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Step 1
Stand normally with feet shoulder width apart and your hands casually by your sides. The Hapkido shoulder grab defense can be done from most positions, but for purposes of practice it is easiest to perform from a standing position.
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Step 2
Tell your sparring partner grab your shoulder. This can be a friendly hand on top of the shoulder, a tight fist full of shirt or hands on the sides of both shoulders. The Hapkido shoulder grab defense works in all these situations. However, for this particular technique to work, your attacker must be in front of you or to the side. A shoulder grab from behind requires a different technique.
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Step 3
Place your hand on top of the attacker's hand. This will always be the hand on the opposite side of the body since it is very difficult to touch your shoulder with the palm of the hand on the same side. If you are being grabbed by both shoulders then just pick a hand to attack. It doesn't matter which one.
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Step 4
Rotate your arm backwards and over the top of the hand you are holding. Keep the attacker's hand tight on your shoulder. At the same time step backwards and turn your body away from the attacker so that you are standing sideways to your attacker. Keep rotating your arm over your opponent's hand until their wrist has turned all the way over. The attacker's thumb should be straight down with the little finger on top. You should have a firm grasp on your opponent's hand and it should be tucked in your arm pit.
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Step 5
Slide your back foot farther back to give yourself a little distance from the attacker then snap your arm and body straight down. The entire force and weight of your body should come down on your attacker's wrist. Since his wrist is isolated under your arm pit and forced to bend sideways, it will immobilize him immediately.
