Escape from Rear Bear Hug – Both Arms Free

Escaping from a rear bear hug where both of your arms are free is an essential self-defence technique. This escape utilises leverage, quick movements, and targeting vulnerable areas to neutralise the attack and create an opportunity to counter. The sequence ends with a leg hook to off-balance the attacker and a groin stomp to ensure they are fully incapacitated. Here’s a step-by-step description of how to execute this escape:

Step-by-Step Description:

1. Establish a Strong Base:
• Lower Your Centre of Gravity: Immediately drop your weight by bending your knees slightly and spreading your feet shoulder-width apart. This stance makes it harder for your attacker to lift or move you and gives you more stability.
• Tuck Your Chin: Protect your neck by tucking your chin down towards your chest. This prevents your attacker from easily gaining control of your head or choking you.
2. Counter the Bear Hug:
• Use Your Elbows: Quickly strike backwards with your elbows, aiming for vulnerable areas like your attacker’s ribs, stomach, or groin. These strikes are meant to loosen their grip and create an opening for your next move.
• Hand Placement: Reach down with one hand to the attacker’s wrist or fingers, attempting to control or break their grip if necessary.
3. Create Space:
• Step to the Side: Step one foot to the side or slightly forward, creating a small amount of space between your hips and your attacker. This space is crucial for setting up the leg hook and groin stomp.
4. Hook the Leg:
• Reach Between Your Legs: With your hand on the same side as the foot you stepped forward with, reach between your legs and grab your attacker’s leg, ideally just above the knee or at the ankle.
• Pull the Leg Through: Use a strong and swift motion to pull their leg through and towards you. This action will off-balance your attacker, causing them to lose stability and forcing them to focus on regaining their balance, which weakens their grip further.
5. Groin Stomp:
• Plant Your Foot: As soon as you have pulled their leg through, pivot slightly to face more towards them and raise your other foot.
• Deliver the Stomp: With force, stomp down on the attacker’s groin area or inner thigh with the heel of your foot. This powerful strike is aimed at incapacitating the attacker, making it difficult for them to continue the assault.
6. Finish and Create Distance:
• Release and Turn: Once the groin stomp is delivered, release their leg and turn towards your attacker, ready to defend or deliver further strikes if necessary.
• Create Distance: Immediately create distance between you and your attacker to avoid retaliation and prepare for a possible escape or further counteraction.

Key Points for Escaping Rear Bear Hug – Both Arms Free:

• Lower your centre of gravity to make it harder for your attacker to move or lift you.
• Use quick elbow strikes to create an opening and weaken their grip.
• Create space by stepping to the side or forward.
• Hook their leg by reaching between your legs and pulling it through to off-balance them.
• Deliver a powerful groin stomp to incapacitate the attacker and end the assault.
• Turn towards your attacker and create distance to prepare for further action or escape.

This escape technique is highly effective in a self-defence scenario where you are grabbed from behind. By using leverage, targeting vulnerable areas, and destabilising your attacker, you can quickly turn the tables and neutralise the threat.