Choke Release Before Wrist Lock

Imagine that someone has you gripped by your throat. A big hulk has you
pinned to the wall with a solid clamp of one hand, while the other hand
prepares to pound you with power punches.

What do you do?

If the attacker has a long reach, then you probably won’t be able to
reach his face, body, or groin …

Imagine that this turkey has you at full extension and you can’t reach him. Are you with me?

The easiest, most direct response is to attack what you can reach. In this case, your arm.

Remember: Bruce Lee always advised attacking the closest target. You can’t get much closer than the arm throttling you.

The Easiest Release

Over the years, I have found a fairly simple release to this type of choke. While I might really want to eye jab my opponent or poke my forefinger into the indentation at the base of his throat, I just can’t reach this huge aggressor’s body.

But I can reach his arm … or more specifically, his elbow.

If you know a fancy move of one hand striking on the inside of his arm, and the other arm hitting the outside, near the elbow, then by all means snap that arm straight. Cause pain to the elbow. And effect an immediate release.

If you don’t know such moves, don’t worry. Just slap his elbow hard enough, and he’ll release his grip.

A Fork in the Road

I’m not talking about a real bifurcation on a street, rather two common responses that occur, after you slap his elbow.

Typically, he’ll either bend forward, trying to get some slack in his arm, so it’s no longer extended straight out … or, he’ll pull his arm away, trying to, again, protect from more pain.

Either response can be used to your advantage:

If he bends forward, then he’s bringing new targets into your range … specifically, the eyes and groin. And if he bends backwards or pull his arm away, then you have succeeded in stopping the immediate threat to your throat, and you have the opportunity to pursue him with your own attack (careful of legal consequences of now being the aggressor).

As The Enemy Retreats or Advances

Whether your opponent moves forward or backwards, I think you’ll find new openings … on the movement. His very moves will create openings. These are targets that he probably isn’t guarding, because he’s concerned with the elbow pop that you just tagged him with.

Practice all of this in slow motion, at first. Then speed up and continue to find the same targets.

Thoughts?

So, why did I title this a Choke Release “Before a Wrist Lock“???

Tags: choked, elbow hit, self-defense, throat grab defense