Self Defense Tip #12
Front under-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.

This issue's tip deals with an attack that can end up the same as the over-the-arms bear hug described in the self-defense tip no. 10. An attacker who grabs you in a front under-the-arms bear hug can bend you backward and push you down, trip you by hooking a leg behind your knee from outside while bending you backward, lift you up and throw you down by sweeping your legs aside with a foot, or throw you back overhead (judo uranage). To prevent the attacker from succeeding with any of these actions, you need to put at least one of your palm heels under the attacker's eyebrow while lowering your hips. Move your hips back away from the attacker's hips while pushing hard with your hand against the attacker's eyebrow. This push bends the attacker's head backward, forcing him/her to release the grip.

Initially your legs should be in a cat stance (neko-ashi dachi shown in the self-defense tip no. 9) to protect you from kicks to the groin and inner thighs. Why use your palm heels instead of stabbing your fingers into the attacker's eyes? Because most likely you will not have enough time before the attacker buries his/her face in your chest to protect from just that defense.

Why put your palm heels under the eyebrows and not under the chin? Because the same position of the head that protect the eyes hides the attacker's chin too. In addition, having your palms under someone's chin gets your fingers very close to his/her teeth.

To read the next tip click here.

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