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Step 1
Practice your technique when you use pinching for self-defense. While your instinct may be to grab and pinch skin between the tip of your thumb and index finger, you can actually cause more pain and apply stronger pressure if you use the second knuckle of your thumb instead. If you can manage it, try to pinch with the knuckle of your index finger as well, since the hard surfaces of your bones will create much more discomfort than the fleshy parts of your fingertips.
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Step 2
Twist the skin clockwise or counter-clockwise when you use pinching for self-defense. It's not enough to simply squeeze--you must twist and pull and even dig your fingernails into the flesh of your attacker to inflict the most pain. Try to grab as little skin as possible, since you can inflict more damage and pain with a thin, easily-manipulated piece of flesh.
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Step 3
Recognize the most vulnerable areas for pinching. These areas include the backs of the upper arms, the areas around the armpits and the nipples, which are usually exposed if an assailant is trying to choke you or grab you by the collar. You can also inflict a lot of pain by pinching the tip of the nose, the earlobes, lips and anywhere on the inside of the legs between the knee and the groin.
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Step 4
Adjust the severity of your self-defense pinching techniques if your attacker is drunk, or under the influence of drugs. Intoxicants can raise an attacker's resistance to pain, and you may need to be more forceful in making your point by applying more pressure to sensitive areas. Yelling and screaming in a drunk assailant's ears while you are pinching may clear their head somewhat, and allow them to feel more pain.
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Step 5
Pinch your attacker's genitals as a last resort, since you can inflict serious damage with this method. Don't be afraid of being "intimate," especially if your life is at stake. Few attackers, even while drugged or drunk, can withstand the pain of a sharply pinched scrotum.
