In our last round, we discussed fighting a larger opponent and strikes. You now know the correct way to both kick and punch. You also know how to combat these strikes and how to get in close. So, there your character is, staring straight into the chest of their opponent. Now what?
What are they giving you?
Look through the eyes of the smaller fighter. Go ahead, step into their skin. While you’re slipping in there, stop thinking about the opponent’s size advantage. Quit thinking about what they are taking from you. Instead, look for what your opponent is giving you.
Getting stabby
You in there? Ok, open your eyes. Right in front of you, perhaps at eye level or within reach depending upon size, are the neck, inner arms and inner thighs (jugular, brachial, femoral arteries). That’s one of the few advantages of fighting a larger opponent. All their vitals are right in your face! Open those points and things will get really colorful. Without appropriate aid, death would occur within 2-30 minutes depending on the severity of the cut. If the attacker continues to fight, death would be quicker as the heart would be going faster. And, point of interest, they may not realize they are cut immediately. Adrenaline is a crazy thing.
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| This is a cool little knife, easy to conceal. However, if you don’t hold it correctly and you stab into something, if you don’t sink it to the end of the blade, nothing will stop your hand from sliding down it. Didn’t even think of that, did you? |
Also vulnerable and available to you are many vital organs. The heart, lungs and a good bit of the liver are behind the ribs. However, the ribs are not hard to get around with a knife that is held correctly, and the liver is a better target anyway. The lower portion is not protected by bone. A laceration of 3cm or more, on occasion less, can lead to dispatch. If you go lower and open the abdomen, dispatch is unavoidable without swift, surgical intervention.
I realize all of these options require a knife. If your goal is not to dispatch, if your character doesn’t have a knife, they can still take the larger opponent to the ground. (I will cover that in a future post.) However, taking someone down doesn’t keep them down. You need to provide for that. Yes, the bigger they are, the harder they fall. But, in my experience, the tougher they are to keep down as well.
Also, bear in mind that agility is easier for small people, but it is not peculiar to them. I recently sparred in jiujitsu with a professional fighter who outweighs me by 100 pounds. (It was like wrestling an anvil.) He was faster than me and completely overwhelmed me. I was able to escape but, without question, he allowed it. At one point, he commented that the match-up was highly unfair. I told him not to worry, I was going to stab him. He said, “how you gonna stab me, I have both your arms?”
At that moment I was sitting back on one knee with the other raised up in a sort of lunge. He was on his back, pushing me away with his knee in my chest, while holding my wrists and pulling me toward him. I was completely helpless. On the battlefield he possibly could have cracked my sternum and dislocated my shoulders at the same time. I tell you that because I cannot stress enough how overwhelming it is to be faced with a competitor of greater size and ability. I can see no way I would have survived him without a weapon. He would have made short work of me…pun intended. 🙂
Oh, by the way, when he asked how I would stab him with both hands secured, I told him that he didn’t want to know. (And in truth, I didn’t know!)
Until the next round at FightWrite.net, remember, serve your story first and foremost. Now, go get some blood your pages.
Ok shorties, take heart. Goliaths still fall. Here is fighter Mackenzie Dern – 5′ 4″, 125ish, taking on Gabi Garcia – 6′ 2″, 265ish. Yes, really. Gabi Garcia is a titan.
It's worth noting that the kind of stabbing attacks you reference were a part of Roman combat training. It's part of the reason why their swords were shorter than their barbarian enemies (the other reason is Romans fought in close formation, allowing little room to swing a long sword). You don't need a very big blade to inflict a fatal stab wound.
Note also in ancient and medieval times that even if a stab to the body cavity didn't kill in the short term, it would usually cause infections infections that would be eventually fatal.
Yes, some warriors in the past have preferred slicing and chopping weapons, but stabbing is very effective. Good post!
It's worth noting that the kind of stabbing attacks you reference were a part of Roman combat training. It's part of the reason why their swords were shorter than their barbarian enemies (the other reason is Romans fought in close formation, allowing little room to swing a long sword). You don't need a very big blade to inflict a fatal stab wound.
Note also in ancient and medieval times that even if a stab to the body cavity didn't kill in the short term, it would usually cause infections infections that would be eventually fatal.
Yes, some warriors in the past have preferred slicing and chopping weapons, but stabbing is very effective. Good post!
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It's a little weird that you posted this article today, when yesterday I used a few of these moves in a scene I wrote! I even used the truly awful strike to the delicate area you mentioned! (It was the scene I told you about.) When I read it to my husband, he cringed and shivered off and on for a bit! This is confirmation for me. I am proud of the scene, but was a little concerned about people's reactions to it. Thanks!
Thank you! I think we often forget the danger in the subsequent infection. And, I'm like you, big blades aren't the best blades. I feel like the shorter ones offer more options and ease of movement.
My next post will be about the perineum stab and I have one on bleeding out as well. 🙂 It is a horrible strike but if your life is on the line then everything is game!
When I was in Renaissance fencing, I often fought with guys who were bigger, stronger, and more experienced than I was. I was, in fact, smaller than most of the women in the group, too. They could muscle through my effort to parry and still get their attack through.
My instructor and I worked out ways to use my puny size to an advantage. Women have a lower center of gravity than men, on average, which means they have the potential to change direction faster. Being a shrimp meant I had an even lower center of gravity than many women. We worked out ways to use evasions (the Spanish style was better for that) and to close the distance so I could get use the stronger part of the blade to parry.
When I stopped trying to play their game, I started doing better.
I love this and believe the philosophy wholeheartedly. Whatever you are, that is your greatest weapon!