The attack of a person grabbing your shirt or jacket at the chest and using the other hand to punch your face is a common self-defense technique taught in many systems of Martial Arts. Martial Arts instructors typically teach the move by having an assistant hold their single lapel on the Martial Art uniform. In the kenpo system of karate, it is called: Lone Kimono. There are variations of the single lapel grab as the attack could be at the shoulder in Japanese called kata dori (Shoulder Grab). In addition to the different areas of attack at the lapel or shoulder for this move, there is also the idea that the attacker can pull and push with hold of the uniform. Finally, there is the on going problem in this position that as the defender, you need to be aware of the punch with the free hand and/or the kick.
Defending on the discipline that you practice and the level of understanding you have about the timing of this type of attack will determine how you will successfully counter the single lapel grab. Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will have its variation, aikido will have its variation, judo will have its variation and karate will have its variation, etc. What has to be understood in many self-defense demonstration like this where the instructor is starting from a single lapel grab that in a real situation this is already in the middle of the fight. To begin with a person already holding your jacket and ready to punch your face is many moments into a conflict. If someone today were to asked how do you defend against the single lapel grab in self-defense, in my mind I have many answers to counter this type of attack in a Aikido way, Judo way, Jiu Jitsu way, Taiho Jutus way, Combatives way and Kenpo way. Yet, fundamentally speaking, I prefer that I am never grabbed at the lapel in the first place. In this study of grip fighting in Judo, I have spent many years practicing kumi kata (gripping) so have I can dominate my opponent’s lapel first. Further, in self-defense, when a person grabs you, as mentioned, there are many types of things that can happen next which can include being punched. Therefore, as basic as this technique is, the single-lapel or shoulder grab needs to be taken seriously in all Martial Arts. Below are some systems that address the single lapel grab technique. I wish to give some of the basic principles and concepts for the respected Martial Arts styles including: Gracie Jiu Jitsu/Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Aikido, Kenpo Karate and Judo.
Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu (BJJ) – Above is a look at the single lapel grab in a self-defense context. This is the most common variation taught in Gracie Jiu Jitsu curriculums around the world. The Brazilian family Behring Jiu Jitsu has more of a progressive aspect to almost all their self-defense techniques because before the move is performed, both hands come up in a defensive nature. I like this aspect of what the Behring family added to the Gracie Family Jiu Jitsu stand-up aggression techniques. With this being expressed, overall the Gracie Jiu Jitsu single lapel defense is very limited in terms of effectiveness. There is an inherited struggle during this movement to get under the attacker’s bent arm to transition to the back position. There is no use of atemi (striking the attacker) before performing the core technique. Further, there is not an effective use of breaking the attacker’s balance (Kuzushi) at the beginning or throughout this technique. More time is spent on having the defender create a sense of balance, leverage, and use of element execution.
Aikido – Above is a look at the single lapel grab in a self-defense context. In Aikido the single lapel grab is more at the shoulder area in the front. The name of this technique is kata dori. There are 4 or 5 common movement principles that are used in almost all Aikido techniques; this is: Stepping in (Irimi), Turning the body (Tenkan), Stepping & Spinning (Irimi Kaiten), Stepping (fading) back (Tenshin), and Stepping to the side. In the Aikido counter to kata dori above, again, the timing of the technique is already in the middle of the conflict. As you improve this technique will get better and you begin to perform while being grabbed or more so before being grabbed on the lapel or shoulder. Next, atemi (striking the attacker) is used in this technique. This does several things. First, it takes the mind of the attacker and distracts him. Also, your atemi strike addresses the attackers thinking of the punch to your face. Notice that the stepping back Tenshin movement along with the arm press and leg pressure all create a breaking of the attacker’s balance. The outcome is performing an armlock control hold which can be: Control 1 Ikkyo, Control 2 Nikyo, Control 3 Sankyo Control 4 Yonkyo, etc.
Kenpo-Above is a look at the single lapel grab in a self-defense context. In Kenpo Karate this technique has the name of lone kimono and makes use of atemi strikes throughout the technique. Variations of lone kimono are in different Kenpo circles to address a continuum of the technique to bring the attacker to the ground, use of control holds, etc. Overall, the lone kimono technique is used effectively when stepping back away from the attack in a defensive nature thus creating a movement to defense while the attacker grabs, just as he grabs or if the attacker controls the single lapel well. In Kenpo, blocking techniques are striking techniques. They hit or connect in specific locations and in such ways to create more speed to additional techniques of the Kenpoist.
Judo-Above is a look at the single lapel grab in a self-defense context. This video captures one technique for the self-defense form (kata) of Judo developed/influenced by Kenji Tomiki (7th dan Judo, 8th dan Aikido, Professor of Judo at Waseda University) at the Kodokan in 1956 called: Goshin Jutsu no kata. Judo has many techniques to handle the single lapel grab that can be answered with hand techniques, hip techniques, leg techniques, and sacrifice techniques. In the video above, you can see the Aikido influence of the atemi strike and arm control mixed with a Judo lapel gripping fighting strategy.
Shorinji Kempo-Above is a look at the single lapel grab in a self-defense context. This is an honorable mention that I want to showcase to point out some ideas from the Martial Art of Shorinji Kempo which is rooted in Chinese and Japanese styles and today considered a Budo in Japan. In the video above, notice how the Shorinji Kempoist uses hand deflections to stop the lapel grab before it occurs. Also, there is the use of atemi and transitioning into an arm control technique.
In Japan and the Budo Martial Arts such as Judo, Kendo, Karatedo, and Aikido there is the basic strategy of when to attack your opponent. This is called: Go No Sen (After the attack); Sen No Sen (Attack the attack); and Sen Sen No Sen (Taking initiative). A lot of Martial Arts moves are shown and taught to beginners with Go No Sen. If the opponent punches at you, block it and punch the opponent back. This is simple self-defense. The single lapel grab is taught in this way. As a student gets more knowledgeable in understanding the magic of distance, timing, and angles, he or she can be introduced Sen No Sen. If the opponent punches you, move while at the same time punching him. This is the idea of attacking the attack yet winning the exchange. Lastly, Sen Sen No Sen is what all the Budo arts teach as a high ideal. This is not just being able to punch a person in the face. Anyone can punch a person in the face when he or she is not ready. Sen Sen No Sen is under the context and moment that something is going to happen. Yet, to use Sen Sen No Sen, you take the initiative and move first ending the conformation. This is how in kendo (Sword Fighting) one person wins the contest with action with perfect timing and the opponent loses at the moment of thinking to attack; too late, it was over before the first thought or in other words right when the opponent thought to take action. Keep all of this in mind as the information and strategy will be beneficial to counter simple single lapel grab to your chest. And even better understanding conflict while involved in the struggle, blending to such a conflict or avoiding it altogether.
Your Feeling On The Single Lapel Grab Defense (Read & Watch Part II)
To The Reader
The author will be most happy to receive your comments, including criticisms and suggestions. Noteworthy comments may be included in future editions or books on this series.
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– Prof. “little” Tony Pacenski
Yokota Air Base – Tokyo Japan
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