Kung Fu, 8 Smart Self-Defence Techniques You Must Know, Vedant J. Maheshwari, Panoma Press 2022

Subways, bars, parking lots, crowded parks, lonely stretches of dark streets - they are all danger spots now.  Although most of us didn't grow up learning basic self-defense moves, the whole idea of not being struck down or thrown onto the tracks is sounding more and more important.  Why go to the gym to build muscle strength if you're no match for a crazed violent druggie?  Its nuts.

"The best defence is to be invisible.  If you cannot be,  learn Wing Chun,"  Sigong Wong Shun Leung

So here we have a compact, well-written and detailed guide to developing some defensive awareness along with basic defense moves.  Starting with the chapter "Forms in Kung Fu" (page 58),  the author breaks down the kung fu mindset to eight movements, starting with -

Section 1:  4 (of 8) movements

1.  Cross hands down

2.  Cross hands up

3.  Separate hands

4.  Bring them back

Punches

Following the eight movements, the author's eighth next chapter takes us to punches - punches to the nose, punches to the neck, punches to the liver, punches to the solar plexus, punches to the groin, and finally, "one of the most vital methods of punching:  the straight punch, also known as the Wing Chun punch."

Learning this punch is initially confusing, however, according to Maheshwari, for many martial artists because it feels unnatural...The Wing Chun punch uses a vertical fist.  A vertical fist means that the knuckles are aligned vertically with the body (parallel , as if you're holding a bottle in front of you upwards ), whereas most other punches from boxing or martial arts are horizontal to the body (perpendicular).  Having a vertical fist helps keep the punch straight.   

The next chapter, * Self-defence Techniques," is my out-and-out favorite - this chapter addresses the kinds of challenges ordinary non-Bruce Lee type citizens might encounter.  This one chapter is well-illustrated and the moves are easy to remember. - many of the prescribed defensive movements come from the hands and arms.  So get ready.

    1.  Defending against the wrist grab

    2.  Defending against a slap or swinging punch to the head

    3.  Defending against a straight punch to the face

    4.  Defending when grabbed by the shoulders from in front

    5.  Defending from a punch to the stomach.

    6.  Defending when being pulled by the hair from behind

    7   Defending when grabbed from behind.

    8.  Defending when lifted from behind.

The Mill Girl wishes she had been better prepared for numbers 2 and 5.  Now, with the addition of strength training and good balance, ordinary citizens might have a chance, particularly if running is no longer your forte!

Patricia E. Moody

FORTUNE magazine  "Pioneering Woman in Mfg" 

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A Mill Girl at Blue Heron Journal, on-line resource for business thought-leaders and decision-makers,  patriciaemoody@gmail.com