Patrick McCarthy's 36 HAPV

 When just joined the old Cyberdojo I found Patrick McCarthy used to make constant reference to this list he developed, such that he taught a defense against each of these techniques. He referred to them as hiss 36 HAPV.

It has been a very long time since I have heard them referenced and thought some might find this interesting.


Where I am mentioned below, I had been talking about the 15 groups of self defense techniques taught by Tatsuo Shimabuku. I remember Patrick saying he never heard of them so I sent him a copy. I had been suggesting others had taken the same approach to training their students.


This is one of the lists (the 36 HAPV or the Habitual Acts of Physical Violence) that is under discussion. Victor and Dan have their own list that they have developed or grew up with. The 36 HAPV is a McCarthy development.


1. Straight kicks
2. Angular-type kicks
3. Straight punches
4. Circular punches
5. Downward strikes
6. Upward strikes
7. Knee and Elbow strikes
8. Head-butt/Biting and spitting
9. Testicle squeeze
10. Augmented foot/leg trips
11. Single/double-hand hair pull from the front/rear
12. Single/double-hand choke from the front/rear
13. Front neck choke from rear
14. Classical head-lock
15. Front, bent-over, augmented choke (neck-hold)
16. Half/full-nelson
17. Rear over-arm bearhug (plus side variation)
18. Rear under-arm bearhug (plus side variation)
19. Front over-arm bearhug (plus side variation)
20. Front under-arm bearhug (plus side variation)
21. Front/rear tackle
22. One-handed wrist grab (same and opposite sides-normal/reversed)
23. Two-handed wrist grabs (normal/reversed)
24. Both wrists seized from the front/rear
25. Both arms seized from the front/rear
26. Single/double shoulder grab from front/rear
27. Arm-lock (behind the back)
28. Front arm-bar (triceps tendon fulcrum up supported by wrist)
29. Side arm-bar (triceps tendon fulcrum down supported by wrist)
30. Single/double lapel grab
31. Single/double-hand shove
32. Garment pulled over the head
33. Seized and impact
34. Single/double leg/ankle grab from the front (side/rear)
35. Ground straddle
36. Attacked (kicked/struck) while down

While I can understand teaching to the attack, in reality there is really no correct answer, for there are many correct answers.

To my way of thinking the better answer is to slowly develop the correct answer of working to eventually understand that any technique can end any attack, understanding how to enter the space around the attack and then delivering the chosen technique. It is best said as One Answer for Every Attack. Of course you would have every technique you have studied that could become the One technique.  Just to make yourself unreadable.