming.  You will be prepared to react immediately to any situation that arises.  If you don’t have a good idea of your surroundings, when attacked, your first few moments will be spent analyzing your surroundings and opponent, instead of taking immediate action.

The biggest consequence of ignoring the mental aspects of self defense is that you will not do what you want to do when attacked. Your mind controls your body’s natural reactions. If you completely ignore the mental aspects associated with defending yourself, your body will simply not be prepared to react to your mind the way that it should and will shut down. Your reaction will not be in unison with your mind.  I have been in situations where the adrenaline was pumping and my body was shaking uncontrollably and I could not react as I wanted.  Luckily as a special agent I am trained to break that tunnel vision and move on with my attack and defense.   When it comes to defending yourself your mind and body need to work in unison.

Hopefully, you now have a better understanding of how mental preparation through self defense training affects your ability to protect yourself. Three benefits of mental preparation include:

1.      Preventing your mind from freezing,

2.      Being more aware of your surroundings, and

3.      Making sure that your mind and body are in sync

Armed with this new knowledge, you can ensure through your self defense training you are focused on both the physical and mental aspects of defending yourself.

If you want some of the best training to prepare yourself for any self defense situation I of course recommend my courses Special Agent Combative System or Brutal Beyond Belief.  In these courses I eliminate the fluff and teach only what works based on my 30 years experience.  You can see them on my website at http://www.specialagentcombativesystem.com.

Another great self defense course is “Street Fighting Uncaged”.  Jeff Anderson is the creator of this course and like me he is self defense expert, decorated combat veteran, and a security professional.  His course teaches the secrets that are only known by hardened gangbangers, prison inmates, and a handful of "dangerous men" who fight for a living and it combines every technique, every move and every strategy you’ll ever need to know to help destroy your opponent in a real life street fight. 

Get it Here Now!