“Up Close & Personal: A Street-Smart Guide to Fighting from the Clinch” with Richard Nance & David Hallford covers an important area of fighting and self-defense. Many fights end up close and personal with one or both combatants entering inside and clinching. In this DVD, self-defense instructors Nance and Hallford teach you how to fight from and win when combat goes to the clinch.
The DVD is produced by Paladin Press, and was filmed in their studio in Colorado. As with other titles in Paladin’s catalog, the lighting, camera angles, sound, and editing are all done very well.
Regarding the instruction by Nance and Hallford, I found it clear, practical, and well taught. It is a good program and I practiced some of the techniques with training partners and found the techniques to be sound. As with most self-defense programs, basic techniques are basic techniques, and you may be familiar with some of what the instructors teach. I was familiar with many of the things taught, but some things were done a bit differently by Nance and Hallford and I enjoyed trying their variations. One very good thing about this program is that it focuses solely on clinch techniques, and it is nice to have such a collection all in one.
After a short introduction, types of clinches are described. From there, the viewer is shown how to get into the clinch both defensively and offensively. Stance and head position are a couple of the things taught in the next chapter on body positioning. From there, the program goes into combative strikes which include various elbow strikes, upper cuts, and headbutts.
The next chapter focuses on the collar tie clinch, which is a neutral type position. Knee strikes are heavily used in this section as well as other places in the program. A simple pin and spin technique is taught from this position as well as an elbow lock ear smash technique. The next couple of chapters describe Overhooks and Underhooks with various techniques and strikes to use from these positions including arm drags, breaking the hooks and an eye gouge takedown.
The Muay Thai Clinch chapter has some simple practical techniques for this excellent infighting position. If you can grab your opponent’s head/neck as the instructors describe for the Muay Thai Clinch, you will be able to pummel him with knees and throw him to the ground. I’ve done similar takedowns in real altercations and liked this chapter for its simplicity and practicality.
After the Muay Thai Clinch, the instructors discuss weapons in the clinch. A short explanation of deadly force is included which, as an attorney and self-defense instructor, I believe is extremely important and often lacking in self-defense programs. The instructors show offensive techniques when armed with both firearm and knife. The instructor believes it is important to have a weapon available on both sides and carries a firearm on his right side and a knife on his left. Basic instruction an employing either weapon in a clinch is taught. A short chapter on weapon retention is also included. This is an important consideration because in a clinch it can be easy for your opponent to take your weapon if you are not aware of this possibility and ensure he can’t get at your weapons.
After teaching you how to employ your weapons, the instructors cover when your opponent is armed and you aren’t. This is a worst case scenario, and the instruction is practical and basic and teaches how to smash your opponent before they draw their weapon. Follow ups such as stomps, kicks, and securing techniques are covered next.
And finally, the last chapter covers some environmental concerns and then has a short conclusion. The entire program is approximately 120 minutes and contains practical instruction with little repetition or filler material. It is a solid program focusing on fighting from the clinch and a very good addition to anyone’s self-defense training library. The techniques are easy to learn and practice with a training partner and will enable you to better defend yourself when things get Up Close & Personal.
