10.) "IF YOU SLAP BOTH OF YOUR OPPONENT’S EARS, THE AIR PRESSURE WILL KILL HIM!":
Supposedly, if you were to cup both hands and slam them over someone’s ears, the trapped air would burst both eardrums and rupture the cerebral cortex, resulting in massive hemorrhaging and death. This will not happen. It is possible that one (or both) of the eardrums will indeed burst in the event this strike were delivered properly, which would result in partial (or total) deafness, some minor bleeding, and a great deal of pain. In some instances unconsciousness could result, but death would be highly unlikely. This strike is difficult to implement due to the fact that both ears must be struck simultaneously and accurately — such a move would be simple to block and would leave one wide open for a counter-attack. It would be far more practical to attack a single ear if the opportunity presented itself. This move is best implemented in a grappling situation.
11.) "THE VULCAN NERVE PINCH REALLY WORKS!":If you were to tightly squeeze a weak person’s trapezius muscle near where the shoulder connects with the neck, they would likely wince in pain and beg for you to stop. If you have strong hands and were able to dig your fingertips into the brachial nerve, the arm on that side might even go numb. If, however, you were to try such a move on a man with above average muscular development, he would probably laugh in your face before slapping you upside the head. This move will not work on persons with firm muscles or a high pain tolerance — which excludes all potential attackers except grade-school bullies and surly nursing home residents! If you try to use this move in a fight you truly deserve to get your ass kicked.
12.) "IF SOMEONE GRABS YOU FROM BEHIND, JUST STOMP ON THEIR FOOT AND THEY’LL LET YOU GO!":Many "self-defense manuals" allege that the metatarsals above the arch of the foot are easily crushed by a stomping blow and the pain will make your attacker instantly release you . . . this is nonsense. If you are wearing rubber-soled sneakers or a pair of loafers, the potential impact of any kick will be significantly cushioned. If, however, you were wearing heavy boots with stacked heels, and your attacker was only wearing sandals, this move could prove quite effective. Unless you are wearing proper footwear and really know how to stomp hard, your assailant will probably ignore your struggling.
13.) "JUST KICK ‘EM WHERE IT HURTS!":A kick to the groin can stop a fight when properly applied, but it is very difficult to hit the testicles of a moving target with a standard snap-kick. Furthermore, most men will diligently guard this area, as they’ll instinctively expect an attack there — especially when confronting a woman. Not only are the testicles a relatively small target, but kicks (as well as knee strikes) are easily blocked by a simple shifting of the hips. When you strike the testicles, there is usually a delay of several seconds before the pain begins to be felt — and the same amount of pain that might curl one man up on the floor whimpering will throw another man into a murderous rage. The groin is best attacked by knee strikes, shin strikes, and hand attacks (and can be struck from the rear as well).
14.) "IF YOU JAM YOUR THUMBS INTO A MAN’S ARMPITS YOU CAN KNOCK HIM OUT!":
Many years ago, a woman was accosted by a deviate who decided to grab her. As she struggled to free herself, she pushed him away by shoving her hands up under his arms — and for some unknown reason he suddenly passed out. She called the police, who arrested him, and the newspapers reported her account of the incident. Soon afterwards, a few self-defense manuals began advising people to attack the "pressure points" in the armpits for similar results. Although there are blood vessels, lymph nodes, and nerve clusters there, it is unlikely that an attack to this area would be anything more than uncomfortable (unless delivered with a knife). Do not expect someone to pass out just because you poked them in the armpits.
15.) "A SPINNING KICK TO THE HEAD WILL LAY OUT NEARLY ANYONE!":
I agree . . . nearly anyone who attempts a high kick to an adversary’s head in a real fight can reasonably expect to get knocked on their ass. High kicks are slower (and weaker) than any other attack and are easily blocked — even by an amateur. Most people would simply grab your ankle and kick you in the groin. Many expert martial artists who are capable of firing off fast, powerful, and accurate kicks to an opponent’s head in competition have stated that they would never use high kicks in an actual fight — in the movies, they jump off trampolines and kick at stuntmen who are paid to fall down. Never attempt a kick to your opponent’s head unless he’s already been knocked to the ground.
16.) "THE DEVASTATING FLYING SIDE KICK WILL DROP ANY OPPONENT!":
A properly executed flying side kick (with a running start) generates an incredible amount of force. It is one of the few attacks that can literally blow a man off his feet, and can easily crack several ribs at once; however, your intent to execute this move will be telegraphed to your opponent quicker than if you chose to use a haymaker with full roundup (a wild punch commonly seen among drunkards lacking formal martial arts training). As you are charging at your opponent and begin your leap, even an untrained fighter will instinctively step out of the way or attempt to defect your attack with some sort of haphazard blocking — and he will have plenty of time to do so. The flying side kick, an impressive technique favored by Hollywood directors (as well as students of savate and tae kwon do), is best implemented versus an inebriated opponent from behind, with your target of choice being the middle of the spine.
17.) "THE HEADBUTT IS ONE OF THE MOST POWERFUL WEAPONS IN YOUR ARSENAL!":True, the headbutt can do an incredible amount of damage to an opponent due to the fact that the cranium is quite solid and this attack usually is a complete surprise, however, it is often used incorrectly, sometimes resulting in injury to the initiator. An untrained fighter may attempt to charge an opponent head-first, intending to drive the top of his head into his opponent’s solar plexus as if he were engaged in a game of rugby — this highly telegraphed move puts one at extreme risk of receiving a boot in the teeth. Other types of improperly executed headbutts can result in concussion, neck injuries, or even a fractured skull, all of which could have serious complications. In order to be most effective, the headbutt must be directed at the face of an opponent, with the intent being to crush the nose and cause momentary disorientation (the neck should be kept stiff, and one should push off with the legs). Headbutts are best delivered with the back of the head versus an attacker grasping one from behind.
18.) "IT IS A SIMPLE MATTER TO SNAP AN OPPONENT’S NECK!":It is true that there are about a half-dozen different ways to snap a man’s neck (with the likely result being paralysis or death), but the majority of these methods require a surprise attack from behind (after first having engaged in plenty of practice). Neck breaking techniques are best implemented by a very strong man versus a much weaker adversary who is struggling helplessly, otherwise they are extremely difficult to perform. Neck snaps are typically a "finishing move" used on a fallen opponent who is either unconscious or too exhausted to defend himself, hence, they have no reasonable application to the study of self-defense. In our society, performing a finishing move on a helpless individual is known as "murder," and carries stiff penalties.
