In today’s lesson, you are going to learn some quick yet powerful moves that can help you escape a strong rear neck choke. A rear choke hold is what we call a master grip. It can leave you unconscious in under 6 seconds, depending on your lung capacity. The lack of a visual on your attacker adds to the dangers of this attack; making it all the more important for you to get out of this as quickly and efficiently as possible. So, let’s look at an effective way to escape this tricky situation.

First and foremost, do not PANIC! Get yourself into a proper posture to gain stability and keep your breathing steady. The key is to conserve energy and not move unnecessarily. Just move as efficiently as possible to make the most of the situation.

When challenged from behind, your attacker’s foot is the easiest target. So, for our first strike, we are going to use the heel of the foot to stomp the flat base area just below the toes. Not the toes, not the ball of your foot, but the heel. Stomping is a strong and effective defence when done with speed and power, and this move is sure to force your attacker to release or loosen his hold. Just make sure you don’t hesitate in your actions; otherwise, you will warn him you are going to kick him.

Next, shift your weight a little forward and drive the side of your elbow into the attacker’s face. A reverse elbow strike is a great defence technique to inflict maximum damage with minimal effort and is sure to take your attacker by surprise.

Lastly, hold your attacker’s hand in that same attacking position and twist the arm as hard as possible. Now, drive a kick into the side of the attacker's knee with all your strength. This angle makes the most of the striking surface and reduces chances of missing the target. Giving you all the time you need to flee the scene and get yourself some help.

The moves we have just discussed are meant to weaken the assailant and give you enough time to get away. It's not advisable to keep attacking the assailant, as that will reduce your getaway time and attract the assailant's companions. And while I sincerely hope you’ll never have any reason to use these techniques, I do want to remind you that using these techniques is at your own risk.

Do 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. You can also share these blogs with friends and family, or with anyone who you think will find the information useful.