Class 10 - Rear Bear Hug Defenses GU17 and Guillotine Choke (Standing) GU16
Rear Bear Hug Defenses
A surprise attack from behind is one of the most challenging
attacks to overcome. In this lesson, we teach you how to defend
when
someone attempts to choke you or bear hug you from behind.
Technical Slices
1. Rear Choke Defense (Pull Back Variation)
• Indicator: Assailant approaches from behind and chokes you with
intent to drag you into isolation.
• Essential Detail: Immediate control of the assailant’s choking
arm and dropping into base.
• Most Common Mistake: Failure to generate sufficient momentum
during pivot.
• Bad Guy Reminder: Lean back while controlling the neck to add
realism and facilitate the move.
• Safety Tip: Pause before the throw to make sure “bad guy” is
ready for the fall.
• Drill Orders: 1 rep, reverse roles.
2. Rear Choke Defense (Shoulder Slip Variation)
• Indicator: The Pull Back variation does not work because their
grip is too tight, or they are not attempting to pull you
from
behind.
• Essential Detail: Drop your shoulder and rotate toward the
choking arm to fully face the assailant and establish the
clinch.
• Most Common Mistake: Turning in the wrong direction and making
the choke tighter.
• Bad Guy Reminder: As your partner gets more comfortable with the
move, with their permission you can increase the choke
tightness.
• Drill Orders: Start in the rear choke, one rep, reverse roles.
Once more comfortable with the technique, try both sides.
3. Rear Bear Hug Defense (Under-Arm Variation)
• Indicator: Assailant approaches from behind and bear hugs you
without notice.
• Essential Detail: Immediate drop into base placing both hands on
the ground.
• Most Common Mistake: Failure to drive hips back during the
leg-lifting process.
• Safety Tip: If you fall back during knee lock, let go of the leg
to avoid hyper-extending it.
• Drill Orders: 1 rep, reverse roles.
4. Rear Bear Hug Defense (Over-Arm Variation)
• Indicator: Assailant approaches from behind and bear hugs you
over your arms.
• Essential Detail: Spread your elbows and drop straight down to
the ground where you can rotate your body to put them in
Stage 4.
• Most Common Mistake: Failing to walk feet forward while
committing to the downward drop.
• Bad Guy Reminder: Keep your base wide to avoid them landing on
your toes.
• Safety Tip: Hook your partner’s hands to soften the drop, and
look up to avoid hitting your nose.
• Drill Orders: 1 rep, reverse roles.
Guillotine Choke Standing
If we can wrap our sneaky arms around his neck, we have several
reliable chokes that can help us end the fight. In this lesson
we
will learn the Guillotine Choke for when the attacker lowers his
head to tackle you, and the Rear Naked Choke for anytime we
find
ourselves behind an assailant.
Technical Slices
1. Guillotine Choke (Standing)
• Indicator: Assailant attempts to tackle you while standing.
• Essential Detail: Effective wrap of the assailant’s neck.
• Most Common Mistake: Failure to maintain a solid base during the
tackle prevention.
• Bad Guy Reminder: Start slowly and then work your way up.
• Drill Orders: Basic choke practice, then start from distance
control, 2 full reps, reverse roles.
2. Guillotine Choke (Guard-pull)
• Indicator: Assailant successfully tackles you to the ground after
you wrap the neck.
• Essential Detail: Maintain control of the neck during the
transition to the ground.
• Most Common Mistake: Failure to incorporate the whole body during
the squeeze.Bad Guy Reminder: Keep your neck tight
for safety.
• Safety Tip: Hold the neck, but not choke-tight during the
fall.
• Drill Orders: Start from distance control, wrap the neck, pull
guard, reverse roles.
3. Rear Naked Choke (Preparation Drill)
• Essential Detail: Align your elbow under the chin.
• Most Common Mistake: Squeezing with arm strength rather than back
strength.
• Bad Guy Reminder: Tighten up your neck and make sure to clearly
tap on your partners arm.
• Drill Orders: Sitting Rear Naked Choke application, one time on
each side, reverse roles.
4. Rear Naked Choke (With Hooks)
• Indicator: Assailant tries to escape once the choke is
applied.
• Essential Detail: Use your legs to remain connected to your
opponents back.
• Most Common Mistake: Failure to keep consistent pressure on the
neck.
• Safety Tip: Don’t fully choke your partner until hooks/control
have been verified.
• Drill Orders: Establish a (loose) choke position and insert
hooks, ride for 10 seconds, execute choke, reverse roles