How to Defend Against a Back Arm Lock

An attacker grabs your arm from behind and twists it into a back arm lock. You struggle to escape, but find it too painful to get your arm free. What do you do?

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Widen your stance to about a shoulder-and-a-half width apart and lower your center of gravity to gain stability.

2. Relax the arm that is gripped by the attacker to avoid injury.

3. 

   Shift your weight to the leg farthest away from the attacker, usually your forward leg.

4. 

   Position the other leg directly in front of the attacker, bending the knee and pulling your leg up as far forward as you can. Pull your toes back and point your heel.

5. 

   Kick back quickly and forcefully into the attacker's groin. Be sure to turn your head to see the target area just before the kick.

6. Run away once the attacker releases the arm lock.

Tips & Warnings

• If the attacker is too close to kick, maneuver your legs into position by lowering your stance and shifting until some distance is created.
• Self-defense techniques can cause severe injury. Be cautious when you practice with a partner.
• If confronted by an attacker, always try to escape first.

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on 11/22/2005 There are many different arm lock positions. The attacker in the picture is asking for a world of hurt by not even bothering to control his victims right arm. I would grab his gonads with my right hand and go from there -it's best to make him unable to follow you before deciding to make a getaway.