How to Escape From a Lapel Grab With Kung Fu

When an assailant grabs your lapel, it's an aggressive move but not one that presents a clear physical danger. Kung Fu offers a couple of self-defense techniques that will allow you to escape your assailant and prevent further aggression.

Difficulty: Moderate

Instructions

1. Grab the aggressor's hand with your hand, using your thumb and index finger to squeeze his hand below his large knuckles, just above his thumb. Putting pressure here helps break his grasp. Squeeze hard.

2. Bring your opposite hand up and over your own hand for leverage and pivot your hands, rolling your aggressor's arm and shoulder inwards, causing him to bend forward.

3. Push the aggressor backwards and downwards to the ground. If done correctly, this move is very effective against an attacker of approximately your same size and strength.

4. Bring your arm upwards and outwards to break his grasp if you are dealing with an aggressor that is larger or stronger. If he uses a lapel grab with his right hand, use your left arm, swinging it in a right-angle position from the inside of your body to the outside, knocking his arm away to the outside. Switch sides if he uses his right arm.

5. Step backwards at the same time to offset his balance. You will be positioning yourself in a solid stance and causing him to lean forwards slightly, giving you an advantage.

6. Get to safety after you are free. A lapel grab is an assault on your person even if you are not physically injured. Leave the vicinity before the violence can escalate.

Tips & Warnings

• Take Kung Fu classes to learn hundreds of self-defense techniques that, with practice, will become second nature.
• Recruit a friend to practice your Kung Fu self-defense technique against a lapel grab. Repeat the move over and over until you perform it intuitively.

Resources

• Video demonstrating a Kung Fu escape from a front shirt grab.

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