Forearm smashes

Joined : 30 Aug 2007 Posts : 47

Hi. I was playing around with forearm smashes in training yesterday and they seem pretty powerful. Has anyone used them for real? What are the pros and cons?
Regards,
Rupert

Subject: Re: Forearm smashes Thu Jun 19, 2008 10:13 am

Hi Rupert

I have never used the forearm but it occurs to me that if you can strike with the forearm you most likely land an elbow, in close elbows are devastating and quickly open up enough space to let you get your hands working.

Alan

Subject: Re: Forearm smashes Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:13 am

Hi Rupert,
Elbow/Forearm smashes can indeed generate ample power BUT...

For me, they are rather impotent in the stand-up and clinch phases of combat. Why? Because the opportunities to utilize them in these phases are very fleeting and expose you to being taken down more easily (as the elbows/forearms serve as barriers along with the hands, chest, and hips, for takedown defense). Sure, once-in-a-blue moon they can wreck some damage but, for the most part, all they do are cause cuts which, superficially look bad, but don't cause any real damage in fights (unless, of course, your adversary is weak-willed and cowers at the sight of blood or it's a sport match where a referee/doctor stops it).

In my experiences, elbows/forearms are best reserved for and used during ground fighting. I have found them VERY potent in this phase of combat as the ground effectively serves as a stabilizing platform to land substantial shots that do more than lacerate opponents.

On a side note, Geoff Thompson and Bas Rutten feel the same way about the elbows/forearms too. In fact, they think less of elbows/forearms than I do.

While they are in my toolbox, I consider elbows/forearms as secondary, "support system" tools.

Here's something you can do to see what I mean; watch lots of MMA and full-on muay Thai matches, where elbow/forearm strikes are allowed, and you'll see that many others with far more experience than I have come to the same conclusion. You won't see many elbows/forearms, let alone effective ones, thrown during stand-up and clinch phases. Instead, you'll see a vast majority of MMA fighters (as muay Thai doesn't allow ground fighting) use them with devastating effect on the ground as they employ the "ground-n'-pound" tactic.

Now, don't take what I or anybody else says as gospel. Take what anyone say as food for thought and action because there are people on the other side of the spectrum from me who love elbows/forearms and have made them work in all phases. With that, and I say this often, the only way you'll find out if they really work FOR YOU is to pressure test them against a variety of fully-resisting opponents. Only then, will you truly know if they are for you.

Take Care,
Lito
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Subject: Re: Forearm smashes Thu Jun 19, 2008 11:47 am

I did a lot when I was doing some catch wrestling .. there's a place for them

Joined : 07 Nov 2007 Posts : 75

I'd do some of that catch wrestling too, but with my luck, the only thing I'd catch would be a staph infection. Wink

On another note, are you guys talking about striking with the inside edge of the forearm along the side of the neck, or is this sort of a Football/Rugby type blocking strike. I've seen some old, mean looking Filipino guys break baseball bats with the former. As for the latter, as a kid, I once ran into an elbow type smash to the eye socket playing "Smear the Queer," and as I recall it smarted pretty good.

Joined : 11 Apr 2008 Posts : 25 Location : South Wales, UK

Forearm strikes are very powerful and I incorporate into training routinely.

Use the top of your arm when striking also, as this is the most muscular part. I regularly instruct students to only use their forearms when training, to develop variation and power in striking.

Try applying a double head strike from behind the opponent, striking to the left side of the jaw with your left forearm and to the right temple area with the right forearm, making sure you turn both forearms inwards on impact

Take Care
Al

Joined : 30 Aug 2007 Posts : 47

Interesting ideas, thanks guys!

Subject: Re: Forearm smashes Fri Jun 20, 2008 8:38 am

Hi Rusty,
You wrote:

Joined : 07 Nov 2007 Posts : 75

Lito,

I'm not sure if the game is still played. Schools nowadays are so concerned about liability that they pull out their monkey bars, swings and backstops and no longer provide footballs for fear that boys will be boys. I think you'll find "Smear the Queer" in a time capsule right next to the one our fathers buried, containing "Kick the Can."

Joined : 30 Aug 2007 Posts : 47

It´s the same in the UK... British bulldog has been banned in schools all over the country. In this game, everyone had to run from wall to wall, with one guy in the middle. If he caught anyone and lifted them off the ground, they joined him. The game goes on until everyone catches the last guy, who then starts off in the middle.

Admin Joined : 13 Aug 2007 Posts : 176

I'm not sure if the game is still played. Schools nowadays are so concerned about liability that they pull out their monkey bars, swings and backstops and no longer provide footballs for fear that boys will be boys. I think you'll find "Smear the Queer" in a time capsule right next to the one our fathers buried, containing "Kick the Can."

Tell me about it. As a school teacher I can tell you, EVERYTHING has been banned. Even Halloween in most schools! It's now called 'fall festival'

Doesn't stop me though. I take my kids to the gym at recess and teach 'em good old dodgeball. Anyone tells the principal gets hit with a free shot by every kid during the next game Smile

Joined : 01 Sep 2007 Posts : 106

Sounds like all the good games have been barred from schools when i was at her majestys pleasure back in the mid 70's we used to play a game called murder ball two teams one either end of the gym a medicene ball placed in the middle of the gym between the two teams the object of the game was to get the ball and place it on the opposing teams mat which was placed at the end of the hall behind each team the mat was the size of a standard judo mat. There was only one rule get the ball to the mat at any cost as quick as you can. the medicene ball was around 4/5kg. The tough thing about the game was you had no protection everyman for himself including your own team mates it was bloody murder. blood, snot and more blood everyone wanted to be the man to place the ball on the mat.
take care
John

Admin Joined : 13 Aug 2007 Posts : 176

Hmmm...maybe I'll introduce that one for the new school year John. I bet the administration would love it Wink