COMBAT JUDO: THE STRAIGHT PUNCH

LEAD HAND STRAIGHT PUNCH 

By Barron Shepherd

COMBAT JUDO was originally developed to address the needs of military personnel, facing new hand-to-hand combat challenges, as a way to ensure a streamlined, tested, and effective method of self-defense. Combat judo’s roots stem from WWI. It was established as a combination of judo and boxing that was extremely effective in trench warfare during the latter half of WWI. It wasn't until WWII that it was referred to as Combat Judo this was done to distinguish it from traditional martial arts systems. 

Basic Punches for Combat Judo

In the early stages of learning techniques, all punches, straight punches, the hook, and uppercut must be practiced in standing position. Then practice the punches together with boxing steps. The training approach for punches must be in following sequence:

● Punch in standing position

● Punch with forward and backward step

● Punch with side steps.

First learn single punch with boxing stance and then with movement. Then learn the next punch with boxing stance and then with movement. After mastering at least two punches (in this case the  straight punch with lead and rear hand) with both standing and with movement, learn to use these two punches as a combination by standing, then with the movement. Example Lead hand straight punch to head followed with rear hand straight punch to stomach or solar plexus.

The following is some common mistakes to look out for:

● Punching without rotating body

● Bodyweight shifted to the wrong side

● Lifting chin upward

● Chin not protected

● Head leaned forward, backward, or sideways

● Legs in wrong position before and after punching with steps

● Fists not rotated correctly

● Retract arm low or sideways after striking a blow

● Slow retracting hand to base position

 

Straight Punches

Straight punches are very useful against an opponent standing at long distance. Long distance refers to the distance between two fighters being far enough that the one cannot deliver the punch without stepping forward.

In SSGT Robert Carlin’s book entitled "Combat Judo", he describes combat Judo to be a streamlined fighting method and Carlin shares example after example of what he classified as "streamlined". Some very often misinterpret the word "streamlined" used in the description of Carlin’s Combat Judo to mean "simple" or "easy", something that one can be proficient in with little to no training. One description of combat judo that gets bantered around the internet a lot is that “combat judo is a easily learned dirty trick fighting method".  This really couldn't be any further from the truth. 

Streamlined techniques are techniques that share the same tactics, strategy, principles and movement. The straight punch is no exception to this rule. The straight punch is an important mechanical movement that can be used to prepare for the main attack whether it be used as a strike or utilized to set up a throw. 

USING THE STRAIGHT LEAD TO SET UP HIP THROW

The utilization of the straight punch's same exact mechanics can be used to set up a throw. In relation to Combat Judo as opposed to boxing, the straight punch also be used as a heel of palm strike to one of both of the shoulders to disturb the opponent’s actions and disrupt the opponents balance before executing a throw. 

In order to effectively train the following sequence of training is recommended:

● Lead arm straight punch to the head in standing position

● Lead arm straight punch to the head with forward step

● Lead arm straight punch to the head with backward step and side steps

● Rear arm straight punch to the head in standing position

● Rear arm straight punch to the head with forward step

● Rear arm straight punch to the head with backward step and side steps

REAR HAND STRAIGHT PUNCH 

After the fighter masters the straight punches with movement, you should begin training basic defense against and counter attack setting up to execute throws. 

Barron Shepherd is a 3rd degree black belt instructor and USA JUDO certified coach, a USA BOXING certified boxing coach and certified NASM Sports Performance Enhancement Specialist.

Barron Shepherd is an instructor and member of USA JUDO, USJA (the United States Judo Association) and the USJF (the United States Judo Federation), the National Governing Bodies for Judo in the United States.