The standing SAMBist may counter an opponent's throw in one direction by moving forcefully in the opposite direction to the throw.
By using his body weight and inertia, the SAMBist's good stance may lessen the dangers inherent in the opponent's surprise attack in any given direction. Before successfully completing his ploy, the opponent must first break through the defensive tension and forces built into the SAMBist's stance. These forces are designed to nullify the opponent's power and slow any progress that he makes toward implementing his ploy. The SAMBist's counter forces are his shield, and this shield may be used to wear down and weaken the opponent as he strives to implement his offense.
This simple counter leaning technique may be applied providing that the SAMBist can discern the exact and singular nature of the opponent's attack. If the opponent attacks from various directions, then the SAMBist must be ready to constantly and immediately shift his counter directions, or he must combine his directional defense with other defensive ploys.
The SAMBist must follow this defensive model when the opponent attempts the strong forward throw. As the opponent attempts to draw the SAMBist forward, the SAMBist withdraws from the throw by retreating.
If the opponent attempts to throw the SAMBist backward, he is countered by the SAMBist assertively stepping forward.
If the opponent attempts to throw the SAMBist to one side or the other, the SAMBist counters with a forceful motion against the side that the opponent is attempting to draw or push him toward.
Defending with movements that block the opponent's strength exploits the opponent's offensive energy and is a part of controlled wrestling. This becomes a facet of active defense and leads to various methods of shifting from defense back to strong offense. This may be used to distract the strong opponent from preparing and implementing his offense. As the SAMBist opposes the opponent's attack, the continued attack becomes a liability for the opponent since he may be caught by the SAMBist's follow up offense. This is a basic principle of active defense: weaken the opponent's strength by rendering fruitless his strong and constant offense.
Defensive Withdrawal and Evasion
When the opponent attempts or has gripped the SAMBist in a dangerous offensive hold that is leading to a throwing attempt, the SAMBist may counter shift his weight in a corresponding direction, or he may use another defensive ploy and evade the technique. Defensive withdrawals and evasions disrupt the opponent's throwing attempts. The SAMBist's evasive maneuvers result in positions for the SAMBist to surprise his opponent by shifting to offense when the opponent's own frustrated offense overextends him. Thus, if the SAMBist's withdrawal or evasion is successful and unbalances the opponent, the SAMBist must be ready to take the match initiative and score on the opponent by immediately shifting from defense to offense. Defensive withdrawals and evasions afford the opportunity to exploit many successful wrestling methods including wearing down the opponent and surprise attack. Opportune defense combined with most any other offensive or defensive application has the added benefit of causing the opponent to expend considerable amounts of energy to wrestle. As the opponent is worn down by the SAMBist's withdrawals and evasions, the SAMBist may be able to exploit the changing positions before the opponent is even aware that the situations are in transition. Withdrawal from the Double Leg Take Down Grip. If the opponent strives to grip both of the SAMBist's legs, the SAMBist immediately presses forward into the opponent using his body weight and inertia to elude the danger and suspend the opponent's forward progress. This creates the opportunity for the opponent to be knocked to the side or onto his back. It is possible that the opponent may ball to his all fours or onto his stomach when his attack is disrupted. This is an excellent opportunity for the SAMBist to successfully transition to the top position over the opponent in prone wrestling. Withdrawal from the Throw with Gripping Hands on Arm. If the opponent grips the SAMBist's right hand to conduct the throw with his gripping hand on the SAMBist's arm, the SAMBist must examine the many ways that he may move to the right or left to prevent the opponent from drawing his hips in for the throw. If there is insufficient room for the SAMBist's hips to evade to the right, he should evade fluidly and quickly to the left to avoid the attack. With a strong left evasion of the opponent's right hip, the SAMBist has an opportunity to move his hips around the opponent to out flank him. If the evasion sufficiently disrupts the opponent's throwing attempt, the SAMBist's hips do out flank the opponent leading to the extraordinary position to conduct a retaliatory ploy. Withdrawal and Evasion form Throw across the Back with a Grip on the Head. If the opponent grips the SAMBist's head and right arm to shift into the throw across the back with his left hand below the SAMBist's right arm, this is a transition form what was a right-handed attack from the face to face position. That is why the SAMBist counters by moving his right hand across the opponent's left hand to pull to the left, and quickly shifting back to the right to evade by moving low and to the right around the opponent's trunk. If the opponent transitions to conduct the throw with the grip on the SAMBist's back with the left hand crossing over the SAMBist's right hand, the SAMBist should without preamble duck straight under the outstretched arm. If the opponent is very aggressive, he may create the situation for the SAMBist to side step into a retaliatory throwing position.