How to Perform Rear Grab Defense in Martial Arts

The rear grab defense is an important thing to learn in martial arts. It allows you to escape from an attacker who wraps his arms around you from behind. The rear grab defense allows the martial to repel the attack regardless of relative size or strength. It involves several distraction techniques and a simple yet effective takedown.

Difficulty:

Moderately Easy

Instructions

1. Act instinctively as soon as the attacker wraps his arms around you from behind. Do not allow the attacker time to tighten his grip or immobilize you in any other way. The instant you feel someone grabbing you from behind, initiate the rear grab defense.

2. Throw your head backward. The back of your head is a lot harder than your attacker's nose. When someone grabs you from behind, there's a good chance their face is right behind your head. Give a reverse head-butt to the nose and he will be momentarily stunned, if not bloodied.

3. Stomp on the attacker's foot immediately after throwing your head back into the attacker's face. It doesn't matter how big he is. Stepping on his foot will hurt him. It is also another great distraction.

4. Step to the side and launch your elbow into the attacker's solar plexus. You don't have to move very far to the side. A few inches will place your elbow in line with the base of the attacker's sternum, where the solar plexus is located. The attacker is already stunned from the bonk on the face and stomp on the foot, so he won't offer much resistance. Throw your elbow back with mighty force. A blow to the solar plexus will knock the wind out of the attacker.

5. You have a choice of takedown techniques from here. Since your attacker is stunned from a bloodied nose, a stomped foot and blow to the solar plexus, you can do pretty much whatever you want. The easiest way to escape is to step around and behind the attacker while pushing his arm up and over your head. You will be behind him at this point. Push him away and run off. If you want to knock the attacker to the ground, reach between your legs and grab one of his legs. Stand up and pull his leg up and between yours. The attacker will fall flat on his back. Step on his groin to finish him off. A more advanced takedown is achieved by grabbing the attacker's arm, bending your knees so that your hips are below his, then popping him up and over your shoulder while you bend forward at the waist. The attacker will flip in mid-air and land on his back.

Tips & Warnings

• All the steps of the rear grab defense must be performed in rapid succession. It should be reverse head-butt, toe stomp, elbow to the solar plexus and throw, fired off one after the other.

• If you perform the rear grab defense, be sure the person grabbing you is really attacking you. You wouldn't want to beat up a friend for giving you an unexpected hug.