What’s the best way to escape a bear hug from an attacker?

Question

So say I was walking home at night and a guy grabbed me from behind what would be my best defence in escaping his grasp? Also let’s assume he’s got a good 20kg of weight on me.

Levin · Accepted Answer

We had a set escape when I did some wrestling but personally I thought it was garbage. Too complicated for real life situations and presumably watered down because you're not supposed to flail around and hit people in the head with your elbows. So much for martial arts being realistic.

That would be my suggestion or instinctive movement by the way. Personally, if my arms were free, I'd be lifting them, twisting around, and elbowing towards the head. If not, then everything else would be thrashing around as violently as possible, perhaps headbutting back for example. Twisting your torso definitely, trying to escape with whatever means possible.

Whether this would work or be some kind of fail safe, well, I can't guarantee that!

Of course, learning some realistic self defence with some realistic resistance, keeping fit, and being aware of your surroundings will help rather than having specific moves in mind. Hopefully you can evade most danger by keeping out of those situations to begin with. Not walking around late at night, in secluded areas.

Also, if you do any martial arts, make sure it tries to ingrain and reinforce instinctive movements against an attacker that isn't just going to do some choreograph. There's so much crap martial arts out there, in many traditional martial arts, and even in some supposedly credible ones.

Pyrofox · Accepted Answer

I taught my nieces to fight with everything they got if they ever get bear hugged by a stranger. Chances are you aren't going to get away the next best step is sense when he positions his face behind yours and if you got the flexibility back head butt him as hard as you can.

And then just sissor finger him for good measure and run as fast as you can. Nothing is more painful and more of a sensory overload that having your nose and eyes get completely squashed.

I will admit this did land my youngest niece at the time I can say it was 2nd or 3rd grade in detention after 5th grader tried to beat her up. Lol. All I'm gonna say is he needed to ice something for something close to a week after losing her temper. All I'm gonna say is it left her with a delinquent status at her school lmao.

theothersider · Accepted Answer

I am a woman who has Black Belt in BJJ and moonlight as a NRA certified fire arms instructor. in hand gun shot gun rifle and tactics. if you are not a troll or a cat fish and you have an ounce common fucking sense, listen to me for a moment. Your best chances in that moment is compliance or making a scene so loud that it draws attention. Because by that point if you let a man sneak up and get close enough to attack you then you are already at a disadvantage and a real fight will likely get you hurt.

I mean by all means do what ever you think you need to do in that moment to save your ass. But the first rules of not getting raped murdered or robbed is never walk anywhere a lone at night. if you have to, do not be on your phone EVER for any reason your head should be on a swivel at all times you should paying attention to what is around you not whats on your Instagram. travel lightly do not be carrying a bunch of shit in your hands that could be distracting you or makes you look like an easy target. Get real martial arts training get fire arm training buy a gun learn how to use that gun. Criminals are a lot like predaory animals. they do not want to fight you. they are looking for the dumbest weakest most distracted victim to prey on... do not be that person that looks like an easy meal.

LaFemmeFatale_1 · Accepted Answer

It has happened to me and my cousin too,

The city we live in is very safe and we walked late to home, she wore gold necklace on her neck, suddenly one guy hugged her from behind and put his hand on her neck, being 17 and naive we laughed, thinking he was one of her friends, we realized what happened only after I saw bloody scratch on her neck and her necklace was gone while the guy was running and he was holding a small weapon in his hand, thanks god we thought he was a friend and didn’t do anything to provoke his aggression.

TommyMountainFigure · Answer

Stamp on his foot as hard as you can. Lift up your other foot. and kick your leg back so his leg goes backwards against the knee bone. That will do enough damage to release his grip and limit his chances of catching you.. Then run to the nearest brightly lit built up area and shout 'rape/ call the police' at the top of your voice

Bratsondanielle · Answer

I would try my best to get the muzzle anywhere on him and repeatedly pull the trigger until he stops breathing. If people saw me I'd call 911. If Noone saw me I would go on with my night. Besides you should always travel inside a locked vehicle at night

Aerissa_Jade · Answer

My first thought was Bear spray, haha, but since I've taken two self-defense classes if someone snuck up on me from behind and grabbed me, even being heavier I'd still be able to throw him down.

I've done it before to a boyfriend who should of known better and he was like WTF, why'd you do that, it hurt.

Yucy_Gluttony · Answer

I would duck and move to the side, since he balances on me if I move away from that center of balance, he'll lose that balance for a moment. By going to the side I might be turned half away from him? Maybe that gives me the opening to go for the leg? If you grab a leg, he'll lose balance completely. Now imagine lifting the leg up... between your legs and then you can keep that straight and drop down with force. He can say goodbye to that leg

Sixgunsound · Answer

Tuck your chin to avoid a choke. If his hands are up around your torso he isn’t guarding the family jewels or his nose. Both hurt a lot, and a surprise attack can destabilize for critical seconds which enable you to execute a follow up strike. There is no such thing as a fair fight. Claw eyes punch windpipe, smash joints the wrong direction, break fingers or toes. Brachial pressure points can release arms if done right.

AviatorTom · Answer

There are a few things you can do.
1. Scream as loud as you can to attract attention from others who may be in the area. That may scare him away.
2. Quickly push both of your elbows back into his rib cage. That should surprise him and let you get away from him.
3. If you can, knee him in the groin, hard. He'll double over in pain.
4. Whenever you can get away, run like hell to the nearest safe place you can find

Razp_Sorbet · Answer

Make yourself limp so you're heavier and dead weight then flail your whole body, it's pretty impossible to keep a hold of someone if they are wiggling around a lot. As soon as you are dropped run and scream for help

Hellodownthere · Answer

Biting is good if you can get your teeth into him. Bite as hard as you can. Kick and flail and scratch and bite and grab his balls and stomp on his feet. Whatever it takes to get free. Be hard to keep a hold of like a feral cat. Ever see feral cats that don't wanna be picked up. Do likewise. Get vicious.

Luggit · Answer

Scream as loud as you can, but at the same time step to the side for a back fist to his balls. As soon as you back fist his balls, then up with your elbow to his chin and make your break, but keep screaming as you make your run.

DizzyDesii · Answer

I’d throw my head back and headbutt them

AydenHazor · Answer

If you're feet are on the ground, stomp on the to of his foot, placing ask your weight and force on your heel. If he picked you up, kick back into his knee. Do as much damage as you can to him until his grip loosens and you can break free.

admles · Answer

The advice in this thread is terrible.

NONE of these techniques will work unless you've practiced them thousands of times, with resisting opponents.

Don't think you can just look up a trick or a move and then pull it off in a real life situation. You have to train regularly, consistently with opponents who will resist you, and use basic techniques that don't require complex movements.

Your best bet is to be vigilant and alert and hope this never happens.

Ray1980 · Answer

I would go for either of these two options. Either gouge eyes or smash their collarbone with elbow strikes. The neck is also a very good area to attack but that can be deadly. I would always encourage any woman to have mace at ALL times.

Guy13 · Answer

Bite the bear on the arm and hope they throw you to the grown. Throw your purse so they can catch it. Run 🏃🏼‍♀️ 🏃🏼‍♀️🏃🏼‍♀️

Amur8711 · Answer

Headbutt him as hard as you can in the nose, go for the eyes or attack the balls, don't play fair and go all out doing it. If you have a weapon when you break free use it, weather its a tazer, pepper spray, knife, or those pointed pen sizes tools, if you have a whistle so others know, or finally if you have a gun shoot him until the threat stops.

mstbooblover · Answer

Hit as hard as you can one of his feet with your heel, and run. I'm not a girl, but once at the border school a bigger and stronger guy grabbed me from behind, and believe me he let me immediately go from the pain when I kicked his foot very hard.

VanillaSalt · Answer

Grab nuts with hand and squeeze… jump and slam heel into his foot… if your shorter throw your head back into his nose… this can cause you whiplash and kill him so careful…

dustybiker · Answer

Hang. Don’t stand, it only makes it easier for him. When he loosens his grip then do what some of the others have suggested as in attack, disable and then run.

MrCommodore · Answer

Go for his eyes, you should be able to reach them. Also while his arms/hands may be stronger, your hand will be stronger than his individual fingers, so break a finger if possible.

20yearsolder · Answer

Stomp on his foot to start with, as hard as you can. If you can get your hand behind your back, grab a handful of balls

Exterminatore · Answer

Thrust your butt backwards while thrusting your arms forwards, but be sure to use your newly freed arms to guide the attackers arms past you as you slip out. No need to turn a bare hung into a rear naked choke.

Irunya41 · Answer

If you still can move your legs while he has hold of you, knee him in the crotch, he'll double over, get another shot on the nose and then run. Reason is, first time he lets go, second time he should be bleeding so if he chases you, it looks worst

TrueConfection · Answer

Bend forward and thrust your head back to break his nose, heel to the groin, turn and jab your fingers in his eyes and run.

ImNoOne111 · Answer

You can use your elbow to hit the balls, bite the hand, hit his balls with swinging back your leg, because of the 20 kg on you, you can't reverse it but its always an option if you are strong enough. Or kindly ask him to let you go 😅

GagsUgliestMember · Answer

The law, it's the reason that sort of thing will probably never happen. to. u,
So. law is your best defence mechanism

. no. guy wants to be labelled a molestor or. creep

But if. it. does. happen. Keep. some. pepperspray on ya

TallAnon · Answer

Scream as hard as you can, both to surprise him and perhaps receive help from the outside. Then aim for vitals, balls, eyes, anything you can reach.

exitseven · Answer

Stomp on the instep of his foot. When he feels that he will loosen his grip on you.

Subarugirl · Answer

In close quarters use elbows, knees and, palms. Throw your head back to try and hit him in the nose, aim for sensitive parts of the body, eyes, nose, throat, neck, solar plexus and crotch.

spartan55 · Answer

Either throw your head back and try to break his nose or stomp on his instep as hard as you can.

Staximus · Answer

Put your head down and then swing it back into his face as hard and fast as you can, swing your elbow point into his ribs, or bite a chunk out of his arm

salamidealer · Answer

In these cases I find it easiest to lift up your legs and kick them at there knees and private area.

rabbitzzz · Answer

While its risky to walk home at night like that for a MILF like you, you could try a back kick aimed at the balls.

douride2 · Answer

Slam the back of your head into his nose. You could also try stomping on his ankle.

boobliker · Answer

mace him with a cheap sent spray with a yellow sticker on the can with the word in red it just caned air is all that you need

VikingWarLord · Answer

Move your foot back behind one of his legs to twist your body enough to bite his ear off

gabby100 · Answer

If you have heels on , stamp the heel on his toes and kick him in the shins..

007kingifrit · Answer

slather yourself in honey to easily slip out of his grasp. though this will attract more bears they will be less likely to succeed at harming you

Anonymous · Answer

Lift your feet off the ground and now he will have to support all your weight.

Blaine999 · Answer

Best bet: smash the back of your head into his face. He won't expect it, could possibly make him reel and if you get his nose then his eyes will water making it harder for him to see

Bubbles16 · Answer

If he's coming at you from behind I'd say just throw your foot back and kick him in his private area

NibirX · Answer

Safety pin... Sneeze... Coughing like dying... as he did something wrong... Embarrassment he would feel😇

Sabretooth · Answer

Aim for their feet or push back and force you both to fall.

Anonymous · Answer

learn krav maga and systema they'll teach you what you need to know

John_Doesnt · Answer

Pull out your gun and shoot them in the foot.

Andro36 · Answer

Knock his balls or use a taser

IsoUser · Answer

Head straight back into attackers nose

Hispanic-Cool-Guy · Answer

Back kick to the nuts.

msc545 · Answer

Stomp on his foot and pray.

Twalli · Answer

Kick him in the balls with your heel.

Agape93 · Answer

How tall are you

clemdenim · Answer

knock his face with your head, squeeze balls tight

joeldalton · Answer

shit on him.

Wise4myage · Answer

Knee to the balls.

SignedAutographs · Answer

No idea

Anonymous · Answer

Tickle his balls.

CubaPirate · Answer

A knee to the groin

flirtatiousgirl · Answer

Kick him m dick

What’s the best way to escape a bear hug from an attacker?

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If you were actively being attacked by a bear, who is more likely to try and save you?

What’s the best way to escape a bear hug from an attacker?

Most Helpful Opinions

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What Girls & Guys Said

If you were actively being attacked by a bear, who is more likely to try and save you?

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