Self Defense Tip #3
Rear over-the-arms bear hug

by Thomas Kurz, co-author of Basic Instincts of Self-Defense and author of Stretching Scientifically, Secrets of Stretching, and Science of Sports Training.

To read the previous installment click here.

An intelligent attacker, if he or she decides to grab you in a rear over-the-arms bear hug, will grab you at or below your elbows. Grabbing your arms this way immobilizes them nearly completely and does not let you use them to protect your rib cage. Also, the low grab makes it easy for the attacker to lift you up and then slam you down.

Your first concern, when you feel such a grab, is to protect your bottom ribs from being squashed and also to make sure that you are not lifted up.

You can achieve both these objectives with one move—wedging your arms deeper into the attacker's holding arms while simultaneously squatting down. Unless the attacker is tremendously strong this action alone may separate his or her hands. Only after you have spoiled your attacker's initial attack can you think about getting out of the grab. This can be done by a rolling throw (makikomi) as shown in the video, Basic Instincts of Self-Defense, or in some other way. But most important to your survival is that first basic, instinctive reaction, and Basic Instincts of Self-Defense teaches such reactions to over 55 typical attacks.

To read the next tip click here.

This article is based on the video Basic Instincts of Self-Defense.
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