Hair and Ears... and Elbows

I don't think we've spent enough time talking about fighting. In modern day Korea they've pretty much discontinued sword fighting even though said sword fights were particularly cinematic to film. The sageuk dramas (historical dramas) featured wonderful fight scenes whereby the good guy could defeat 30 other warriors all while wearing sumptious silk clothes. They could wield those swords while on horseback, on foot, and even jumping from 2-story buildings... definitely a sight to behold when enjoying these Kdramas.

Certainly in modern day Kdramas they have fist-fights and Taekwondo type fights but what I want to focus on is something we, as Americans, could easily adopt. In many Kdramas you see these techniques demonstrated to great advantage and they are used everywhere from department stores, to schools, to police stations, to restaurants. They are suitable for almost any occasion, any sex, and any age! What are these special fighting methods?

First is the Hair Pull. You know, that annoying person at your gym who insists on taking your spot? Well, just reach over & grab a handful of their hair (it seems the crown is the most effective spot to grab) and yank their head back. This will result in an immediate yelp from them but do not relent... continue to pull their hair while they squirm and try to grab your hair. (If they have not seen any Kdramas they may not be aware of this counter measure.) Continue pulling them around until others are forced to intervene and separate you. I think you'll find this a satisfying maneuver and they will probably never pick your spot again. Success.

Very effective use of Hair Pulling shown here.

The other type of fight maneuver is generally reserved for family or close friends. It's the Ear Pull. That son who won't listen to your child-rearing suggestions? Well, grab him firmly by the ear and drag him into the living room so you may give him further instructions. Do not let his squirming or whining deter you. From what I see in Kdramas this technique is especially good if you are smaller or weaker than your opponent. And I have yet to see a victim be able to pull out of the Ear Grab if done correctly. Again, I would say success.

Yep, she's much smaller than him but gains total control with the Ear Pull technique.

Not to let Kdramas be your only source of modern day warfare I also have an American technique that perhaps our Korean readers would enjoy. We could call it the elbow grab. Directly above your opponent's elbow joint is a tender spot that you can grab from behind and squeeze. It's similar to how hitting your funny bone feels and generally encourages compliance on your opponent's part. Again, the trick is to not let go but rather to encourage better behavior with the force of your grip. I have not seen this technique used in Kdramas but feel it would fit in well with their current repertoire of offensive maneuvers.

Another informative and useful blog post by the Gmamas. Aren't you glad you follow us? ~Judy

Personally, my favorite is the forehead flick. I like it so much I did a post on it for this very website! While I’d love to pull some hair and give it a good tug, the person I’m thinking about doing this to probably wears a toupee. This person might even sue me, so I’ll keep this one locked up in my “things I’d love to do but will never have a chance to accomplish” file. ~ Pat