Combative foot work along with stance or stance and guard stability and mobility are critical requirements of armed and unarmed combat employments. Footwork in CQC or CQB is a most important tactical component of combative skills executions.
In this edition of the close combat files I will cover the following categories of combative foot work.
1] Unarmed offensive assault.
2] Unarmed counteroffensive assault.
3] Close quarters clinching.
4] Resistance and yielding.
5] Multiple assailants.
6] Ground protection and recovery.
7] sneaker/creeper footwork.
8] Enemy close quarters shadowing.
9] Stairwell ascending and descending.
10] Close personal protection, footwork.
11] Finishing strike, range gaining and increasing power and velocity.
12] Footwork for throwing or take downs.
1] Unarmed offensive assault general footwork outline and explanation. We don't have to give everyday walking a lot of thought however when preparing to go unarmed offensive or counteroffensive as a pre-decided combative option or when uncompromised we need to go tactical. Once the required front, side or neutral stance or stance and guard has been adopted the following considerations are required.
Stance needs to be a combination of sound stability and effective mobility. Generally shoulder width or slightly wider and deeper and maintaining a definite ground affinity.
NOTE: The boot print depictions often present narrow illusion in regards to appearing to be toe-to-heal in line when they in reality are always shoulder width or slightly wider apart. In unorthodox footwork employments there may be a need to employ slight adjustment for stability and stance maintenance.
Front Stance
Neutral Stance
Side Stance
The balls of the feet through your boots provide your means of initiating your entry and making range. Your toes through your boots assist in balance maintenance and your sense of touch with the terrain.
The arch of your foot via your boot aids in stamp kick target destruction by target encapsulation.
Axe Kick
Leg Stamp
Footwork generally in relation to direction of movement works as follows.
In your combative stance or stance and guard to move forward or track forward as it is often titled in CQC your rear boot is the source of push off and your front boot initiates the forward groundcover movement followed by your trailing rear boot reforming the stance.
Blocking back or backward stepping or sliding is the opposite with your front boot the source of the drive or push off and your rear boot first to cover ground backwards followed by your lead boot trailing to reform the stance.
Stepping Or Sliding Forward In A Front Stance
Blocking Back (Stepping or Sliding Backwards)
To move to your right your left boot is the source of the push off and your right boot is the first to move. To move to your left it's the opposite.
Movement to the left
Movement to the right
Unlike walking where your feet alternate stepping from back to front, tactical combative offensive stepping or sliding is generally always except in some individual specific skills applications a case of a lead boot forward movement powered by the rear boot push off and the rear boot trailing to reform the initial stance.
The distance each step covers is approximately 20 to 40 cm, never should you increase the step length and risk reducing controlled mobility and stability.
To transfer from a side stance and guard to a front stance and guard to your front a lead boot swivel pivot manoeuvre is employed maintaining the shoulder width footing status.
Swivel manoeuvre
Under unarmed entry stalking into range status the lead boot steps or slides 5 to 10 cm and the rear boot trails reforming and maintaining the shoulder width and correct position in relation to either the front or side stance.
Stalking from Front Guard
Stalking from Side Guard
Principles of crossover or escape action foot work.
One of the only times in unarmed offensive assault that you ever step or slide your rear most boot in front of the toe of your forward boot is when you are side on at point blank bodily contact range with your enemy and are employing a leg stamp diagonally through your enemy’s knee joint from the outside to inside of the knee joint and opposing the joint or in covert enemy positional mimicking using your enemy as concealment during silent stepping.
Close range unarmed offensive assault elbow and hand edge strikes can also be employed with the same footwork.
This is commonly employed from stationery and with a cover guard.
The same stamp kick can be employed when seized by your enemy under forward yielding.
Cross Over Footwork – Front On
Neutral
Front Stance
Diagrams demonstrate cross over footwork to the lead boot closed stance side and the open guard cross over would be the opposite.
Cross Over Footwork – From Side On
Unorthodox rear boot cross over in front of toe of lead boot.
All other stamp kicks from a side stance and guard see the rear trailing boot or stability leg sliding diagonally behind and past the forward stamping boot.
The lead boot will in an entry long range unarmed offensive assault from side on make the initial forward or diagonally forward groundcover stepping or sliding action immediately followed by the trailing boot sliding diagonally deep behind past and forward of the stamp kicking boot maintaining the same shoulder width distance between boots.
Leg Stamp Unarmed Offensive Assault Cross Over Evasive Action Footwork From Side On
Cross Over Footwork Behind Lead Step Setup
To execute long range unarmed offensive assault stamp kicks from a front stance and guard or neutral stance, one of the following two footwork manoeuvres would be employed.
Post stalking into execution range a committed step would be executed straight forward with the non-master boot and the rear master boot would be employed straight forward for an axe kick execution.
Axe Kick Footwork
The required setup for a direct leg stamp execution in a front stance and guard has the lead boot stepping or sliding forward covering range and acting as a pivot and the rear most boot would circle around from a front on stance ending in a side on stance post leg stamp execution.
Leg Stamp With A Fake Or Definite Action Footwork From Front Stance
This same leg stamp employment that applies to a direct leg stamp execution front a front stance and guard applies to a direct leg stamp execution from a neutral stance as well.
To employ a cross over leg stamp unarmed offensive from a front guard with an escape action execute a setup pivot in the direction of the fake escape action and step or slide your inside boot diagonally forward in that escape action direction from inside to outside immediately followed by pivoting both boots to your rear and sliding rear boot diagonally forward and past your front boot and you and now in a position to leg stamp with your rear most boot. Note your stance width throughout the setup manoeuvre remains shoulder width apart. Post any stamp kick execution the trailing boot slides forward to reform the front or side stance and guard or be employed to execute a contingency option. Escape action leg stamps from a front stance and guard are generally but not always initiated off the rear most master boot and from a neutral stance likewise with the master boot initiation in a majority of employments.
Escape Action Leg Stamp From Neutral Stance
Pictured from a Front Stance and Guard
From a neutral stance or front stance and guard or at extreme close quarters or at point blank bodily contact range an evasive or avoidance leg stamp can be employed. Orthodox application from a front stance, pivot both boots to the non-master lead boot outside for primary employments. Either employ setup verbiage and or a walk away hand action diagonally forward with your non-master hand and arm or just the hand and arm walk away set up action minus the verbiage.
Simultaneously take a diagonally forward step outside alongside and past your enemy’s outside knee joint with your non-master boot. Crouch cover guard with your master hand and arm, leg stamp with your master boot.
The opposite applies to an unorthodox option employment of the same offensive action. This action can be employed orthodox to either side from a neutral stance.
Point Blank Range Walk Away Leg Stamp Footwork From A Neutral Stance
Note: the leg stamp can be executed as above with the boots parallel or the stability boot can pivot vertically backwards.
Close range unarmed offensive assault hand and arm striking strategies footwork, general employment includes entry strikes from the side stance and guard to injure, distract, or incapacitate your enemy combined with a swivel manoeuvre and finishing skill. This footwork manoeuvre provides economy of movement reduced target mass during the entry striking phase and maximum velocity and power during the swivel manoeuvre and finishing skill execution phase.
Close range unarmed offensive assault striking combinations can also be employed from a neutral stance or front stance and guard.
Such employments involve pivoting footwork manoeuvres from front on to side on, covered later in this file.
To execute a close range unarmed offensive assault combination from the side guard you would primarily have your non-master side aligned to your enemy.
The close range unarmed offensive assault execution would be initiated by stalking into execution range which is between 20 and 30 cm from your enemy’s lead foot and your lead boot.
Push and power off with your rear most master boot moving the non-master boot forward as you cock your lead arm for an entry strike.
Execute your entry strikes only when the trailing the boot has reformed the side guard to avoid being cast or walking into fully committed enemy counter offence and as such increasing the impact by considerable.
This process is repeated with every entry strike as you zero in on the retreating enemy.
When your repeated entry strikes from the side stance and guard have achieved the desired effect of injuring incapacitating or distracting your retreating enemy it is time to employ your swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skills.
The swivel pivot manoeuvre is achieved by sliding the lead boot in a straight-line horizontally backwards until the toe of your lead boot is in-line with the heel of your rearmost boot.
Now pivot both boots directly forward towards your enemy and drive your full body force forward and or upwards off of the ball of your foot / boot of your rear master boot.
Initiate your finishing strike or stamp kick powered by the swivel manoeuvre.
The correct description for this forward offensive close range unarmed offensive assault manoeuvre is a swivel pivot manoeuvre.
The swivel pivot manoeuvre provides maximum levels of safety in the transition phase from side on to front on and also achieves maximum momentum and velocity powering the close range strike or stamp kicks.
Obviously a single finishing skill may not end the encounter and you may need to employ additional offensive actions but for terminology and drill purposes it is titled a skill finishing, finishing strike or finishing technique.
Close Range Unarmed Offensive Assault Foot Work
Staying Aligned To Your Enemy During Your Close Range Unarmed Offensive Assault
Pivoting on the front boot and moving the trailing boot to reform the side stance minimizes your required movement to stay aligned to your enemy. This can be executed clockwise and anticlockwise in relation to your enemy’s movement.
Staying Centred Side On
Close range unarmed offensive assault from a front stance and guard or neutral stance utilizing an escape or avoidance action description.
Range 20 to 30 cm from enemy target’s lead boot in a neutral stance with both boots inline or with the lead boot in a front stance and guard.
Setup generally by verbiage or definite distraction. Verbal setup employing you don't want any part of any aggression and are leaving or the like.
Pivot both boots diagonally forward towards your master boot and with your outside master arm gesture you are walking away diagonally forward. This will take your enemy focus away from your non-master entry striking arm.
Now push off with your master boot and drive your non-master boot straight forward towards your enemy ensuring it and you are centred to your enemy.
Your trailing boot will follow directly behind your non-master boot forming a side guard and stance and powering you initial entry strike.
Employ multiple entry strikes as you chase and zero your enemy until they are adversely affected and vulnerable to your swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skill.
Employ the swivel pivot manoeuvre as previously described in the close range unarmed offensive assault from a side guard employment.
Note your lead non-master boot will initially take a direct centre-line step towards your enemy but your rear master boot will trail diagonally forward ending centred to establish a side stance and guard.
To execute the same action from a front stance and guard with or without the verbiage simply employ the same front on to side on stance and guard transition manoeuvre combined with entry strikes and then a swivel manoeuvre finishing skill.
Pivot both boots diagonally forward inwards to the Orthodox master boot side.
Power off with your master boot driving your non-master boot directly forward towards your enemy target cocking your initial entry strike.
Your rear boot will immediately trail diagonally forward to re-form the side guard and stance.
Employing as many entry strikes as required followed by your swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skill.
Neutral And Front Stance And Guard Close Range Unarmed Offensive Assault Option From Front On To Side On Escape Or Avoidance Set Up
The next close range unarmed offensive assault option can be employed from in a neutral stance or a front stance and guard.
Front to side on close range elbow unarmed offensive assault manoeuvre.
When at medium to close range take a committed step forward with your non-master boot remembering to stay outside your enemy’s reach. Simultaneously crouch slightly and cover guard with your lead non-master arm and hand acting as a joint distraction and protection.
Now in orthodox employments pivot on your lead non-master boot and circle your rear master boot around from back to front ending side on and simultaneously employ a power round house elbow strike.
You will now be side on and your elbowing arm cocked to employ hand edge or elbow entry strikes from side on as you chase and target your retreating enemy.
If your enemy is not neutralized a swivel pivot manoeuvre and finishing skill can be employed.
Front To Side On Close Range Elbow Unarmed Offensive Assault Manoeuvre
The final close range unarmed offensive assault option to be outlined is the extreme close range neutral stance or front stance stationary or short track off line avoidance evasive unarmed assault.
The following is the orthodox or master arm execution but the non-master arm option is also effective and is simply the opposite in execution.
From extreme close quarters almost bodily contact range often when being confronted the following avoidance evasive skill can be employed with or without verbiage.
Note, verbiage when employed as part of an offensive action can enhance the distraction and confusion factors. This offensive action is usually but not always employed with the master arm and hand. From your neutral or front stance pivot both boots diagonally forward towards your non-master boot’s outside.
Simultaneously step diagonally forward with your non-master boot immediately outside and alongside and or just past your enemy’s boot.
This action would have been set up with verbiage and or a walk away hand action with your non-master arm and hand.
You can now initiate a deceptive diagonal rising elbow strike and follow up with a diagonal downward elbow or hand edge strike if required.
Note, keep your enemy in your peripheral vision during the non-master boot pivoting and diagonal forward set up stepping manoeuvre.
This offensive action can be employed equally from a front stance and can be executed by stationary pivoting without the diagonal forward setup step if required in relation to range or situation.
If engaged you can employ your master arm and hand cover guard from a crouched counter offensive target mass reduction position or against a kick, attack your attacker by employing a crouch cover guard and stamp kick to counter your enemy’s kick.
Close Range Evasive Avoidance Rising Elbow Assault Stationary
Close Range Evasive Avoidance Rising Elbow Assault Stepping
2) Unarmed counter offensive assault footwork.
The primary unarmed counter offensive assault option is evasion and the primary evasive option in side stepping diagonally forward.
The secondary evasive action is parrying diagonally backwards. There is also lateral evasion that is less commonly employed and is more a specific situational option in relation to environment and terrain.
Before I detail the previous evasive counter offensive actions we need to detail how best to break a reactionary gap and make ready to evade.
When confronted and post-assessment if your decision is to go counter offensive by an evasive action you need to break and immediate reactionary definite distance between yourself and your enemy.
The footwork to break this primary reactionary distance is very different to the normal close quarter’s tactical track forward or block back footwork of stalking forward, edging back or stepping or sliding into range by means of small to medium committed combative movements.
The aim of the footwork to break the minimum safety considered reactionary distance for evasion purposes of 2m between you and your enemy is to leave them statically in place by means of a deliberate action and ensure you get back well clear of immediate enemy unarmed capabilities in a ready status for evasion.
This is achieved by taking a large committed backward step with one boot usually your master boot powered and driven off by your non-master boot and then immediately sliding your trailing non-master boot a large pace back and as far past your master boot as safely possible, mobility and stability wise, then sliding your master boot back to form a neutral stance or if compromised or required a front stance and guard.
2m has been tested and proven the primary minimum range to enable evasion of a formidable enemy combatant even if fatigued or injured.
Breaking A Reactionary Distance
Side escape evasion from a neutral stance or front stance and guard.
Once the side of evasion has been determined by sound counteroffensive evasive sighting and assessment employment of the following sidestep footwork applies.
To sidestep to your right from your ready status on the balls of both boots push with your left boot driving right boot 20 to 30cm diagonally forward and simultaneously pivot on your right boot powering the immediate trailing of your left boot ending in a right side stance and guard ready to assess decide and employ your unarmed counter offensive option.
The opposite applies to a side step to your left.
Side Step Evasion – Left
Side Step Evasion – Right
Parry evasion.
To execute a left parry swiftly pivot your right boot in towards your left boot and directly slide your left boot diagonally backwards and behind your stationary pivoting right boot to form a right side guard.
Assess decide on your counteroffensive unarmed action and employ it.
The opposite footwork applies to a right parry.
Right Parry Evasion
Left Parry Evasion
Note when parrying the stationary pivoting boot although remains statically in place as the evasive diagonal backward manoeuvre is completed the weight is transferred by majority to the rearmost boot. This makes ready your lead boot for stamp kicking counter offensively if your stationary leg is targeted.
The parry employed from a front stance and guard would normally find the lead boot targeted by a smart enemy assailant and the parry would ensure this exposed lead leg would be moved off of the confrontation line.
Extended parry evasions see the manoeuvre extended in length by sliding the initial evasive boot a greater distance backwards and trailing a short distance with pivoting initially stationary boot ending in a side stance and guard.
Extended Parry – Right
Extended Parry – Left
The horizontal side skate evasion is executed by employing the following footwork.
To execute a right lateral side skate evasion power off with your left boot driving right boot horizontally 20 to 40 cm to the right immediately trailed and by your left boot.
Lateral or side skate evasion does not provide the same advantages in relation to diagonal evasion in clearing the contact zone.
However there are situations in relation to specific threat terrain obstacles and your enemy’s actions where a horizontal side skate evasion will be a viable option for the situation and will set up your post evasion leg stamp, hand edge strike or the swivel pivot manoeuvre and decided counter offensive actions.
Side Skate Evasion – Left
Side Skate Evasion – Right
Assess decide cover guard and employee your counteroffensive action or employee a positional change by orientating to your enemy target by pivoting on your lead boot and adjusting the position of your rear boot. You could also orientate to your enemy by employing a swivel pivot manoeuvre transition from a side stance post the skate evasion to a front stance and guard for counter offensive options execution requirements.
The opposite applies to a left side skate evasion.
Deliberate over evasion.
Post immediate evasion if by means of a fully committed enemy offensive action that is still a considered threat post evasion it is a natural decision as a result of constant fast mapping to employ over evasion.
Over evasion is achieved by from your side guard pivoting on your lead boot and encircling your rear boot in-relation to your enemy around and away from the threatening striking or kicking limb until able to neutralize
the threat and go counter offensive.
Over Evasion
Counteroffensive contingency option footwork to combat being stalked post breaks a two metre reactionary distance.
Initially if possible to ensure you are in control and ready to counter engage your aggressor edge back controlling reactionary distance.
If you need to edge around or back and around because of rear flank restrictions or dangers the primary side to edge back and or around to is your enemy’s lead foot side generally this will be their non-master side and will take you away from their master hand and foot.
However terrain and obstacles may dictate the side you have to edge back to and you may have to edge back to the unorthodox or enemy master hand and leg side and if so then ensure you remain ready and control distance as you do so.
To edge back orthodox push off with your lead boot moving your rear master boot back between 10 and 20 cm and replacing your lead trailing non-master boot to reform your initial stance or stance and guard.
If while edging back your enemy moves off of direct line with your centre line orientate by means of employment of economical lead boot pivoting and rear boot stepping or sliding in adjustment to reform your stance or stance and guard realigned to your enemy.
Staying Centred To Your Enemy/Orientating While Edging Back Controlling Distance
To edge back and to the side from a front stance and guard pivot on your non-master lead boot and move your master boot to the required side to align to your enemy and combine this enemy orientation with edging back to control distance by lead non-master boot push off and moving your master boot back and replacing your trailing non-master boot.
If you edge back and end up with your back to a solid backdrop you can edge horizontally along the backdrop initially and then edge diagonally around and away from your stalking enemy controlling and or creating distance.
When push comes to shove and you have made the required range to employ your being stalked contingency option attack your attacker. Timing is essential and when the timing and range is right you should employ your being stalked contingency option.
The leg stamp with a definite action such as throwing something or spitting in your enemy’s face or a leg stamp with a fake action like a fake punch will ensure the hunted is the Hunter.
In this case the best counter offensive is going offensive.
Alignment And Edging
Being Stalked Contingency Option
Application take a committed step straight forward towards your enemy with your non-master boot execute your fake or deliberate definite action to get your enemy’s attention high and simultaneously pivot on your lead
Non-master boot and circle your master boot around from front on to side on and execute a leg stamp.
The old definite spit or inanimate objects in the face or a fake head punch in a high stress situation tends to take the attention away from the lower quadrants leaving them open to stamping.
Stationary unarmed counter offensive assault footwork.
From a front or side stance and guard or a neutral stance when compromised or by situation or decision and you cannot evade, stationary unarmed counter offensive assault applies.
From a front stance and guard Crouch reducing target mass and increasing stability raise your cover guard achieving protection for your upper quadrants.
Upper quadrant round house contact will be covered against and straight-line contact or straight-line uppercut contact will be deflected with your cover guard between your fore arms.
Immediately post Crouch and cover guard poo position as it's referred to in the Todd Systems as in squatting over a field shitter. Pivot both your boots Orthodox inwards lead arm cover guard and rear master hand brace on your thigh or utilize for stability.
Continue to pivot your rear master boot until pointing vertically backwards and employee a lead non-master boot leg stamp to your enemy’s closest leg at time of execution.
To counter an enemy executed kick or knee from stationary execute the previous stationary counteroffensive manoeuvre and counter their kick with your lead boot stamping kick removing your exposed targeted limb and using it as a counter offensive weapon.
Stationary Counter Offensive Against A Kick
Stationary Counter Offensive Against – Side on
Stationary unarmed counter offensive option from a neutral stance.
Crouch cover guard and either pivot brace guard and leg stamp or immediately post crouching to the poo position and cover guarding slide one boot directly back to a front stance and guard and employee as previous a lead stationary leg stamp.
Stationary unarmed counter offensive from the side guard or neutral stance against a side actions on.
From the side guard Crouch cover guard on the threat side and leg stamp or slide the rear stability boot back in a straight line until the rear boot toes are inline with the lead boot heel shoulder width or slightly wider apart and leg stamp.
From neutral against a side actions on Crouch side cover guard and employ the same skills as from an initial side guard.
The primary counter offensive option detailed here post stationary crouch and cover guard is the leg stamp however close range strikes can be employed.
3) Close quarters clinching.
Before I cover this footwork and body positioning you must understand that this was not specifically developed for combat sports or traditional martial arts and the stances guards and footwork are and must be specific to the role desired objective and the combative system.
Wrestling Judo jiu jitsu BJJ or karate have stances and footwork specific to the codes needs and styles and likewise CQB/CQC and in this case the Todd System must have specific footwork and stances and guards specific to armed and unarmed combat and the system specific skills. The Todd System stances guards and footwork have commonality from basic phase 1 to advanced phase 2 through to specialist phase 3 in both unarmed and armed options. The footwork stances and guards not only have commonality but are also cohesive in any transition. They provide primary positioning and platform for stamp kicking and palm heel, hand edge and elbow striking as well as flat hands and bent fork finger eyes attacks. Introduce a knife dispatchet baton rifle SMG shotgun pistol and the stances remain the same and the guards only marginally change to include the weapon holding and handling.
I consider freestyle and Greco Roman wrestling primary principle grappling combat sports but to employ military combative stamp kicks from a wrestling tie up with such space between the combatants is not in line with the required primary execution range and position likewise rugby scrum positioning may be good for rugby but not for military close combat and the same with Judo jiu jitsu Brazilian jiu-jitsu and other combat sports and fighting arts. The Todd System in the clinch provides a balance between mobility and stability with the ability to increase or decrease mobility and stability in relation to situation at real time and truly resembles a dog’s bent hind leg in body and leg positioning. From a front guard to point blank range bodily contact compress an imaginary line across her shoulders and glue it against your enemy at whatever bodily positional height it is naturally in regards to your height and your enemy’s height. Seize and secure your enemy with a lead high secure and rear grip low secure. Pull them tight and close and employee the poo lowering centre of gravity by bending your knees pushing your buttocks slightly down and back positioning your head on the low grip seizure side outside and against your enemy’s upper arm, also you can now move your rear boot out and back diagonally 10 to 20 cm to increase stability. You should be in a position where you can have increased balance and stability and maintain control.
Although you are glued to your enemy and may make them wear your weight by hanging off them doing the poo you do not lie or lean on them to the point where you are not stability wise in full control. Should your enemy ever disengage you should not lose your balance and you must feel that you are in control and able to employ your primary stamp kicks or strikes at any time.
Now to prevent direct man on man force on force energy sapping stand up grapple clinching utilize angle by pivoting your lead boot 45° Orthodox diagonally forward and move your rear boot diagonally back to form a front guard on the forward diagonal. By stepping forward now on the diagonal in relation to your enemy you are reducing the force on force aspects and by stepping forward using angle and interfere with your enemy’s balance by boot to foot ankle or shin contact you are in control and setting up full primary offensive actions. It is critical that your secure seizure of your enemy neutralizes both their arms and that your stance and lead lower leg protect your groin. You must ensure that secure seizure is also maintained to ensure you do not offer easy access to your rear flanks. By targeting your enemy’s lower leg with your diagonal forward stepping you can further negate their forward momentum by interfering with their balance. You must maintain your stance as previously outlined to ensure you can go offensive or counteroffensive in instant. This stance position and angling I developed specifically to have commonality with the Todd Systems primary skills and to aid in reducing enemy physical attributes advantages.
CQ Clinching Stance
Assuming a forward diagonal front stance and employing lead high rear low seizure and securing combined with slight widening and deepening of the stance increases stability while maintaining high levels of mobility. Stepping diagonally forward and interfering with your enemy’s balance maintenance and forward drive as well as exposing his legs to contact when stepping diagonally forward and targeting the lower quadrants all adds to advantages in the clinch. To counter enemy pushing or offensive actions a high grip push or lift with the lead hand and low grip pull down with the rear hand combined with a simultaneous weight drop to the low grip side are employed combined with unarmed offensive assault actions o to stop backwards takedowns and lifting takedowns. This can be easily employed from the previous clinch position by utilizing proactive assessment and human reaction to action such as case self-preservation. When you have seized and secured your enemy in the previous clinch position by employing a controlled aggressive committed weight drop pulling down the common enemy reaction is resisting and opposing your action trying to break away upward. Simply by changing from your downward action to an upward lifting and or backward driving footwork movement or specific take down you can decentralize your enemy. You could employ unarmed offensive actions over takedowns with the previous. In the clinch should your enemy attempt to drop their centre of gravity below yours do not attempt to employ excessive force to lift them back upwards. Simply move in on them seize and secure their head from above with your lead Palm and push down making them wear your weight by compressing your chest on their upper back and employee your free hand to compound grip and support your lead hand grip or seize and secure their belt webbing or tactical vests. Adjust your stance if required to increase stability.
Make them wear your weight and go counteroffensive.
I have described seizure and securing of the arms only however seizures of the head or head and arm are also applicable in the clinch.
4) Resistance and yielding.
In the clinch or when compromised and taken by surprise resistance and yielding are important reactive and definite actions. The natural human reactive response to being pushed pulled or lifted without warning is too immediately once the effect is felt is to resist to stop or slow the movement.
Dropping your centre of gravity and assuming a strong stable pooh position with sound clinching skills will affect regention regaining control.
Once the situation has been controlled as previous unarmed offensive actions from stationary may be employed or yielding. Frontal enemy yielding in the clinch can be employed forwards or backwards in relation to your enemy’s direction of forced movement.
If you are being pulled forward in the clinch by maintaining your stance by taking small forward yielding steps you can set up your counter offensive actions.
Rear arm seizure and securing needs to be maintained and lead elbow entry strikes or hand edge strikes from the side on seize secure yield counter strike position and status can be employed. To employee yielding long-range unarmed counter offensive actions from the side on enemy seizure and securing set up, yield by taking small steps towards your enemy yielding with their forward pulling momentum. As previously outlined in the cross over stamp kicks at bodily contact range in this edition of the close combat files the only time the you ever step diagonally forward and in front of your lead boot is when you are side on and at point blank bodily contact range and to set a leg stamp. Yield with small steps forward from side on then pivot your boots diagonally forward towards your enemy and step diagonally forward in front of your lead boot with your rear boot ending alongside and past your enemy’s closest leg, employ a leg stamp with your trailing boot.
Yielding to the rear when being pushed, initially resist the push and regain control. Employ side on seizure and securing and yield backwards with multiple small steps. Counter offensively you can employ hand edge or elbow entry strikes with the completion of every reverse step.
To employ a long range leg stamp post-yielding from the side on seizure and securing status with your rear most boot in relation to your enemy post employing small balance maintenance and recovery steps take a large backward step and pivot your rear boot vertically backwards and bend your knee over the toes of your boot and lean back down and away. Employ a lead leg stamp.
Rear flanks resistance and yielding.
When compromised from behind and when pushed forward with self-preservation kicking in resistance is the norm, assume the poo position in a front stance assess over your shoulder and step forward to side on raising your cover guard and go counteroffensive.
If compromised and pulled backwards resist to regain control by assuming a forward front guard and poo position. Assess over your shoulder and employ a backwards swivel pivot manoeuvre by sliding your boot closest to your enemy or the boot on the side of the maximum backward and downward pull across and around while the rear stability boot remains stationary and pivots so you end facing your enemy in a front stance.
You will end in a front stance in the opposite direction facing your enemy and could employ a clearing skill as part of the 180 swivel pivot manoeuvre with your close elbow above the seizure grip and or a finishing strike with your rearmost hand in relation to your enemy or a stamping axe kick.
Rear Pull Down Yielding
Rear Push Yielding
5) multiple assailants.
Footwork for multiple assailants includes rear flank safety initially to reduce your arcs of threat.
When engaging multiple assailants to your front and sides lateral stepping applies combined with unarmed offensive assault and when encircled by multiple assailants the footwork requirements require from a 0 to 360° arc of continuous offensive assault action, set up by footwork enabling the neutralization of as many adversaries as possible in the process of breaking out of the encirclement.
The previous unarmed offensive footwork actions apply to multiple unarmed assailants and are the basic principle outline of neutralizing such multiple assailants’ threats.
In situations that include being grabbed to be stabbed or held for hitting the initial pooh position footwork and body positioning applies.
Once regention has been achieved an offensive leg stamp against an unarmed threat applies or against an armed enemy offensive directional positional changing exposing your rear seizing enemy to his accomplices weapon.
The Todd Systems have an extensive range of multiple assailant principles tactics procedures and skills that can only be learnt hands on and are instructed in relation to rank.
The previous is just an outline of the basic footwork principles of common multiple unarmed aggressor counter offensive actions.
6) Ground protection and recovery.
Ground combat footwork and positioning includes three points of contact controlled positioning as well as enemy alignment ground movements counter offensively stamp kicking your upright enemy from the ground. Ground counter offensive escape actions against unarmed ground combat incorporate battlefield armed options as well as the boot in the form of stamp kicks, ground cover guard protection and counter offensive compound strikes to delicate bodily targets that generally set up ground escapes. Combined compound ground strikes or weapon employment in an armed operational ground combat escape and combative side folding away to a foetal position are required to remove or escape a formidable enemy straddling you or from a side mount position.
The missionary or mercenary position as it is known in the Todd Systems requires armed operational escape or unarmed compound strikes to delicate vitals combined with evasive side folding footwork and stamp kicks to effect an escape.
All ground offensive unarmed or armed escapes require enemy incapacitation neutralization before employing footing recovery and upright ground finishing or escape and evasion.
Todd Systems ground combat escapes employ weapons to disarm disable or dispose of the threat as primary options and unarmed as outlined in this file as emergency options for the battle field.
Before employing a footing recovery stand up action against a live ground enemy post ground hold escape for the purpose of employing upright neutralization of your grounded enemy the following principle applies, maintain ground security by making your enemy wear your weight. If your enemy is on his back press your chest against his chest ensuring contact is on your side of his sternum so as to reduce being rolled over. Keep you abdomen pelvis and hips fixed to the ground. Employ military crawling and tactical enemy turning over with your hands by sound body mechanics and enemy manipulation then regain your footing prior to stand-up ground neutralization as in the general outline for the battle field in ground combat.
Combative footing recovery roll on your side and slide your ground closest leg back under and behind your skyward propping leg. Utilize your ground ward closest arm to push up to kneeling with your Palm down on the ground. You will be kneeling on your prior ground closest knee and your prior skyward closest leg will be bent at the knee with the sole of the boot on the ground.
Now rise up into a front stance.
Any time on the ground on your side that your enemy attempts to push you away or turn you over employ your skyward leg as a prop to counter such actions from behind your ground closest leg. Your propping ground closest leg sole of the boot is your definite source of ground affinity with the ground and provides the push into your enemy to hold position and set of counter offensive actions and footing up right recovery. On your back to counter being pushed over on your belly prop and push with the boot on the opposite side to your enemy. In CQC actions on ground combat you never want to be face sunnyside down on your belly.
In CQC if you end up being secured on your belly and are completely unarmed an immediate combative switch manoeuvre is required.
This is achieved by utilizing initial ground contact momentum or if locked in position from stationary employing the following.
Turn your head to one side and slide the opposite side arm under your head as if you were sleeping with your head on your upper arm.
Employ your opposite hand to push off of the ground and initiate a turning into your enemy manoeuvre with the push off hand changing roles to going counter offensive with elbow strikes. Continue to turn on your side to face your enemy and employ continued counter offensive actions weapon employment enemy ground seizure and securing and recovery and neutralization.
In ground combat if you end up on the ground unsecured barrel rolls or military crawling away from immediate danger and recover apply.
7) Silent stepping.
Silent steeping for the purpose of stealthy ground covering such as in sentry stalking or any covert operational requirements when you are beyond the point of no return or at close proximity to your enemy requires both footwork and many other tactical components.
This description will cover the footwork aspects only.
Your boot is protection for your foot and your foot includes several parts that provide various combative capabilities.
Generally sneaky boots provide a better sense of touch and are lighter and softer than normal combat boots.
However your specific parts of your foot work well through most boots.
The toes are the most sensitive part of the foot and are used for the sense of touch to identify hazards or ground debris that may compromise you combined with your visual scanning. The balls of the feet are utilized for powering ground movements offensively counter-offensively or when compromised during silent stepping.
Silent stepping utilizes both your visual and touch senses.
The ground silent stepping starts with toe touching transfers your weight gradually along the outside edge of your foot from the little toe to the heel and then gradually lowers the foot from its outer edge to its inner edge.
Your weight is gradually transferred fully onto the foot and your trailing foot weight reduced until the trailing foot is lifted off the ground and transferred forward and the process repeated.
This is executed from a crouched position.
8) Enemy shadowing or mimicking footwork.
From your enemy's rear in a crouched position aligned to your enemy target should they turn around as they look over their right or left shoulder you need to mimic them moving away from the direction they turn in the following manner.
If they look over their right shoulder you need to move your right boot diagonally behind your lead left boot in a left front stance and reposition your lead left boot to the left to reform your stable enemy centred position and stance.
If you are in a right front stance and your enemy looks over his right shoulder you need to cross your right foot diagonally forward in front of your lead left boot then move your lead boot across to your left to reform your stable covert stance and enemy centred position.
This method best moves your entire mass behind your enemy using them as concealment.
The opposite applies on a left shoulder enemy turn.
Tactical stairwell ascending and descending.
This footwork applies to steer well close personal protection, self-protection and urban combative operations. Ascending keep one third away from the banister railing so you could still reach out and grasp it easily at any time while maintaining vision and cover. When any threat is detected ensure you increase stability and tactical options by ensuring your boot closest to the hand rail is forward and your trailing boot is on the step below.
Your stance is a front stance that provides both unarmed and armed capabilities. The stance can be assumed by stepping upward with your boot closest to the railing or by moving your furtherest boot from the railing down a step. Although stepping down a step provides increased reactionary distance it does mean you must change position by sense of touch and have no rear transition vision and for that reason upward stepping is a preferred option if available.
This footwork option enables Orthodox Stationary evasion by pivoting both boots in towards the stairwell centre. The parry evasion from front on to side on is easily achieved from the previous stance and positioning.
Descending stairwells.
Employ the same process keeping your lead boot closest to the railing and your trailing boot a step above and closer to the stairwell centre in a front stance.
The stationary evasion and parry manoeuvre are easily employed from this stance and positioning.
Right handers Orthodox side is left boot closest to the railings for both ascending and descending lefthanders the opposite.
10) Close personal protection, and counteroffensive footwork.
Intervention providing bodily cover of a principal enabling Orthodox counteroffensive options requires the following.
Stepping diagonally forward in front of your principal with your boot closest to your principal.
Be sure not to step so far diagonally forward so as to compromise vision of your principal.
From this diagonally forward cover step positioning protection preventative and counteroffensive options can be employed.
Your position can be adjusted to provide squared cover, by pivoting your boots towards your enemy and making any stance required adjustments.
11) Finishing strike range gaining and achieving maximum power and velocity.
Range gaining from a front stance and guard especially if you have employed lead hand entry or setup strikes that may have moved your target further back from you require the following adjustment.
Move your lead boot 20 to 30 cm diagonally forward immediately before employing your master hand strike. To maximize strike power and velocity Crouch immediately before execution and move as previous your lead boot 20 to 30 cm diagonally forward if maximum range is required now power off from the ground up via the ball of your master rear boot and follow-up with your master leg calf thigh hip torso shoulders arm neck and head all following the travel of the strike and powering it in low to high order from the ground up and reverse retraction.
The final Todd System means of achieving additional power and velocity is by assuring your lead non-master boot is flat on the ground at impact point and the knee of your lead non-master boot is bent forward over the toes of your boot. Your rear master boot will initiate the offensive action from the ground up via the ball of your boot with the heel of the boot being slightly off of the ground during strike initiation and execution. The initiation of the strike is generated by driving upwards and outwards from sole of boot to top of your head. This will ensure your entire mass powers the strike from the ground up and that no part of your body is restricting the explosive strike line travel and velocity potential by not combining in order of extension from ground to target.
Immediately on achieving contact the full body and striking limb ground to head action is reversed retracting back to the initial stance and guard.
12) Footwork to prevent being thrown or taken down.
From the clinch by maintaining visual focus on your enemy’s foot on the low grip side you will be able to detect any loading or initiation of offensive actions.
To combat a take down immediately on recognizing an enemy intended offensive action employ a high grip push or lift and low grip pull-down combined with dropping your centre of gravity to the low grip side and simultaneously going counteroffensive with a leg stamp axe kick chin jab flat hand or belt seizure or palm heel pelvic jamming followed by an offensive action such as a leg stamp.
To combat a hip or shoulder throw from the clinch immediately you identify your enemy turning their back on you to throw drop your centre of gravity in the poo position ram your Palm heel in their kidney area bend and press your knee in the back of their knee and go counteroffensive targeting exposed vitals or employing strangulation or choking.
