In this article, we will be discussing some handy techniques you can use to escape an attacker when he has you held by your hand or in a strong hip lock. When you’re in a confrontation where your attacker has you held by your hand or by a hip lock, you only have a few seconds and a few moves to try before the fight may be decided. Before your attacker has gained full control over you, you must do everything you can – conserving as much energy as possible – to inflict enough injury, so you can get away.

Let’s look at the most effective moves to handle this threat. First and most importantly, do not PANIC! Stabilise yourself with strong legs to ensure a powerful blow and keep your breathing steady! Now, strike your attacker on the bridge of his nose using the hammer fist. Make sure you strike with all the strength you can gather.

The hammer fist is similar to the standard fist, except that it uses the edge of the hand to make contact with the target rather than the knuckles. Other than being a powerful strike, the hammer fist has the advantage of being a safe method of attack; since you are striking with the fleshy part of the side of your hand, there is very little to damage.

Driving such a strong strike straight down on the nose will temporarily stop your attacker by causing instant tearing, an inability to see, and, very likely will break the nose. Next, use your thumbs to press into the inside corners of the attacker’s eyes. The eyes are always a great target because, no matter what the size and strength of the attacker, he cannot develop any effective resistance to an attack on his eyes!

Finally, while he’s dealing with the overwhelming pain, take the chance to follow up with a strong chop to the side of the neck or a knee to the groin. This should knock your opponent to the ground and give you that split-second you need to flee the scene and get yourself some help.

Make sure you practise these moves daily with a willing partner or in front of a mirror, so you don’t panic and/or freeze when this happens in real life. If you enjoyed reading about these techniques in self-defence, do check out our other blogs. Do share these blogs with friends and family, or with anyone who you think will find the information useful.