In Without Remorse, the film adaptation of Tom Clancy's novel, Michael B. Jordan plays John Clark, an elite Navy SEAL, in order to avenge the murder of his wife, but he soon gets caught up in a conspiracy that threatens to take his own life .
On screen, Clark relies on a combination of powerful weapons and explosions to eliminate the bad guys, just as you'd rightly expect from a Clancy-based thriller, but aside from the fantasy elements, there are some surprising nuances to reality . In the film, now on Amazon Prime Video, the cast and crew are determined to present a realistic depiction of the battle. In addition to the acute attention to detail focused on using weapon training and gathering information, these throbbing melee sequences are also based on the fact that anything is possible when your life is at stake.
Jon Stratford, a well-respected English commando who served with the Royal Marines for over 14 years, previewed some of these battle scenes alongside M&F and could be referring to many of the moves Jordan used in his lead role.
"There are no rules when someone tries to kill you," says Stratford, walking us through some of his own tips and tricks. "It's kill or be killed. Your opponent - I should say enemy - will not show mercy to you, so use whatever you have to survive."
Just in case you find yourself in a tough situation, Stratford shares some of the most important skills you may need when hand-to-hand combat becomes imperative. It's a discipline that seems to have no limits, but it's important to remember that these are professionally trained skills. Just like the martial arts, they come with great responsibility and should never be used out of context.
Courtesy Without Remorse
Stay balanced
First things first, don't underestimate the power to stay balanced. If you are easily knocked off your feet, you may find that you are easy prey for the enemy. Keep your feet at least shoulder width apart and use your legs to keep your balance. If you don't want to end up in a heap after pushing back, make sure you have one foot behind you. This will support your body weight when it encounters violence. If you are ready to strike, never go beyond reach. You could make yourself vulnerable by leaning forward or falling too far. Use your leading hand to measure the distance between you and your enemy so you can perform an accurate push with the other arm.
Courtesy Without Remorse
Look for leverage
Leverage can come from many places during combat between soldiers, and will serve you well against much stronger attackers as well. "Be careful what they're wearing," says Stratford. Clothing like a shirt or tie can make great grips! In combat between military personnel, one person can carry a backpack or a water bottle. Grabbing your enemy's belt means you can push or pull it in any direction. It will be difficult for your attacker to push you away if you grab her by the collar or even by the hair.
Make use of your environment
In one of the film's epic scenes, Michael B. Jordan defends himself against a group of prison guards using the prison cell to his advantage. He runs the faucet to make the floor slippery and then uses the sink as the perfect surface for cracking heads. It's a brilliantly crafted action scene, but the theory of using your surroundings is very real. You likely won't have water available to help in a life and death situation, but you could gain an advantage by wearing camouflage or simply turning an enemy's weapon on them. Guns don't have to shoot or stab to be dangerous - you can use the butt of an enemy rifle to knock them under the chin. You can also search for beneficial properties around you, such as: B. after sharp branches or rocks.
Use joints against yourself
"Joints just like to move in certain directions," says Stratford. A good understanding of anatomy could make all the difference in an intense battle with an attacker. Elbow and knee joints can be slipped or broken by moving against your will. Tampering with an enemy's fingers can help you in many ways. The stress they experience under such pressure will disorientate them and be less effective in attacking them. The pain will also be unbearable. Additionally, your opponent will find it next to impossible to hit you with a broken finger or wrist. They will be ineffective kicking you with a disjointed knee.
Courtesy Without Remorse
Look for vulnerable points
"Look for those soft spots," says Stratford. Even a soldier with chest protection and a backpack on his back is vulnerable in the armpit area. Don't hesitate to kick an attacker below the belt? You would if your life depended on it! Of course, in a civilized society, we rightly have a sense of decency and in sport we have rules organized to protect ourselves, but in a fighting situation, cracked eyes and throat blows would be legal because anything is possible. In a self-defense situation where this is proportionate, the point is to "do something to others before they do it to you".
