Choking and grabbing with straight arms. You see this attack in self-defense and anti-rape seminars all the time. The attacker comes up, puts their hands around your throat and squeezes with their thumbs.
Krav Maga people are famous for this attack. They use it so their signature technique, The Pluck (as seen in the video), will work for everyone. These students perform it from the front, the back, and the side, usually with a front kick following directly behind it.
Jujitsu instructors love this attack so they can reach across, grab the hand, and do their wrist locks and arm bars. Or they like to show how simple it is to escape. They hold up their index finger and drive it into the hollow of the throat, making the person release.
Problem with all of these - None of the defenses listed above are going to work, because nobody is going to choke you this way. The attacker can't get any leverage on a choke with their arms straight. Joint locks, plucking, and grabbing are all good in theory. Here's the reality of the situation. Choking like this is not done nonchalantly. The person choking you is angry, hyped up, and wants to "Choke the living S**T out of you." They want to look into your eyes and watch the life leave your body. If they weren't in this state of mind then this is NOT how they would be engaging with you.
How are they going to do it then? They are going to pull you in tight, arms bent, put all their body weight into it, shake you, and show you that they are in control. You can't do that with your arms straight. IT'S NEVER HAPPENING!
Eric LaLone is the Chief Instructor at the Empower Training Center, and the Head of Sei Shin Jitsu. He has over 30 years of experience in the martial arts and holds Black Belts in Bushido Sei Shin Jitsu, Jujitsu, Karate, Kickboxing, and Vee Arnis Jitsu.
Good article! Also, a possible bigger issue, that goes hand in hand with this, is the attackers belief that the technique will work. How many times have you seen attackers tapping out before the pressure is even applied because they know what is coming. This is dangerous on two ends. 1. The attacker never feels the pain. We should feel it to better know how to apply it when we do it and we need to build up our own resistance. 2. It gives a false sense of accomplishment and skill to the defender. So many times I've watched people demonstrate choreographed technique flawlessly with a familiar partner only to struggle when asked to perform it on a new partner. I'm convinced that this is a large part of why so many instructors are over confident in these techniques and their own skills in general. Think back to the KI demonstrations that we watched. Both the instructor AND his students were convinced that they were either being thrown or doing the throwing by his energy.
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