[LMB] Arms

[Raye Johnsen]

--- Jim Parish <jparish at siue.edu> wrote:

> All right, this is something that has bugged me for
> a long time.
> 
> There is a passage in _Shards of Honor_ that really
> derails my 
> suspension of disbelief; I simply can't make myself
> believe it's possible, 
> which is unfortunate, because it's a climactic
> moment.
> 
> "She lunged, wrapping the belt around the doctor's
> throat, yanking her 
> arms up behind her back, securing them painfully
> with the other end of 
> the belt. Mehta emitted a strangled squeak."
> 
> Would anyone care to explain to me how anyone but a
> quaddie could 
> do all of that, with the required speed, to an
> unwilling victim, no matter 
> how startled by the initial attack?

Well, this's how *I'd* do it:

1. Stretch belt between hands
2. Rush at victim, aiming belt so it hits throat on
initial pass; this will a) distract victim, b) slow
*their* reaction time and c) place their elbows in a
grabbable position as they reach up to the belt to try
to loosen it; it will also save time as I don't have
to readjust the weapon later
3. As I move alongside and behind victim, transfer
belt ends to far hand; use near hand to snag nearest
elbow of victim, pull forearm behind and the victim's
wrist up to their nape, using momentum from the rush
4. Transfer belt ends to hand holding snagged wrist
5. Use free hand to capture and pull victim's free
hand up to their nape
6. Tie victim's wrists together with belt.

The key is, of course, the initial rush; it must be
*fast*.  You need enough speed to make the belt hit
with enough force to cause loss of breath and pain,
which will immediately put the victim at a
disadvantage, and give you enough momentum to force
the initial arm capture.  You don't necessarily have
to be big to do this manoeuvre if you can generate the
speed to translate into the necessary force; however,
if you are *not* fast it won't work.

It also will help if you appear docile and helpless
prior to enacting the move.  It takes time for people
to process threats, especially from sources previously
classified as harmless.  The 'huh?' reaction, coupled
with the necessary speed, is what ensures success
here.

Raye, who actually learned how to do this manoeuvre in
a self-defence class

raye_j at yahoo.com
livejournal: http://windtear.livejournal.com
http://www.thejohnsens.com/index.html

"It 'went away'?  'I dwell in darkness without you'
and it WENT AWAY?"
  -- Sorcha, 'Willow'

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