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MASTERCLASS PRO | BEARHUG FROM BEHIND (ARMS TRAPPED HIGH) • DOUBLE INWARD FORWARD FOREARM STRIKE |

Writer's picture: Orjan Pettersen KM Expert E3Orjan Pettersen KM Expert E3

MASTERCLASS PRO takes our Masterclasses to the next level.


Learn how to take the individual self defence techniques and strikes you in our Masterclass feature and merge them into natural and effective combinations in MASTERCLASS PRO.


Study how you can mix and match different upper and lower body strikes, with different ranges and angles of attack.


This MASTERCLASS PRO covers:


BEARHUG FROM BEHIND (ARMS TRAPPED HIGH) DEFENCE, continuing with;

DOUBLE INWARD FORWARD HORIZONTAL FOREARM STRIKE


Scenario: Caught unaware from behind with a grab across the upper arms restricting any movement in order to exert control of you or to move you, this defence is aimed at release from this position before continuing with further strikes to the neck, throat or face.


Expect to be moved forward or backwards as part of this attack.

Picture: Bearhug from behind.


HOW TO DO THE BEARHUG FROM BEHIND (ARMS TRAPPED HIGH) DEFENCE


As your brain will not commence any defensive action until you’ve rebalanced yourself from the attack, do this using smaller steps with the full sole of the foot onto the floor to arrest the movement forward or backward. Place as much of your body weight onto the floor as you can with each step.


As soon as you can, move both your hands upwards as to slap them onto your chest, with palms facing inwards and fingers in a hook or swan-neck profile facing you. Connect the ‘slap’ with your wrist closer to each side off the hands of the attacker on your chest. Your elbows should be low and near to your ribs. Immediately and forcefully, pull the arms of the attacker downwards and press them towards your torso. This is to prevent them moving upwards to reach your neck area.

Simultaneously as you lift your arms upward to control the attacker’s arms, send your head backwards in an explosive and violent head butt against the attacker’s face. You may or may not connect depending on their head position, but if you do, there’s a chance the link across your upper chest may be broken with this single strike. If so, turn around to deal with the situation.

Picture: Control the attacker’s arms and head butt.

If the link is not broken, immediately drop your chin down towards one of your shoulders. This is to prevent any violent upwards move of the still-linked attacker’s arms connecting with your larynx if reaching your neck.


As the chin drops, raise the opposite elbow as high as you can outwards (in the same way people lift it to emulate a chicken flapping its wings). This is to create the space your head can later move into and under to release yourself from the bearhug.

Picture: Drop chin to protect larynx and lift elbow to create space.


Immediately after the chin drop and elbow rise, make a small step (almost stepping on the spot, just slightly forward, so you still stay tall and not leaning back) with the matching leg to the elbow rise arm, pointing the toes towards the side your chin is dropped to. This is to start to create a hinge with your opposite shoulder that can slide across the attacker’s chest when your release yourself. (Do not start to turn without this small step or hinge motion being created, especially stepping inwards first, as a really tight grip will not permit it. You can‘t literally push your shoulder through the attacker’s chest. You need the hinge motion first).

Picture: Step slightly forward to start sliding your head under the attacker‘s grip.


As you make this step and hinge motion, start to slide your shoulder and head under the bearhug grip. Only drop your head low enough for it to scrape under the bicep of the attacker and not any lower. Still press the arms of the attacker solidly towards your own chest.


As you emerge on the other side of the arm, move forward with the now closest foot to the attacker and step forward placing this foot close to their leg on the outside, as you move in close, with your head still behind the locked arm of the attacker. The higher this arm is held (= the closer your are to the attacker), the less power is held by the attacker in this arm. Hide your head behind their upper arm as you do this, do not allow it to directly face the attacker’s elbow, as their power and ability to strike with it is greatly magnified if you do. You need to stray really close to the attacker to avoid this.

Picture: Slide under and close, then commence knee strikes to groin.


Immediately continue with 2-3 knee strikes to the groin (SEE MASTERCLASS | KNEE STRIKE TO THE GROIN) as you move forward pressing your matching shoulder to the striking knee towards the attacker’s chest to drive them backwards. This is to unbalance them as you continue to strike. If you can’t move forward, you can also restrict yourself to a single knee strike. Remember, a knee strike is NOT done with the actual knee (small target vs (sorry, guys) a small target); it is done with the lower quad area to have a bigger striking surface. The actual knee is below the groin in the strike.

Picture: Drive the attacker backwards as you continue to strike.


Following the knee strikes to the groin, there are several striking options available. The below is an example of one.


HOW TO DO THE DOUBLE INWARD FORWARD HORIZONTAL FOREARM STRIKE


Following the knee strikes, you can for example immediately hit upwards with an upwards palm strike (or more) to the face of the attacker with your hand closest to them. This should rise their head upwards.

Picture: Upward palm strikes to the face (goal is to break the nose).


Immediately after, release the other arm and raise it to the head height of the attacker’s neck. Lock the arm solidly in a slightly inward angle at the elbow with the fingers extended straight. Move this locked and solid frame of the whole arm by pivoting the same side foot towards the attacker as you strike and connect at the back of the attacker’s neck. The connection point is the bony inside part of your forearm close to the wrist. The power of the strike comes from sending your shoulder into it. Recoil immediately upon impact and exhale as you strike. As you strike, move the other hand up and between your heads. (SEE ANY MASTERCLASS PRO with INWARD FORWARD FOREARM STRIKE for more).

Picture: Inward forearm horizontal forearm strike. From a position on their side of a target, it can be performed both to the neck and facial areas.


Pushing off with your back leg (SEE MASTERCLASS | FIGHTING STANCE AND MOVEMENT) to move towards the back of the attacker.


As you make this forward step, swap positions of your arms; recoil the neck striking arm back and between your heads and lock the other arm into the same striking position in front of the attacker’s head. Use the momentum of the step and the force of the shoulder to strike with the same inside bony part of the forearm into the attacker’s throat or face, dependent on their head position (lower or higher).


Further strikes are then available if needed.


Find all our MASTERCLASS PRO articles by clicking on the theme selection on the website home page. Chose MASTERCLASS for individual strikes and techniques.

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