The following is an excerpt taken from Tashida Kom’s guide, Self-Defense Tactics 101.

The Knees and Chin—A Perfect Combo

The knees are considered TST—Tactical Strike Territory—areas that are particularly vulnerable to a well-placed attack.

When confronted by an assailant, targeting their knee can cause them serious damage or permanent injury, depending on the force and angle of your strike. A snap kick or low side kick to the knee will disable an attacker and upset their balance, causing their head to shift forward.

You can immediately follow up with an uppercut to the chin. This is a short-range boxing technique, designed to snap an opponent’s head upward, often causing a knockout by disrupting brain function. Delivered vertically from a slightly lowered position, using leg and hip rotation for power, an uppercut can slip through your opponent’s guard and end the fight.

According to the International Journal of Sports Medicine, over 50% percent of all knockouts in fighting competitions are due to chin strikes.

Danger Zone One. Story by Midnight. Art by Salaiix.