Interesting theories here on this subject.... this is why I like this forum so much! Let me bring up a few points to ponder on the choke and punch post that GED inserted. I believe that his question was what should he do NOW that he is involved in MA training. He said this situation happened pre-training and now he has ability to defend himself but is concerned with damaging the attacker for life. Should he just open up and do damage with no concerns? Advanced martial artists rarely pull such a damaging technique in his arsenal...{What would you do in a case where the person may be a drunk acquaintence or maybe your girlfriend's brother who suddenly thought you deserved a serious beating? He is bigger and not thinking clearly and may just take your teeth out. You don't want to lose your teeth but yet do you really want to destroy his elbow?} Then there is the point that GED had nowhere to retreat to, right? He was instantly involved, so there was no option to run. Finally, many focus on damaging the elbow with the two forearms, which is a basic self defense technique in most systems. I have witnessed a choking/punching scenario many times with some former work I was involved with, and I can say that most of the time a person could not pull this self defense technique off. (Try this with a buddy). Step your left leg forward and apply a front choke with your left hand and pull your right arm back as if to punch. Notice if you have your left arm totally straight out and locked as most instructions teach. Now, without letting go of the choke, do a slow motion punch with your right. If you notice, this is a very difficult thing to do...mainly because it is very unnatural since to move your right shoulder forward to connect your punch your left has to come backward. Now, drop your left choking arm's elbow down slightly till it is between you and your buddy at solar plexus height (you will be slightly closer to your buddy). Now, try slow motion punches... you will find they are easier and are basically short, strong jabs. In reality, when I have witnessed this, the attacker is generally pushing backward the victim in a shuffling step forward using the back leg for power. The point I am making is this: when the elbow is lowered to that position, it is almost of no use to try to break it. Not being locked out keeps the serious pressure off and then you have no leverage. In my experience, the only time to consider using this defense is when somebody is holding one's shirts at the front, arm extended trying to keep a distance between. I suggest to look carefully at this technique and see what you gentlemen think. If you find that this technique is a little dicey to depend on as a one-shot solution, what other technique would you use and can you think of any that does not do serious damage such as broken joint, bone, or removal of an eye? Does anyone follow the thought of moving one's body as a defense without even using a hard strike or block? I can tell you this... in California, it is absolutely illegal to use martial arts unless you are seriously in trouble and fear for your life. The more advanced you are in the arts, the more the courts believe you should have passively controlled the attacker instead of using direct strikes. There are always friends of the attacker who will be witness to what you do in your own defense. A punch in a bar or at a dance does not merit certain defense techniques. It is a sad thing, but true.
"They that can give up essential liberty to obtain a little temporary safety deserve neither liberty nor safety."
Benjamin Franklin