Learning Self Defence:
Defending against being pinned to the floor

By Kru Hemanth Kumar Published on: Tue Mar 15, 2022

Tuck your thumb into the corner of the attacker’s mouth and pull outwards. Simultaneously, use the base of your thumb on his ear lobe to press upwards. The combined pressure on these sensitive areas will inflict enough pain for him to release you. You’ll get a split second to exit the scene before he recovers.

Kru Hemanth Kumar

Seasoned Muay Thai fighter and 3-time bronze winner in the world championships, Kru Hemanth Kumar has also perfected Self-Defence techniques targeting vulnerable pressure points. He has spent three decades teaching and training in multiple styles of Muay Thai.

In this article, we will be discussing some crucial moves to escape your attacker when he has you pinned to the floor. One situation you never want to get into is being pinned to the ground. The complete lack of mobility makes this an especially vulnerable position for a woman to be in.

Your goal when you feel a fight going to the ground is to do one simple thing – get back on your feet as quickly as possible! But if all your efforts fail and you still end up on the floor with your attacker on top, don’t panic. This is where your technical knowledge and regular practice will allow you to win the battle! First and most importantly, do not PANIC! Keep your breathing steady and conserve your energy for the actual fight.

Next, tuck your thumb into the side corner of the attacker’s mouth and start pulling outward. At the same time, use the base of your thumb on his ear lobe at the rear of the jaw bone to press upwards. Use as much pressure as you can. Together, the pressure created on both these sensitive areas will inflict enough pain for your attacker to release you from his grip. Giving you the split second you need to flee the scene and get yourself some help.

The moves discussed in this article are to be used to weaken the assailant and give you enough time to get away. Do not stay where your attacker is. He might have friends waiting. Get away as fast as possible, and call for 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.