Darren Levine - Krav Maga for Beginners

SOLUTION→ Plucking

The natural reaction to this attack is to bring the hands to where the danger or pain is. The plucking motion turns this instinct into a defense, which relies on explosiveness (speed) as opposed to strength. If possible, turn your chin towards the attacker’s hands while tucking it down against your body.

1Send both hands up and back towards the attacker’s hands.

2Pluck down explosively, 90° to the attack. If the attack is on the throat, this will mean along the chest. If the attack is on the sides of the neck, the pluck motion will be along the shoulder.

3-5Continue to turn towards the opening created by the pluck and slide your head out immediately.

INITIAL COUNTERATTACK→ Shoulder Strike. Your inside shoulder should turn sharply into the attacker’s body, creating more space in order to make it easier to remove your head from the hold.

NEUTRALIZING THE ATTACKER→ As soon as your head has been removed from the hold, immediately attack with knees, punches, hammerfists, or other available combatives.

• turn and tuck your chin as soon as possible

• pluck explosively, 90° to the attack

• send both hands back as far as possible

• after turning sharply with your shoulder, remove your head

• attack aggressively with whatever strikes are available

I’m not breaking the attacker’s grip. What am I doing wrong?

It’s possible that nothing is wrong with the defense. The plucking motion is designed to weaken the grip and eliminate pressure by creating space. It’s not designed to break the grip, although it’s attacking the attack’s weakest point.

Why can’t I get my head out after making the pluck?

While you don’t need much space, it’s important to make sure that you’re turning your chin, removing your head in such a way that it’s narrower. Also, depending on the strength of the attacker, a strong and explosive shoulder turn should help to create additional space.

Training Tips:While it’s important to train from positions of disadvantage, this attack is extremely dangerous and difficult to defend if very late. You should place great emphasis on defending EARLY.

In order to make the pluck as explosive as possible, think about sending the hands back, as if trying to strike the attacker’s eyes, then plucking down. In most cases, going straight to the hands will not provide the momentum needed.

ATTACK→ In this attack, the defender has been grabbed around the body, from the front, with the defender’s arms trapped against the body.

IMMEDIATE DANGER→ None. Unlike most other attacks, the bearhug itself does not cause damage. The actual hold presents no immediate danger.

SECONDARY DANGERS→ Location change, takedown, multiple attackers. As a hold, the danger lies in the attacker’s motivation: picking up the defender to change locations, taking the defender to the ground, holding the defender in place for another attacker, etc.

SOLUTION & INITIAL COUNTERATTACK→ Base and Space, Counterattack.

1Drop your weight immediately in order to make it more difficult for the attacker to lift you. Strike or grab the attacker’s groin, with one or both hands, in order to create space.

2-3Send the heels of your palms to your attacker’s hips in order to maintain space; attack with knees to the groin and/or midsection.

NEUTRALIZING THE ATTACKER→ As soon as enough space is created, control the attacker by bringing your inside arm up, grabbing where the attacker’s shoulder and neck meet, laying your forearm along the attacker’s neck and down his chest. This position will allow you to deliver more knees and kicks, as well as more readily defend takedown attempts.

• base and space and send counterattacks immediately

• if there is no space, create it by striking or grabbing the groin

• control the hips to maintain space

• transition control to the attacker’s shoulder and neck when possible

• attack aggressively with knees and kicks

• disengage when deemed safe

What if there is space initially? Do I need to do the groin strike?

No, though you should begin counterattacking immediately, whether you strike the groin, stomp the foot, or whatever else is available.

With no space, I’m having a hard time accessing the groin. What is wrong?

It may be difficult to get to the groin, but if you shift your hips to one side, that should allow an avenue for attacks to the groin.

My training partner does not react very much to the initial groin strike. Is that okay?

A big reaction should not be expected, and it’s not necessary. The groin strike is not expected to end the fight. If your opponent shifts his hips back slightly, just enough for you to establish a base with your feet, that is enough.

Training Tips:Remember, it may not be necessary to create space. Regardless, you should counterattack as soon as possible. Unlike other attacks, the counterattack can be first, since the hold itself is not dangerous.

When striking the groin to create space, the hands are typically quickest, but you may also strike with your knee by taking your leg back and bringing your knee in towards the groin.

ATTACK→ In this attack, the defender has been grabbed around the body, from the front, with the defender’s arms free to move.

IMMEDIATE DANGER→ None. Unlike most other attacks, the bearhug itself does not cause damage. The actual hold presents no immediate danger.

SECONDARY DANGERS→ Location change, takedown, multiple attackers. As a hold, the danger lies in the attacker’s motivation: picking up the defender to change locations, taking the defender to the ground, holding the defender in place for another attacker, etc.

SOLUTION & INITIAL COUNTERATTACK→ Base and Space, Counterattack

1Drop your weight immediately in order to make it more difficult for the attacker to lift you; send your hips and feet back as far as possible while sending your hands to the attacker’s hips.