| Dealing with, and escaping from a wrist grab is | | | | his grip. The thumb is the weakest joint in the |
| one of those "universal techniques" taught within | | | | hand. By being aware of how he's grabbing and |
| practically all martial arts and self defense | | | | the position of his thumb, relative to the rest of |
| programs. However, as with all techniques that | | | | his hand, you can concentrate your energy and |
| seem simple, it's important for you to understand | | | | technique so that you exploit this unknown |
| that attacks in the real world are rarely as clean | | | | weakness. |
| and simple as they are in your self defense class. | | | | |
| Not only do you have to be able to remember | | | | 3) Directly attack the grabbing arm with a punch |
| and apply your self defense move, but you have | | | | or knee strike. Remember that, just because he |
| to do it under pressure, with a time-limit, and with | | | | grabbed you and is in what we might call "the |
| your attacker trying to prevent you from doing it! | | | | grappling realm," in no way limits your self |
| And, while each situation is different, this article | | | | defense strategy to using grappling to escape. |
| outlines 5 very effective ways to escape from a | | | | Change the game and let him know that you are |
| wrist grab. | | | | serious with a direct, committed strike to the |
| | | | | grabbing limb that knocks it off of you! |
| It's important to understand from the very | | | | |
| beginning that you will want to learn how to do | | | | 4) Use last-second timing and evasive footwork |
| each of these tactics while dealing with an | | | | to allow your wrist to drift away from his |
| assailant who is doing one of three basic things to | | | | incoming grabbing hand. You can, again, change |
| you. As I said, a real attack is not like class. So, | | | | the paradigm of the situation by escaping from his |
| your self defense training must account for an | | | | grab BEFORE he ever gets it on you. Avoid the |
| attacker who is grabbing you to do any one of | | | | tendency to assume that "escaping from a wrist |
| three basic things: | | | | grab" means that he has to grab you first. |
| | | | | |
| 1) He may be grabbing your wrist to pull you | | | | 5) Pull a weapon, do something threatening or |
| somewhere | | | | unexpected to convince him that he should just |
| | | | | let go. This is the epitome of advanced self |
| 2) The grab might be used to push you | | | | defense strategy where you are not thinking |
| somewhere, or... | | | | about the situation in the same way that the |
| | | | | attacker is. Instead of showing your techniques, |
| 3) His grabbing attack could be used as a way to | | | | do something that completely changes the |
| hold you in place or unbalance you for a follow-up | | | | situation and gives you the advantage. Keep in |
| attack | | | | mind that, it is your ability to think about and do |
| | | | | things that he hasn't thought of, and therefore |
| That being said, there are five basic strategies | | | | isn't concerned about, that will save you in a |
| that you can use to effect a release from his | | | | dangerous encounter - more so than the |
| grip. These 5 methods include: | | | | technique that you use. |
| | | | | |
| 1) Using the thumb or fingers of your free hand | | | | A few tactics that fit into this category include: |
| to attack any one, or a combination of the | | | | |
| pressure points in his hand or forearm. This | | | | |
| employs the strategy of using strong points | | | | - Pull a weapon and aim it at him |
| against weak ones. He may be very strong, | | | | - Grab a pen or your keys from your pocket and |
| muscularly, but an attack to the nerves that | | | | threaten to stab him with the item |
| control his muscles can neutralize the advantage | | | | - If you smoke, hold your lighter under his arm |
| he thinks he has! | | | | and flick it to make it spark |
| | | | | - Pour hot coffee, or throw any liquid you might |
| 2) Shift your body and captured arm in such a | | | | have at hand on him |
| way as to use leverage to pry your wrist from | | | | - Etc. |