Martial Edge special contributer Gene Roos examines the basic combat roll. Gene has some 46 years experience and has published articles, manuals and dvds on Aikido and Jiu Jitsu. Gene has also been a featured writer on FightingArts.com and Akido Journal Online.
Self-defense scenarios shown in most self-defense articles demonstrate successful methods of dealing with an attack from the offset. But in the real world, sometimes you are surprised, or initially overcome before anything can be done. This doesn’t always mean you must ultimately have a negative ending.
A friend of mine has a motivational cartoon prominently displayed in his dojo. In big letters it states “Never Give UP.” It shows a long beaked bird, maybe a heron, which has gobbled up (swallowed) the head of a frog and its upper body. All looks lost. But then you see that at the same time, the frog has its front legs grasped around and is constricting the bird’s neck. Thus, the frog can’t be swallowed. “Touche.”
The mugging situation portrayed here is much the same. It should be noted, however, that the scenario presented here is but one of several options. It is interesting, however, since it illustrates that during an attack, even when the situation looks bad for the defender that the situation can often be turned into a success.
Attacker's right hand grabs the defender's mouth and his left hand is around her waist. (fig 1)
Defender throws her legs and body to the left away from the attacker's body. (fig 2)
Defender's right arm falls on the attacker's right arm. (fig 3)
The defender's body rotates clockwise, which throws the attacker over her body. (fig 4)
Here the mugger has his right arm over the women’s right shoulder and is holding her mouth. At the same time his left arm is around her waist and he is dragging her backwards. The attack looks like a success.
As the defender is grabbed, pulled and lifted, she can lift her left hand over her shoulder to try to hit the attacker’s eyes (not shown). If her feet are still on the ground, she can also stomp on the attacker’s instep or heel kick to the attacker’s leg (not shown). At minimum, these actions work as distractions, so the attacker may momentarily loosen or weaken his grip.
The goal for her is to be able to gain enough freedom of movement so that she can throw her feet up to the left and away from the attacker’s body. This action will disrupt the attack and off balance the attacker. The attacker’s right arm will be extended away from his body, his elbow pointed toward the ground, as he attempts to control the defender’s body. The further away the defender is able to extend her body weight away from the attacker, the weaker his body position will be.
As the attacker’s body is being pulled down (as he trying to regain control over the defender), the defender’s body fall is cushioned (the fall slowed). If done correctly the attacker’s right arm will hit the ground first, thereby in part shielding the defender.
As the defender contacts the ground, she rolls her body clockwise, which causes the attacker to flip over her body and smash face forward on the ground.
Techniques and Tutorials 
Martial Edge special contributer Gene Roos examines the basic combat roll. Gene has some 46 years experience and has published articles, manuals and dvds on Aikido and 
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