Strange question I know, but are there any styles that actually teach biting in a fight? Biting's considered a girly trick, but it is useful to anyone to be able to fight with all the weapons at their disposal, including unconventional ones. I believe that with teeth as jagged and sharp as mine, I could probably tear off someones finger or rip their jugular with a bit of jaw muscle training. Does anyone practice biting for self defense?
Hi Adam, There's subsystem from the FMA's called Kinomutai (sp?) I believe which specializes in biting, scratching, pinching ect etc. There's some debate as to whether this is a western concept/term for something extracted from Filipino roots or an actual sub-system. Basically I think the argument is pretty similar to the whole Kali/Escrima/Arnis thing... But anyway there you go. As an aside my Grappling coach teaches similar "dirty tricks" as part of his more practical classes (i.e. not sport). I know for certain that judo for instance has lots of hidden tricks i.e. strikes hidden whilst gripping the Gi, pinching etc etc... I don't really know anyone that needs to practice this kind of thing and they are very useful tools for self-defense. In fact my girlfirend seems fairly adept without any formal training. Having said that I did hear of someone in the states trainign with a partner with lumps of raw meat hung around his body that the instructor then bit and tore at... forgot his name now but I'll leave you to make your own judgement. As for jaw training to imporve your bite I guess this could be possible but not sure why you would want to? Makes me wonder if our teeth would be suitably strong enough... Certainly get you a few nicknames I should imagine.. Pitbull... As for calling them unconventional - well- only in terms of Martial Arts. These are the tools that people in a survival situation will use. Its only the trained that think about stylistic responses. Dred
Surely biting is just something that you would do if the opportunity arose - I dont see what specialist training you could do. And if you do rely on biting, then what would happen if the person was wearing a leather jacket but biting was the only escape you knew for getting out a head-lock ? I know Paul Vunak teaches biting, I was on a Matt Thornton seminar and he told a story about when he was 'rolling' with a Vunak student who bit him ... Matt popped up into a knee-mount and knocked his front teeth out ! 'Biting just isnt hygenic in the gym !' Jay
I don't mean biting as a seperate fighting system, it might just be useful to train for extra edge. Biting would be one of the most intimidating attacks available which is always good in a fight. How would you feel if some madman launched out of nowhere and started ripping at your throat with his sharpened teeth? Also, biting can be used in at least one specific case of rape prevental (complying with the rapist, then biting him where it REALLY hurts) and the Mike Tyson Special Move is extremely painful as well as disfiguring I should think.
Errrrr ... quite sore I suppose. Biting is a defensive tool - unless you were already clinched I dont think it would be much use. Running at someone nashing your teeth would be asking to get KTFO And you are scaring me a bit with all these 'sharpened teeth' ... train your style in an alive manner - spar a lot - and then if you ever get in an altercation and someone puts their finger in your mouth ... think 'Oh - there's a bonus !' and bite the f*cker off !! No special moves needed there Jay
Yes, kino mutai. Paul Vunak is highlighting it in his seminars and tapes now. Black Belt Magazine did a cover story on it last year. Big article written by Vunak.
I'm a big fan of biting along with gauging & as mentioned before when gripping the gi or clothes digging knuckles in to where it hurts - i have been told by my instructors that you must use everything you have at your disposal to defend or escape from an attacker, DEFEND being the operative word. If that means biting so be it, if it means striking with a block or a grab then thats fine, if it means digging in to somewhere that hurts - its got to be done. I don't think i'd bite a finger unless........or f**k it yes i would! Yes i train for biting, as for being a girly trick? B*ll*cks........ & you can bite them too!!!!!!
4 weeks ago 1 of my mates got jumped (sh** like this happens all too often) and 1 guy bit him! he had to have a tetinas (bad spelling).
For my purposes (having fun) biting has absolutely no place, but... It's a stupid idea for any purpose IMO, apart from being unhygenic I can see no reason for it. If you are in a situation where your only chance is to bite, I think you'll just make the person that put you in that situation really mad. But as mentioned Vunak sells tapes on it. Roy Harris has apparently been known to bite as well...
For me biting has a place, and that place is when I realise I'm getting completly hammered in a scrap. Been there, done it, theres a guy out there with 3/4 of an ear who doesn't like me much! Col
My jujutsu instructor demonstrated a way to roll someone off your back using only as bite to do so. Believe me, it's effective if you can trap enough nerves and make it really painful for the opponent.
The Burmese Arts Thaing-Bando teach Biting as part of their system. Bite someone and they generally panic, particularly if they have no easy escape. I don't know much about American Teachers like Paul Vunak, but I bit my way out of a situation where a guy was trying to choke me for looking at his Girlfriend in the Chip Shop queue (You should of seen her, she was definitely worth it). Make sure you sink your teeth in and then shake your bite/ mouth, instead of just sinking your teeth in, this removes flesh easier. Only as an absolute last resort though...
I'd say that it all depends on the person. I have a mate who the first 2 things he tries to do in a fight is either squeeze and twist your gonads, or bite you. Nobody seems to want to go anywhere near him! Col
Only as an absolute last resort though... ------------------------------------------------------------------------------- That was me trying to be a responsible adult. Probably failing, but... Having a Rep as a bit of a nutter helps to keep you out of trouble immensely. People will then say 'Look out for him, he's The Biter'. Also shouting loudly in the street about 'The Voices' tends to do the trick an' all.
