Ear Slap Partner Drill

The ear slap partner drill is demonstrating "how-to" use a simple household item as a prop to quickly facilitate learning this
self defense move/strike.

Shown here is an empty common gallon container with a built in handle. This makes an excellent Training Tool. I added the face to the container with ears to make this exercise more fun.

Using a mirror to self monitor yourself while hitting your hand is great way to begin learning this skill, but using a prop will help lock in the motor movement.

Using a training prop in this Ear Slap Partner Drill will allow you to begin judging both distance and timing.

The partner holding the container should extend their arm out and away from themselves. The target gallon container should be held slightly higher than the striking partner's head as they slap/ strike the sides of the container.

The striking partner should begin by using one hand and advance to alternating the strikes with both hands. The idea is to learn to be comfortable with either hand.

The partner holding the target prop should keep the container a safe distance away from their body.

Safety First!

The partner slapping the container should be holding their arms up in front, bent at the elbows about shoulder width and palms facing the attacker. (Remember the "soft guard"position)

Keep your elbows close to your body and use a rocking motion to generate striking power. No wide arcing swings!

Advance Ear Slap Partner Drill:

How to safely practice the Ear Slap Technique
without the training prop.

Remembering that Partner Drills are noncompetitive, and the safety protocol for all the drills is to only move at slow to moderate speed, here is another way to safely train without the use of a training prop.

Face off with your partner at arm's length. One parter will be designated as the attacker, and on cue grab the other. The moment the attacker grabs the other partner, that person will step into the attacker and execute at slow speed, an Ear Slap technique to the shoulder area only!

Note: Try wearing a heavy jacket to cushion the slap if you are practicing at moderate speed. Speed is not important at this time. There is no surprise in partner drills. This physical skill works better when faced with an actual assault because your body produces adrenalin. Adrenalin is your friend. This hormone will help you increase your strength and prepare you to deal with the attack.

After practicing this skill from a stationary position, try moving around each other. Again, at slow speed the person being grabbed should move into the attacker and use the hand nearest a shoulder as a target to strike.

Distance, timing and coordination are accomplished with these drills. Learning to track the designated target (shoulder or gallon container) should be getting easier, so let us now move on to a lower body technique.

You think you know everything you need to know about a Knee Kick? Think again! Becky and I will now share everything we have been teaching for the last 20 years about this skill.

A Knee Kick is not always the best self defense move. You will learn that the closest target of opportunity may be the ears, eyes, or nose. After a good strike to the head area, the opportunity to use this powerful kick can make the difference in your personal safety.

Let's now go on to Knee Kick Training.

Ear Slap Partner Drill | Ear Slap Instruction | Self Defense Moves |
| WITS (Whatever It Takes) Link/ Self Defense DVD |