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While we all hope that when the time comes to combat the undead we can do so at a distance, there may be times when distance is a luxury that we do not have. It is at these close distances that we must rely on close combat techniques, and perhaps a little bit of luck, to save alive.

In this article I would like to bring forth the idea that those aware of the threat of the undead should work towards creating a group that practices hand to hand combat and other techniques, such as knife fighting or how to use your primary firearm as a blunt weapon, may save your life.

Those of us that practice martial arts can look at this as and refine those techniques, and train other, where we can quickly free ourselves or throw our opponent off balance and to the ground. While it may seem practical to train in only techniques that we can use to gain leverage to neutralize or eliminate the zombie, one’s main concern when engaging the undead at biting range is to get away and get distance without being bitten. For encounters where we are surprised at close range without a weapon, a good possibility if you are away from you home during the beginning of an outbreak, training to simple shove the zombie away is plenty good to keep your skin in one piece. Also training and cross training in other techniques and styles not only give you a large selection of techniques to choose from but also training, martial art training in particular, also helps increase endurance, strength, and most of all mental and physical discipline.

However, before you go running off to start your training there are a few considerations that you need to take into account.

  • Firstly, zombies feel no pain. Training and trying to use techniques to soften up, or distract them from their primary objective, your flesh, will do no good and are wasted effort.
  • Secondly, avoid the fancy stuff. If you see it in a movie, chances are it is stylized and useless in actually application, though there are times where this is not true, but beware nonetheless. If you are looking for good, simplistic and brutally effective style for all look to Krav Maga, the Israeli defensive combat system. It will need some modification for combating zombies but the system was designed for easy of learning and to allow young and old to use it effectively.
  • Lastly, train, train, and train some more. They technique is no good if you never do. The moves must be instantaneous with no hesitation or thought.