Part I: Defending Against the Rear Grab

Ordinarily, one will find themselves being grabbed and dragged backward by an assailant with either of his hands (depending), and having the other hand chambered to knock your head off. These grabs can be from strangers, ex-boy/girl friends, and various other irate people. They must be taken seriously and must be defended as such, due to your natural vulnerability from the rear. I'll share two variations of the same escape with you, it never fails to "peel them off".

You're standing in a line talking to the person in front of you when you feel a grab to the back of your shirt collar or the cloth on the shoulder portion. (it's hard to grab bare skin) Then you're hearing an attacker shout something like "who do you think you're talking to", or "move it pal, no cutting in line" for example. There is no choke, so there's no immediate need to shut down that attack, and we can focus strictly on the grab, and ascertaining the seriousness of the threat.

A great reaction to this grab (these are practiced defenses and must be smooth and natural) is to hold the hands up in the air and say something like: "hey, I don't want any trouble" while looking over the shoulder to find out which hand the attacker has grabbed you with.

You now have your hands raised, at the ready, and see that he's grabbing you by the shirt/jacket with his left hand. In this case, all you do is step swiftly with the right leg, in a "counter clockwise" rotation until I am facing my opponent. Your left arm that was held up at the ready - locked in place firmly, breaks the grip as your body turned to face him. The right hand will keep turning as well, except it will deliver a crushing palm strike or punch to the face or chest area (completing this technique with a counter attack)!

Ok, let's look at the same scenario as above, except that you've looked over your shoulder saying "I don't want any trouble" and spotted the grab coming from the right arm or hand. The reverse holds true again; step swiftly and smoothly to your right (clockwise) with the left leg, until you're facing the opponent who's grip has been broken by the upraised arms, at the ready position (hands up - "don't want any trouble" posture), and either flee or deliver an unexpected, smashing blow with the left palm or fist, into the facial or chest area of your opponent.

These are pre-arranged self defense techniques and must be practiced with a partner to get them down smoothly. These movements can be modified "on the fly" as you become more confident in applying them.

Always train new techniques slowly and cautiously to avoid injuries.

You and your partner are responsible for each other's safety so communicate while training and give feedback to your partner.

Part II: Grabs From Either Side

Here's an Axiom regarding grabs: Don't let the opponent lock his fingers on you. Begin to defend, the moment you feel contact. Identifying a friend before harmful retaliation is easy. Being too slow will likely get you hurt!

You're standing at a crowded bus stop, or nudging the bar at a local pub for a glass of soda, when you feel yourself jerked from your right or left side. Looking in that direction you can see that an angry patron has just grabbed you with one hand, cursing you roundly for some unknown reason, while drawing back the opposite hand to throw a "haymaker" at your head. Time to panic right? Nope, time to have some fun!

A little guidance and some practice and you'll brush them off like flies. Try not to panic!!

Grabbed right side with a left hand:

Ok, you're grabbed with a left hand while the right hand is chambered to punch. This is most common, since right handed people far outnumber left handers.

1. Very quickly, look right, then swing the arm from a relaxed, ready position, to your rear in a "windmill" motion over the top and back down to your side (making a circle, counter-clockwise). Guess what? No more assailant holding on, as their grip was easily broken by your arm descending down and across his grip to your shoulder area. He must let go and will, whether by choice, or pain, but they WILL let go. This is a decisive technique, the arm should come over the top and back down with authority.....it's irresistible against even the strongest grab.

2. A variation of this technique is to make your windmill motion (back - over top - downward toward your front...yes, a simple windmill..anyone can do it) and shorten your arm by bending at the elbow (as if posing for a picture of the biceps..classic "muscleman" arm posture) and convert the "wiping away" of the grab, into striking the grabbing forearm or attacking the elbow joint. Better get good at variation #1 before you practice this one though.

3. Look to the right as you feel the grab, and reach across your chest, pinning the grabbing hand tightly against your shoulder and use #1 or #2 above to actually flatten the attacker, doing far greater damage even forcing them face first into the floor if need be. Their grip & determination are pitted against your determination. Who will win? You will, of course, with the superior technique! All of this occurs before the attacker can ever throw their punch, and if they do start to launch it, they will be forced to abandon the punch as your technique will spread them wide open to their starting position again.

Grabbed on right side with a right hand:

You're grabbed on the right shoulder and an attacker has you with his right hand and is drawing back his left hand to throw a "haymaker" with his left hand to your face or head. This will generally be a "southpaw" (left hander).

1. Simply reverse your windmill motion from the above scenario. It should rise from the side to your front, and then come over the top and back down to the side (describing a clockwise circle), while easily peeling the grabbing hand off your shoulder without even feeling it happen in most cases.

2. A very effective counter-attack in this unique scenario is to simply react by looking at your opponent, (who is by the way, ready to launch a left hand or elbow to the side or back of your head) reaching across your body and trapping his grabbing hand (right hand) to your shoulder, and immediately throw a right hook into his chin, nose, eyes, neck or temple area. Throw the punch like you mean it or don't bother! Remember, one of you is about to be punched, so throw yours first! (always try to be first)

Grabs to the left side:

Do everything above in the right side techniques. Only right becomes left and left becomes right. There are dozens of other far more sophisticated defenses but I want to present "fool-proof", "always works", applications to present to our readers. I write under the assumption that the reader has no knowledge of any martial arts and wants to K.I.S.S. Keep it simple.

Find a like-minded friend, print this out and practice these techniques with your friend. Remember to be calm and relaxed, and start off very slow. Each training partner must feel safe to learn. Your training partner can hurt you badly, or you may harm them. This must be discussed and a start at "slow motion" speed is recommended.

Partners should only "resist" as skill levels increase, and must know when to abandon a hold (immediately) as the counter attack is applied. Once informed, practice like it's real! Be safe and enjoy yourself!

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