The Chin Jab

The chin jab is one type of palm heel strike that goes back to the simple and effective techniques taught by Applegate and Fairbairn. It doesn’t take a lot of skill or accuracy to perform, and it is simple to learn, making it an ideal technique to teach for combat or self-defense. It’s a staple of modern Combatives as taught by instructors such as Kelly McCann. The palm heel strike is one of the basic strikes I teach in my Active Shooter/Threat Response and Self-defense courses, and the “Chin Jab” is one of the effective variations of that strike. Add it to your tool box.

Because I was fortunate enough to get to meet and talk a while with Col. Rex Applegate in the 90s, I want to share his description of the chin jab from his classic book Kill Or Get Killed:

The Chin Jab. Knockout blows delivered to the chin b the fist may not only be ineffective, they also present the danger of a dislocated finger or knuckle, or a cut from the opponent’s bony facial structure. The use of the fist has another shortcoming; that it does not concentrate the force of the blow sufficiently. Any part of the anatomy will collapse if it is struck many times in one place; but the average individual cannot use the fist effectively enough to do great damage in a single blow. The novice should limit the use of his fists to such soft, vulnerable areas as the stomach, groin and kidneys, and rely on other types of blows for other parts of the body.

The extremely effective chin jab is so called because it is used principally in the chin area. It must be delivered up and under the chin with the heel of the palm, fingers extended and spread for palm rigidity. The more directly underneath the chin the blow falls, the more power it will pack. It is executed with a stiff, locked wrist and a bent elbow; and a great deal of upward body force can be utilized at the time of impact. The further forward the chin is extended at the time of the blow, the more devastating the result. If a knee thrust to the testicles or groin is used in connection with the chin jab, the body will be automatically bend forward, leaving a perfect setup for this particular blow. It results in unconsciousness and possible neck fracture, if delivered with sufficient force.

The arm, or hand, does not have to be drawn back in beginning execution of the blow. It can be hanging at the side, fingers hooked in belt, hand resting on a lapel, or in any other nonchalant position. An average man can cause a knockout with only six inches of traveling distance from the start of the blow to the point of impact. The element of surprise is most useful in close quarters, where time, space, or circumstances do not allow the hand and arm to be withdrawn for a long haymaker. A neck fracture can be caused by gripping an opponent’s belt with the left hand and jerking him forward, at the moment of impact with the right. It is also desirable to use the fingers of the striking hand on the eyes following the blow. The heel of the hand also can be used to strike a stunning blow at the base of the skull.

As Col. Applegate described, your arm is bent, making this an in-fighting palm heel, thrown when up close to your opponent. The strike comes up from below your opponent’s field of vision, making it harder to defend against when the opening is available, and allowing you to drive upward and forward with your body to get your weight into the blow. Your goal is to knock the attacker’s head off. When I’m teaching in different states, I tell people to knock his head up to Montana, and I’ll ship it back to them when I get home if they want it and pay for shipping. The blow has a good chance of knocking the attacker unconscious, which is caused when the brain bounces around inside the skull, causing a concussion. There is also the possibility of causing injury to the neck and spinal cord. Because of this, it should only be used to defend yourself when you believe you will be seriously hurt or killed if you don’t. You should always attempt to avoid going physical if you can. A fight not entered is a fight won. You are not hurt and safe, that is the most important thing.

The chin jab can be an effective pre-emptive strike when you know there’s no way out of a situation without using physical force. If an aggressor is in your face and you believe he is about to physically hurt you, driving a chin jab up under his chin may be the perfect technique to allow you to then escape to safety. To use it pre-emptively, it is best launched with surprise from close quarters from a neutral ready stance like the “Jack Benny.”

The chin jab is an effective variation of the palm heel strike, and one you should have in your tool box. Practice launching this blow with explosive power from different positions. You will be glad to have it when it is the tool you need to stay safe.