subject: Self Defense - 5 Powerful Methods For Escaping From A Wrist Grab [print this page] Dealing with, and escaping from a wrist grab is one of those "universal techniques" taught within practically all martial arts and self defense programs. However, as with all techniques that seem simple, it's important for you to understand that attacks in the real world are rarely as clean and simple as they are in your self defense class. Not only do you have to be able to remember and apply your self defense move, but you have to do it under pressure, with a time-limit, and with your attacker trying to prevent you from doing it! And, while each situation is different, this article outlines 5 very effective ways to escape from a wrist grab.
It's important to understand from the very beginning that you will want to learn how to do each of these tactics while dealing with an assailant who is doing one of three basic things to you. As I said, a real attack is not like class. So, your self defense training must account for an attacker who is grabbing you to do any one of three basic things:
1) He may be grabbing your wrist to pull you somewhere
2) The grab might be used to push you somewhere, or...
3) His grabbing attack could be used as a way to hold you in place or unbalance you for a follow-up attack
That being said, there are five basic strategies that you can use to effect a release from his grip. These 5 methods include:
1) Using the thumb or fingers of your free hand to attack any one, or a combination of the pressure points in his hand or forearm. This employs the strategy of using strong points against weak ones. He may be very strong, muscularly, but an attack to the nerves that control his muscles can neutralize the advantage he thinks he has!
2) Shift your body and captured arm in such a way as to use leverage to pry your wrist from his grip. The thumb is the weakest joint in the hand. By being aware of how he's grabbing and the position of his thumb, relative to the rest of his hand, you can concentrate your energy and technique so that you exploit this unknown weakness.
3) Directly attack the grabbing arm with a punch or knee strike. Remember that, just because he grabbed you and is in what we might call "the grappling realm," in no way limits your self defense strategy to using grappling to escape. Change the game and let him know that you are serious with a direct, committed strike to the grabbing limb that knocks it off of you!
4) Use last-second timing and evasive footwork to allow your wrist to drift away from his incoming grabbing hand. You can, again, change the paradigm of the situation by escaping from his grab BEFORE he ever gets it on you. Avoid the tendency to assume that "escaping from a wrist grab" means that he has to grab you first.
5) Pull a weapon, do something threatening or unexpected to convince him that he should just let go. This is the epitome of advanced self defense strategy where you are not thinking about the situation in the same way that the attacker is. Instead of showing your techniques, do something that completely changes the situation and gives you the advantage. Keep in mind that, it is your ability to think about and do things that he hasn't thought of, and therefore isn't concerned about, that will save you in a dangerous encounter - more so than the technique that you use.
A few tactics that fit into this category include:
Pull a weapon and aim it at him
Grab a pen or your keys from your pocket and threaten to stab him with the item
If you smoke, hold your lighter under his arm and flick it to make it spark
Pour hot coffee, or throw any liquid you might have at hand on him
