I would like you to think for a moment about your opponents. Note how they do not breath, they do not feel pain, they do not tire and they will only die with destruction of the brain. Facing these undead is unlike any fighting you've done in the past, or is it? The most efficient combat against humans is based around pain and distraction, two things that will not phase the undead. However there are advantages and training that can come in useful. Zombies do not think, they will not fight back; they will not maneuver, flank or use kung fu or cheap tricks. This makes fighting them not necessarily more difficult but simply different.
This sort of fighting is called zombat. It is the art of engaging in combat with zombies. When in zombat you must think in a different way than when facing a normal opponent. Everything about hand-to-hand fighting changes when facing the undead and many who try to engage in combat against these foreign creatures end up joining the ranks of the recently turned themselves.
Many modern styles of combat can still be used against the undead. Focus on forms that remove the opponent from your own space and put distance between you. Or styles which focus on defense and not letting the opponent touch you. Styles such as Judo and Aikido. These styles are readily available to study and both focus on controlling your opponent's body in order to protect yourself. Avoid boxing, karate or similar striking styles: the reason for this is they focus on knocking out or disabling an opponent with blows. Unless you have the strength and toughness to smash bone -namely, a skull- with your bare hands, these techniques will do little for you when facing the undead.
Note that to kill a zombie in hand-to-hand combat is not complicated but will require a level of competence and brutality very people are not capable of. This will change as time progresses but right now you must prepare on how to survive the first few weeks and the experience needed to actually kill the undead will come if you can survive long enough to earn it.
Below are described some basics which may help you get started in your training.
Basic Stance:
- Face forward, maintaining a straight posture with your upper body. Keep your shoulders square. Feet lightly wider than your shoulders.
- Place one leg forward about six inches, bending the knee slightly.
- Place the other leg about a foot and a half back, keeping it straight. Think of riding a motorcycle, that is how much room should be between your feet.
- Be sure both feet face forward and both heels touch the floor.
- Distribute about 60 percent of your weight over the front foot; 40 percent over the back foot.
- Arms at your sides with elbows bent slightly. Hands open and loose.
Label grab defense:
This defense is can be used if a zombie has grabbed you with both arms on your torso.
- Immediately grab one of the zombie's hands on your body with your opposite hand. Do this by reaching across your body over the top of both the attacker's arms. Place your palm on top of the back of the zombie's hand. It doesn't matter which hand you use if the zombie is holding you with both hands. You just have to make sure you are grabbing the hand on the opposite side of your body.
- Throw your other arm completely over the top of the zombie’s hands the other way. At the same time step back and turn your body sideways by moving your back leg backward. You will be pivoting your body on your front leg. Keep throwing your arm over until the hand you are holding is under your arm pit.
- Snap your body downward with all your weight. You must do this at the exact moment the zombie’s hand that you are holding is at a right angle to the ground. To do this throw both of your legs out while keeping a firm grip on the zombie’s hand.
- Slide your rear foot backward as you come down on the zombie's wrist. Sliding backward pulls the zombie off balance and focuses the impact on the wrist. If you do this in a fast, snapping motion the zombie's wrist will break and it will fall to the ground.
- Quickly get up and move away from the downed zombie.
Harvesting:
When a zombie is moving toward you from the front you can use this defense. Note it is easiest to perform if you move your first leg as the zombie moves its same leg (your left and its left for example.)
- Place both of you arms to one side of your body, outstretched downward. As the zombie moves within arms’ reach slide your back foot forward in a large circular motion to make your opposite foot the back foot and bring your arms up in a circular motion above your head and to the same position on the other side of your body.
- Your leading hand should make contact with the arms of the zombie and continuing the circle will push them aside. Your back hand will make contact with the zombie’s head; grab the side of the head firmly to avoid it turning to take a bite.
- Continue the circle by moving your opposite foot which is now the back foot backward to bring your entire body 180 degrese. Continue the circle with your arms. When you are reaching the end of the circle the zombie should be falling of their own weight and momentum, you can help this along by giving a final push with the hand grasping its head. Be careful not to hold onto the head too long or you will be pulled down with the zombie.
- Once the zombie is on the ground quickly move away from the downed zombie.
Grasp escape:
This defense can be use if a zombie grabs one of your forearms with its same side arm (your left forearm with its right arm.)
- Immediately position yourself so both of your hands are in front of your ki. Do this by touching your thumbs and pointer fingers together in the shape of a diamond. Then touch your thumbs to your belly button. Move your hands about four inches out from your body. This is roughly where your ki is (practice this and make sure to find your ki as it is important in any fighting style.)
- Once in your ki, move the foot furthest from the zombie backward along the ground until you are back to back with the zombie. Do this quickly and forcefully, never letting your hands leave your ki. This will break the zombie’s grip on you.
- Once facing away from the zombie quickly move away.
This technique is the starting point for a great number of techniques that can be used to knock over or destroy the zombie threatening you. Provided examples of each.
To knock down:
- Once stopped behind the zombie continue to move your upper body and slam your elbow into the zombie’s back, knocking it off balance.
- As soon as you have your balance, shoot out your pivoting foot to hit the zombie in the knee. This will knock the zombie over and with enough force break its knee.
To kill:
- Before the zombie is forced to let go of you, spin your moving leg and matching arm (left leg with left arm) in a circle to hit the zombie in the back with your foot and elbow.
- As soon as you make contact with the zombie’s back move the sliding foot back forward so you and the zombie are now spinning toward each other.
- As you come around slam your elbow into the zombie’s forehead. This entire move must be done quickly and with extreme force. It will snap the zombie’s head back and break its neck. This maneuver does not require an extreme amount of strength but is more difficult then it appears and must be done with a lot of momentum.
This can be done alternatively to knock the zombie down:
- When slamming your elbow into the zombie, hit it in the chest to knock it onto its back. This maneuver does not require an extreme amount of strength but is more difficult then it appears and must be done with a lot of momentum.
These are only a few examples of ways to use this technique. Of course avoiding being grabbed by a zombie is ideal but for situations when it does happen this technique will turn certain death into a variety of possibilities.
If you notice the key point of all of these techniques is the quick removal of you from the threat instead of removing or destroying the threat. Look for tactics like these when training for zombat. If the maneuver keeps you clear of the opponent’s mouth and gets you away from them then it is worth learning. If the maneuver is based on pain or harming your opponent pass on it, you may have to use these when facing raiders or bandits but the key threat of the zombie apocalypse, is zombies.
Be prepared, may the infection never reach you, and those close to you have the resolve to do what is needed should you be so unfortunate,
Mike D.
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