Bearhug from the Front with Arms Caught (No Space)

In order to counterattack, you must create space.

Starting Position: Passive stance while an attacker bearhugs you from the front, trapping your arms.

As the bearhug is made, send one or both hands to the attacker’s groin. This should cause the attacker to shift his hips backward, creating space.

Jam the heels of your palms against the attacker’s hips to prevent his hips from getting closer to you.

Deliver knees to the groin or midsection.

Immediately, when any space is created, bring your inside hand up and lay your forearm across the attacker’s neck to control his body (preventing him from shooting in).

Tips: To allow your hand to strike his groin, shift your hips slightly to one side and strike with the open-side hand. We say “strike” but of course you can also grab, twist, and tear. This may get the reaction you want!

Bearhug from Behind with Arms Free

This technique assumes you are able to create space in which to counterattack and escape. If you are unable to create space and counterattack, please see Bearhug from Behind—Leverage on the Finger, which is taught in Green Belt techniques (page 198).

Starting Position: Passive stance while an attacker bearhugs you from behind, leaving your arms free.

When grabbed from behind, immediately drop your weight down and forward to make yourself more difficult to lift (space and base).

Send elbow strikes backward to the attacker’s face. Always send a “one-two” combination using both elbows.

If your elbows create space, turn and continue with strikes.

If your elbow strikes don’t create space, continue with additional strikes, including stomps to the feet, heel strikes to the shins, and uppercut back kicks to the groin.

Bearhug from Behind with Arms Caught (with Space)

Starting Position: Passive stance while an attacker bearhugs you from behind, trapping your arms but leaving some space.

When the attacker grabs, immediately drop your weight to make yourself more difficult to lift.

Use your arms to create space by striking at the groin—the attacks should cause damage but also create movement so you are hard to hold.

Make additional counterattacks such as stomps, heel kicks to the attacker’s shin, elbows to the body, and uppercut back kicks to the groin. Be sure to make yourself extremely difficult to hold onto by shifting and struggling against the hold.

As soon as enough space is created, pivot to face the attacker and continue counterattacking.

Bearhug from Behind with Arms Caught (No Space)

The principles of this technique are exactly the same as those in Bearhug from the Front with Arms Caught—with Space (page 134).

Starting Position: Passive stance while an attacker bearhugs you from behind, trapping your arms.

When the attacker grabs, immediately drop your weight to make yourself more difficult to lift. Note that this may be more difficult, assuming you’ve already been squeezed in fairly tight.

Shift your hips and send one hand backward to strike the assailant’s groin, causing a backward shift in his hips to create space.

Once space is created, continue as in Bearhug from Behind with Arms Caught—with Space (page 138).

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