Defenses Against A Front Shirt Grab

This page focuses on self-defense techniques that allow students to escape from a front shirt grab or a front shoulder grab.

For more self-defense techniques, please visit the main Self-Defense section.

An easy self protection technique against a shirt grab.

1. As you opponent places there hand on you, with the same hand clap down onto it and do not let it go.
2. With the opposite leg to the hand you have used to clap on with, step back and turn so you are at 90 degree's to the opponent, they should start moving towards you.
3. Raise elbow of hand you have just clapped onto them with so they fall onto this, the target can be anywhere, chest, neck face etc.
4. As soon as this connects straighten that arm and push back on attacker, using front leg to trip opponent and release trapped hand. Or alternatively, wrap the arm which just elbowed them around the neck so they are back facing floor in a choke, with other arm elbow strike to stomach, and drive them to floor.

What we have used there is to hyper extend there body by pulling them onto your elbow, also there own weight onto this strike, so this if done quickly can be quite effective.