Choke from Behind with a Pull

As the attacker chokes and begins to pull, in training let yourself be pulled off balance before reacting (to simulate a real situation).

Starting Position: Passive stance, with an attacker choking and pulling from behind.

Immediately make the plucking motion (this is instinctive) as though performing a regular Choke from Behind defense. At the same time, you may take a small step backward with one foot. This is also instinctive, to keep your balance. In training, be sure the step is small, as a large step will be unlikely when you are surprised.

As you pluck, step then pivot sharply toward your back foot, keeping hold of the attacker’s hand on that side.

As you pivot, burst forward with the other foot and release the attacker’s opposite hand. Bring your hand over and press against the pinky side of the attacker’s hand with the heel of your palm (see

close-up).

Keep his hand relatively square in front of your body.

As you complete the large step, make a front kick or, if appropriate, a round kick (using the ball of the foot if possible) to the attacker’s groin. This can be followed by a Side Kick to the knee, or additional attacks.

Tips: The bursting motion you perform while pivoting (Step 4) serves three purposes: 1) it increases pressure on the attacker’s wrist; 2) it helps you regain your balance; and 3) it gets you farther away from the attacker’s other weapons.

Headlock from Behind (Bar Arm)

Here, the attacker lays his forearm across your throat to crush it.

Starting Position: Passive stance, with an attacker applying a headlock from behind.

If possible, turn your chin away from the elbow and toward the attacker’s joined hands. Drop your chin down. Send both hands up and backward to the attacker’s joined hands. Note that both your hands go over one shoulder; your closer hand can lead the other slightly.

Send your hands back far enough to ensure they’ll reach the attacker’s hands (this has the potential benefit of scratching the attacker’s eyes).

Using the plucking motion, pull your hands sharply down along your chest (note that the motion is explosive); turn your inside shoulder sharply inward to create additional space.

Tips: By plucking down along your chest, you will be plucking 90° against the choke. This knowledge becomes important for an overall understanding of the defense, but need not be studied initially.

Both hands may travel at the same time, but the hand closest to the attacker’s hands may arrive first. If so, the second hand should arrive immediately to help.

Slide your head out of the opening.

Make immediate counterattacks with kicks, knees, fists, or whatever is convenient.

Headlock from Behind (Carotid Choke)

Although the carotid choke presents a greater danger than the bar arm, the defense is essentially the same. The attacker reaches around your neck, putting your throat in the crook of his elbow. In this position, he can put pressure on the carotid arteries at the sides of your neck, stopping blood flow to your brain and putting you to “sleep.”

Be aware that an experienced attacker, given time, can create problematic attacks by crossing his rear arm against the back of your neck, increasing pressure and hiding the weak part of the choke. For this reason, awareness and immediate reaction become the best defenses.

Starting Position: Passive stance, with an attacker applying a choking headlock from behind.

Immediately turn your chin away from the elbow and toward the attacker’s joined hands. Drop your chin down.

Send both hands up and backward to the attacker’s joined hands. Note that both your hands go over one shoulder. Send your hands back far enough to ensure they’ll reach the attacker’s hands (this has the potential benefit of scratching the attacker’s eyes).

Using the plucking motion, pluck along your own shoulder, which makes the pluck 90° to the hold (note that the motion is explosive); turn your inside shoulder sharply inward to create additional space.

Slide your head out of the opening.

Make immediate counterattacks with knees, fists, or whatever is convenient.

Tips: As you reach, your near hand may arrive first (in fact, against the carotid choke, it probably will). This is fine, and will often ensure that you reach far enough back. Just be sure your second hand arrives in time to help.