Your training partner will love you for strapping a pair of these on!
I originally set out to post this as a gag, but the more I think about it the more I like the Strong Arm / Ulnar Press. The video is laughable (so help me if I ever see kick defenses like this!), but I think the Strong Arm is a great idea for law enforcement.
Stay with me, but I’m going to attempt to draw a parallel to Krav Maga…
From What is the Strong Arm?:
The Strong Arm is a device which covers the forearm and has one rigid rod along the ulnar side of the forearm. This device, while allowing the user to parry many types of stick attacks, has [the] primary objective to help in the control of resisting individuals.
The Strong Arm is billed as filling “a void between empty-handed techniques and intermediate weapons… This gap needed to be filled by a device that was not only simple, but easy to learn and of a use so natural that [its] effectiveness would not be diminished under stress.” I hope this sounds very familiar.
Aside from its intended use in compliance techniques (not something at all emphasized in our civilian version of Krav Maga), these things would nicely augment many of our self-defense techniques (i.e. those made from an unprepared position of disadvantage). The two that immediately come to mind are 360° Defenses and Reflexive Defense against a High Round Kick. These techniques are also two of the most high-impact defenses that no one enjoys training, much less imagining performing at full force. The Strong Arm would certainly provide added protection in our edged weapon and blunt object defenses as well.
The danger I see, though, is that someone wearing these might rely on the Strong Arm over actual self-defense techniques to protect himself/herself against an attack. Even with a reinforced ulna, I dare anyone to purposely take a full-on swing of an aluminum baseball bat at the end of its stroke! The Krav Maga Stick Defense against Baseball Bat Swing (Horizontal Swing) is based on a natural flinch response and is far more safe and effective than merely blocking. But, if you’re late in your defense, it sure would be nice to not have shattered forearms! The other danger is that by training to always defend with your forearms, you’ll do it whether you’re wearing the Strong Arm or not. Ouch.
In summary, awesome idea, but not a replacement for Krav Maga!
FInally, here’s a better demo:
By the way, they’re a hundred bucks.
This is not intended as a review nor an endorsement of the Strong Arm. Just some quasi-interesting blather attempting to relate two of my passions: Krav Maga and ogling gear. This post is, however, an unsolicited endorsement of Krav Maga.
Questions? Comments? Post 'em Here!