CQC guards are important skills components they combine with the stances and footwork to provide sound proven counter offensive capabilities. I've covered stances and footwork in previous editions of the close combat files and will now detail counteroffensive guarding. This file will cover guarding against unarmed threats from the front side and rear flanks. The Todd CQB/CQC systems do not include unarmed blocking. The Todd Systems counteroffensive skills are made up of sound cover guarding deflection and attacking your attackers offending limb principles. The reasoning behind cover guarding and deflection is as follows. Employing individual blocking skills that are specific to individual strikes increases the required levels of specific threat identification creates specific individual threat counter decision-making and as a result increases stress tension anxiety and the possibility of employing the incorrect blocking option and as a result error and increased risk. You must take into consideration a formidable crafty enemy utilising faints cheats distraction's dirty tricks and unarmed combinations over single strike techniques. A single era can end the encounter for you or worse. Some blocks promote maintaining your natural height or even less wise increasing your target mass. Cover guarding promotes reducing target mass economy of movement increased stability and maximum reduction in the likelihood of error by employing a single principle to counter directional incoming threats not individual specific threats. Blocking often requires defensive movements that extend beyond the bodies outer framework and as such can leave holes in defensive capabilities in relation to protecting the bodily rectangle. The highly trained enemy will identify any weaknesses or holes and exploit them.
The frontal guard prior to any actions on encounter will have both arms and a 45° angle to your front in line with the sides of your body and with the hands in hand edge or flat hand configurations the width of your face or neck apart.
You will employee combative sighting between your hands/forearms but also maintain your full possible 140° of vision including your peripheral vision.
Front guard
The advantage of double 45° angle arm guarding includes reduced likelihood of self- injury by the guarding hands being too close to your face and eyes as well as hard targeting by means of providing practical guarding distance away from your vitals delivering hard targeting by ensuring that your enemy must get around or between your guard. The 45° arms position allows for guard retraction with both hands secured to your head above your ears providing maximum close cover guard protection.
Cover guard
From this cover guard position your arms are positioned in not only a secure status but also a position of maximum strength if enemy resistance is required. From a front guard 45° arm positioning there is no need to make specific blocking decisions you simply need to retract your guard immediately when you identify any unarmed incoming striking offensive to the cover guard position and status. The deflection aspect of the cover guard comes into play when strikes are directed straight at your centre of mass or in a uppercut straight line travel between your guarding arms.
Deflection
Round house strikes are covered against with the directly opposite arm to the striking arm locked rigid so as not to turn your back and expose the nape of your neck.
Coverguard against a roundhouse strike
Combative or CQC sighting offensive or counteroffensive Todd Systems primary practice utilising the inner forearms as sights provides a focus sight picture of direct incoming offensive actions.
From the cover guard to deflect a straight or uppercut offensive action simply requires a minimal lateral inner forearm deflection. Deflecting with the directly opposite arm to the enemy striking arm redirects the striking arm towards the enemy free arm neutralising both enemy arms at that point in time. The deflection is lateral in direction employing the minimal travel and immediate retraction to the cover guard position. Another most important aspect of the cover guard is the crouched position to reduce target mass. This is achieved by bending both knees pushing your buttocks back and down and lowering your torso forward and down like in a powerlifting squat like position with both your back flat straight and on the upward diagonal.
The simultaneous execution of the crouch and cover guard will provide cover guard protection from the top of your head to your pelvis.
Crouched cover guard
Crouching and covering is a natural continuation of the natural human response and self-preservation mechanism of flinching to reduce target mass and increase stability. If you were standing neutral and taken by surprise immediately post crouch and cover guarding you could block once boot back to form a front stance and as a result increase stability.
The Orthodox or primary method of blocking back would see you slide your master boot back forming an Orthodox front stance and guard. The Orthodox front stance and guard description is as follows, non-master lead boot, rear boot toes are in-line with front boot heel feet shoulder width apart, ground affinity with the balls of both boots in the ready status, crouched position arms initially at 45° hands the width of the face or neck apart prior to any unarmed actions on or in an actions on immediate employment of the crouch the cover guard position is employed hands secured above the ears on the highest part of the skull forearms locked rigid.
Always set or change your stance away from your enemy not towards the threat where you could increase the impact by means of two forward impacting moving forces.
From neutral cover guard to front stance cover guard
Generally in set pre-decided unarmed offensive or counteroffensive skills employments your non-master boot will be forward and combinations often employ lead non-master hand set up strikes followed by rear master arm primary finishing skill strikes.
Counteroffensive kicks including countering enemy kicks with a stamp kick are under primary conditions employed with the lead non-master boot from the crouch cover guard position.
Counter a kick with a kick from a crouched coverguard
I have to demonstrate this Crouch cover guard position often to groups of military exponents numbering as many as 260 Pers and my description and demonstration of doing the pooh as in taking a dump when in the field colourfully outlines the required action.
Description take your e- tool and dig a fieldshitter now straddle in your front stance lowering your centre of gravity enough to reduce splashback or falling in the hole keep alert scanning from your straight back squat position.
Make any minor adjustments to increase stability while maintaining your mobility capabilities. Crouching and cover guarding not only reduces target mass and increases stability but also acts as an evasive action against high round house and straight line strikes. Visually when compromised post flinching a combatant will out of self preservation direct their eyes to the direction of the unidentified incoming assault which will not only determined where it is originating from but also whatever it is and who is. One non immediate automated human response to sudden aggressive shock actions that is a definite combative requirement is to combative breath or as I call it for unexpected actions on drills jargin respire immediately post flinch to maintain physical capabilities assist in keeping the effects of shock in check and get set and ready to counter the threat.
This visual assessment definite action may well be employed immediately after orientating to the threat direction or orientating to the threat direction may be employed post visual assessment. Orientating to the enemy or adversary is sometimes referred to as aligning or centring.
Post visual and alignment the combatant can assess and decide on a counteroffensive from the increased safety of the Crouch cover guard position and employee the counter offensive option.
From the crouched cover guard position executing a counter offensive action
This reduced mass increased stability position combined with a definite ground affinity provides the best means to launch a dynamic deep expedient forward unarmed counter offensive assault.
The combatant can choose to push forward and achieve bodily contact to reduce enemy unarmed capabilities prior to employing point blank range unarmed skills or seizing and securing their attacker and setting up an armed counteroffensive.
Post cover guard closing in seizing and securing and employing both unarmed and armed options
To reiterate any time in a front stance and guard crouch cover guard position to neutralise a kick pivot both boots to the open rear master boot side lead side cover guard and employ a lead leg stamp utilising your master hand and arm on your master thigh to increase stability. You should in training constantly test or true your frontal Crouch cover guard with an enemy party to ensure you increase and maintain proficiency. Enemy strikes kicks or attempted seizing and securing can all be countered from your crouched cover guarding employment. Attempted seizure of your wrists and or forearms can easily be prevented from your crouch and cover guard position or escaped post seizure by means of an armed or unarmed counter offensive. The same applies to a wide and varied range of less secure grabs and holds including helmet body armour and webbing or tactical vest seizure.
Iinsecure post crouch and cover guard hold prevention and escape
Frontal Crouch cover guard is a smart tactical continuation of the natural self-preservation re-response to sudden shock aggressive action and enables the neutralising of a wide range of unarmed threats by a single means. It also has commonality with combative falling and military weapons employments by means of Minimal adjustment.
Side Guard
The side guard is predominantly employed for unarmed offensive assault employments.
Although mainly close range unarmed offensive assault with the hands and arms are employed from a side stance and guard long-range unarmed offensive assault stamp kicks are also employed from a side stance and guard. Orthodox side guard description, lead arm closest to the enemy is the non-master arm. The lead side guard arm is at right angles prior to any actions on with the hand in the flat hand or open hand edge configuration. Your chin is tucked slightly down and in against your inner shoulder. Both eyes are focused on the enemy from the inner side of the forearm. Your lead guarding arm is directly in-line with the side of your body. The side on stance reduces target mass and the direct line and opportunity of enemy attack against your vunerable bodily vitals. Your body is also hard targeted and made more difficult to seize and secure in the side guard. This is obviously in relation to your physical size and that of your enemy’s size and reach.
Your boots are shoulder width apart and point directly inwards providing increased groin pelvic bowl and upper quadrant protection.
Your master arm and hand in the flat hand or open hand edge configurations palm against your chest is a backup or last line catch cover or deflect guarding capability to your lead non-master guarding arm and hand.
Side guard
The forearm and elbow of your master arm rest diagonally across your upper quadrants. Keeping your face chin and eyes on the inside of your non-master lead guarding arm makes guarding against straight-line uppercut and frontal round house strikes simple and the same cover guard action will provide cover and nape of neck protection against round house strikes to your back.
The cover guarding action is a simple retraction of the lead non-master arm/ hand from right angles to the back of your neck.
Your Palm of your open hand will grasp and cover from your first cervical vertebrae downwards. The side guard cover position allows cover against offensive actions directed around the outside of your guard and simple deflection of offensive actions directed around the inside of your guard by simply moving your elbow and forearm in covering against and deflecting any strike and immediately returning to the side guard status. The side guard and stance should be further hard targeted by crouching to reduce target mass increase stability and as such increase the chance of high upper quadrant strikes missing the target.
Side crouch cover guard making high shot miss
Cover guard deflection
While evasive capabilities from a side stance and guard are not that of a front stance and guard the exposed target area is considerably less and the open access to vulnerable targets is also far less. The main means of unarmed counter offensive from the side stance and guard is stationary crouching and or deflection combined with a stationary lead leg stamp or in specific situations a close range unarmed counter offensive assault.
From a crouched side guard a leg stamp
To transition from a side stance and guard to a front stance and guard a hand edge or elbow swivel manoeuvre is employed making the transition an offensive action and as such reducing the enemy offensive opportunity.
From the crouched side stance and guard cock your lead arm in preparation to employ a backhand edge or backhand elbow strike to clear your enemy guard or strike their exposed vunerable targets as you simultaneously slide your lead boot backwards in a straight line and then pivot both boots forward towards the target to assume a front guard.
The Todd Systems cover guarding during any stance transition or offensive action requires the specific guard change to ensure cover guard protection is provided throughout the movement or offensive action.
This may mean changing from a side cover guard to a front cover guard or from a front cover guard to a side cover guard.
When one arm is clearing or striking the other arm will be guarding.
Hand edge swivel from a crouched side guard
From a side guard stationary crouch and cover guard and counter offensive leg stamp.
From a side guard crouch cover guard stationary evasion set angle leg stamp.
Stationary evasion in a side stance and guard can be achieved by sliding the rear master boot back in a straight line until the toe of your rear boot is in line with the heel of your lead non-master boot and you have formed a front stance and cover guard.
Side guard stationary evasion and leg stamp
From this stance by pivoting your boots to the open side you can target your enemies closest knee joint with a leg stamp. Blocking your master boot back as previous from a side guard post crouching and cover guarding will also position you for a counteroffensive axe kick.
From a crouched side guard blocking back to a front stance and guard and axe kicking
To counter enemy kicks from a side guard or modified version of it as previously outlined counter a kick with a stamp kick.
Side stance and cover guard countering a kick with a kick
The master hand can be employed to provide cover from a side guard if any enemy offensive strike breaches the lead non-master arm cover guard.
Open Palm master hand cover guarding of the head and throat as well as open Palm midsection target cover guarding in a point blank or close range enemy assault provides emergency cover guarding. This master hand cover guarding is executed with the palm of the hand to deflect or catch and deflect strikes.
Master hand from a side cover stance and crouched guard covering catching/checking deflecting a strike that has breached your lead cover guard
Compound cover guarding can be employed by guarding from side on with the lead non-master arm cover guard combined with utilising the master hand to seize your bicep and crouching to reduce target mass and increase cover. Another variation is to transition the master hand below the elbow of the non-master lead side guarding arm to protect the abdominal obliques either by wrapping your Palm around exposed target area or by cupping with your Palm to catch check and or deflect lower abdomen and oblique strikes. Often deflection can be achieved simply by pivoting your boots and as a result changing your positional status and either causing strikes to miss the target or be deflected by the covering hand combined with the stationary evasion.
Note: Compound and upper and mid guarding and checking would be employed in relation to specific threats, the immediate situation, and by maintaining or moving into pointblank range bodily contact, a counteroffensive action such as a leg stamp, or the drawing and employing of a weapon would be employed as quickly as possible.
Compound side crouched cover guard and upper and lower point blank cover guard.
Rear cover guard
Breaking distance or escape and evasion when compromised from your 6 (rear flanks) are often the primary and best means to reduce rear flank risk risk. 180° swivel pivot manoeuvre is for an offensive enemy engagement and may be the best primary combative option immediately post assessment or post-assessment and cover guarding. When compromised from your rear flanks post the clinch response or to employ tactical assessment from a neutral or front stance turn and tuck your chin into your inner shoulder protecting your jaw and throat. From a front stance employ this on the open stance side for maximum stability maintenance. From a neutral stance you can turn to either side for assessment.
Simultaneously with your over shoulder assessment raise your cover guarding arm on the assessment side. Your arm will be raised directly up and your hand will Clasp and cover the nape of your neck from number-one cervical vertebrae downwards.
Rear flank cover guard and assessment and leg stamp
You can adjust your stance from here for increased stability and enemy resistance. Pivoting your boots to the assessment side simultaneously the cover guard will provide increased rear flank safety during assessment and fast mapping on the move during enemy alignment and counteroffensive employments. Your cover guarding arm can provide both cover for your back and cover and deflection for your frontal bodily targets. Deflection is achieved simply by maintaining your secured cover of the nape of the neck and employing your elbow and inner forearm in a short inwards deflecting and immediate retracted movement to deflect the travel of the striking arm. Counter offensively from the rear cover guard position stamp kicks or close range elbow or hand edge strikes can be employed. Offensive 180° swivel pivot manoeuvres can alternately be employed combining counter offensive target clearance and continued unarmed offensive engagement. The master boot and hand skills post swivel pivot manoeuvre include the axe kick and flat hand, means fork finger attacks to the eyes, Palm heel and elbow strikes.
Rear flank clearing swivel guard and axe kick counter offensive
Unarmed Offensive Assault Guarding
From a front side all rear cover guard the role of employing offensive actions a simple. When one arm and hand is employed to strike the other is actively locked in place guarding.
Direct line cover guarding check points.
Your arm or arms will always expediently travel from point A the front or side guard to point B the specific cover guard position in a direct line of travel making and or maintaining bodily contact.
From a front guard to a cover guard both forearms maintain tight outer body line travel and contact to the cover guard position with both hands secured on the highest as part of the skull above the ears.
From a neutral stance and guard to a front cover guard likewise both forearms will maintain body contact from your sides to the cover guard status above your ears.
From a side guard the lead non-master guarding arm in-line with the centre line of your side of your body as in the seam down the side of your leg of your trousers raises in a straight-line up and your hand is positioned to protect the nape of your neck.
Neutral and front guard to a cover guard
From a side guard and neutral side cover guard
This may well be employed simultaneously with the flinch response or continued crouch.
Summary
Stances and guards should provide a combination of stability and ready mobility easily adjusted to achieve higher levels of stability or expedient deep movement.
The guarding arm or arms should provide a safe distance between the hands and your facial delicate vitals to avoid self-injury.
The cover guard angle and range should make enemy breaching of the guard difficult either round house straight-line or uppercut.
The front guard prior to any actions on encounter with your arms at 45 degrees provides maximum safety without the risk of either outstretching your arms and showing your reach or providing an easy opportunity for your enemy to seize and secure your wrists or on the opposite end of the scale having your hands too close to your own face.
From the front guard position retracting the handle hands to a secure cover guard should be able to be employed with minimal travel expediently and should on incoming threat recognition allow time to retract to the cover guard before the strike can penetrate the retracting guard and contact with the target.
Combining the clinch response with continued crouching to a position of reduce target mass combined with your guard retracting to a cover guard position will provide maximum safety and a simple proven single method of cover guarding or deflecting strikes.
From the crouched cover guard status kicks can be easily combated with lead leg stamp, counter or combat a kick with a stamp kick if evasion is not possible.
