SITTING ON THE SUBWAY part 2 - Self Defence Techniques
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Subway Defence Technique·Vee AJ Jitsu
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Subway Defence Technique
SubFamilySubway・ディフェンス・Technique(Subway Defence Technique)
Translation: subway defence technique
Overview
History & Origin
Effectiveness
Developed from real military and security experience; continuously refined based on actual incident reports. [1]
Lineage
Imi Lichtenfeld → Krav Maga worldwide; Lichtenstein 9th Dan lineage. [1]
Competition Record
Self-defence system — not used in sport competition
Images
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Biomechanical Mechanism
Primary Action — Subway Defence Technique-specific defensive mechanics
Simultaneous defence and counter-attack
Position & Entry
From natural stance — Respond with subway defence technique
Variants
Against right-handed attacker
Against left-handed attacker
Multiple attackers
Videos
SITTING ON THE SUBWAY part 1 - Self Defence Techniques
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Subway Defence Technique·Vee AJ Jitsu
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Subway Common Sense - Self Defense Techniques
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Subway Defence Technique·Vee AJ Jitsu
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3 videosWhat Instructors Say
The Subway Defence Technique, as taught by Vee AJ Jitsu's Professor David across three instructional videos, emphasizes awareness, positioning, and pragmatic responses to common transit threats. The core principle centers on maintaining positional dominance through hand placement and body mechanics rather than flashy techniques. When seated and approached by an aggressor, the defender should lean forward with elbows on thighs to control distance and prevent close engagement, avoiding the vulnerable posture of sitting with back to wall and legs spread. All three videos stress that awareness—never becoming distracted or surprised—is the best defense. When confronted while seated, the technique prioritizes groin strikes followed by joint manipulation and escape, with Professor David emphasizing that defenders should not attempt complex martial arts moves during high-stress encounters. The second video addresses the scenario of an aggressor sitting nearby on an empty train, recommending that the defender initiate contact by offering belongings to establish arm control, then exploit that connection with leg techniques and strikes rather than allowing the aggressor to dictate range. The third video focuses on the shoulder-to-shoulder confrontation resulting from accidental contact, teaching that when hands are positioned unfavorably overhead, the defender should feign submission, back away slowly, then execute palm strikes, eye rakes, and groin attacks from a non-threatening posture. Throughout all three teachings, Professor David emphasizes body mechanics over skill complexity, the importance of controlling hand position, and the psychological component of self-belief and training commitment.
Synthesized from 3 instructors
- Vee AJ Jitsu — SITTING ON THE SUBWAY part 1 - Self Defence Techniques: Established foundational seated posture and distance management; introduced groin strike followed by joint manipulation and leg destruction as primary defense sequence when approached while seated; emphasized avoiding back-to-wall positioning and the importance of preventing aggressor hand proximity.
- Vee AJ Jitsu — SITTING ON THE SUBWAY part 2 - Self Defence Techniques: Detailed the scenario of unwanted proximal seating; introduced the strategy of offering belongings to gain arm control, then exploiting leg length advantage with strikes and leg destruction; addressed knife threat scenario with forward motion principle to close distance and prevent cutting motions.
- Vee AJ Jitsu — Subway Common Sense - Self Defense Techniques: Analyzed shoulder-to-shoulder confrontation from accidental contact; identified vulnerabilities of overhead hand positioning (choke, hammer lock, leg sweep); taught feigned submission posture combined with palm strikes, vision disruption, and throat engagement to reposition and escape.
Learn This Technique
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Ratings
Risk of injury to the person this technique is applied to
3
Moderate3/10
Defensive technique
Skill level needed to execute this technique reliably
Intermediate
Whether this technique is allowed under major competition rule sets
— Unified MMA — Legal defensive technique
Unified Rules of MMA, August 2025PDF— IBJJF — Legal
IBJJF Rules Book v6.0, June 2024PDF— IJF — Legal defensive action
IJF Sport and Organisation Rules 2025, Article 27PDFWBC/Boxing — Legal {src— WBC Rules of Boxing}
— WKF — Legal
WKF Competition Rules 2024PDF— WT — Legal
WT Competition Rules 2024PDFTraining Notes
✓Practise with progressive resistance (Lichtenstein, 2007)
✓Always train counter-attacks simultaneously
✓Stress inoculation training is essential
Common Mistakes
!Freezing instead of acting
!Insufficient aggression in counter-attacks
!Poor footwork
Related Techniques
Counter Techniques
Setup Chain
1Threat detected → Subway Defence Technique → Counter-attack → Disengage or control
Sources & References
Primary Source
The Book of Krav-Maga: The Bible (Lichtenstein, 2007)
1Book[1] Lichtenstein, Y.A. (2007). The Book of Krav-Maga: The Bible. ISBN 978-85-907111-0-0.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Lichtenstein, Y
2Citation[1] Lichtenstein, Y.A. (2007). The Book of Krav-Maga: The Bible. ISBN 978-85-907111-0-0.
description, historyOrigin: sourced from Lichtenstein, Y
Community
Athletics
Quick reactions
Aggression
Awareness
Frequently Asked Questions
How should I sit on the subway to stay safe?
According to Vee AJ Jitsu, you should slightly lean forward with your elbows on your thighs. This positioning prevents someone from getting too close to you, since they'll need to maintain eye contact and won't be comfortable approaching further. Avoid sitting with your back to the wall or with your legs spread wide, as these positions trap you and make it difficult to get up quickly.
What's the best defense if someone approaches me aggressively while I'm sitting?
Vee AJ Jitsu emphasizes that from a seated position with good posture (leaning forward), you can effectively lunge and strike the groin. When the attacker's hands go to their groin in response, you can then use body mechanics to press on a joint and get up safely, rather than trying to stand and confront them face-to-face.
How do I handle someone trying to grab my bag on the subway?
If someone grabs your bag with two hands, Vee AJ Jitsu recommends giving it to them with two hands while simultaneously controlling their arm. Since your legs are longer than their arm, you can then attack their legs and face while maintaining control, rather than letting go and allowing them to pull away.
What's the most important principle for subway self-defense?
Vee AJ Jitsu stresses that the best self-defense technique is to never get caught by surprise—stay aware, stay alert, and always be ready. Understanding positioning and body mechanics is more important than learning complex techniques.
How does the Subway Defence Technique work?
The Subway Defence Technique adapts Krav Maga principles for the unique environment of subway cars and platforms, addressing confined spaces and crowd dynamics.
Where does the Subway Defence Technique come from?
Krav Maga was developed by Imi Lichtenfeld for the Israeli Defence Forces and refined for civilian self-defence. Subway Defence Technique addresses real-world attack scenarios.
Is the Subway Defence Technique legal in competition?
Unified MMA: legal — Legal defensive technique; IBJJF: legal — Legal; IJF: legal — Legal defensive action; WBC/Boxing: legal — Legal; WKF: legal — Legal; WT: legal — Legal
How dangerous is the Subway Defence Technique?
Danger rating 3/10. Defensive technique
How do I set up the Subway Defence Technique?
The standard setup chain: Threat detected → Subway Defence Technique → Counter-attack → Disengage or control.
How do I defend against the Subway Defence Technique?
Standard counters include: N/A — these are defensive responses to attacks.
What are the variants of the Subway Defence Technique?
Common variants: Against right-handed attacker; Against left-handed attacker; Multiple attackers.
How effective is the Subway Defence Technique in competition?
Self-defence system — not used in sport competition
What are common mistakes when doing the Subway Defence Technique?
Top errors to watch for: Freezing instead of acting / Insufficient aggression in counter-attacks / Poor footwork.
What are other names for the Subway Defence Technique?
The Subway Defence Technique is also known as Subway Defence Technique, Metro Defence, Underground Defence.