What would you do if...

[ps1]

Ok,

This one's for non-grapplers. I already know your answers. I'm curious to see how the non-grappler would react in the following situation:

Somehow someone tackled you and is now mounted on top of you. Their hand is at your throat and they are about to punch you. What do you feel you would do?

Clearly you're in a bad sitiuation. Try to avoid the cliche' answers like, "I wouldn't get there" or "I'd knee him as he takes me down." You're there...what do you like to do to defend yourself?

As a disclaimer, I don't want this to turn into any kind of flame either. If you don't agree with how someone handles the situation, please say so respectfully.

[hayashishodan]

Based on the info that means they only have one hand on you . I would grab the arm (the one with hand on throat) push above the wrist and pull below elbow(opposite directions) and try and roll out of it.

[NightOwl]

'Tis certainly not a pretty spot to be in, grappler or not. I have been getting into grappling as of late, so I am going to give a stab at it as if grappling was for the most part out of the equation (although even boxing has its own version of the clinch- there isn't really a completely grappling free style). The first thing I would do is get my hands up- I don't want to take a big hammer punch directly to the face. The second would be to probably take some strikes to the ribs of my opponent as I wouldn't want to reach all the way up to his head and thereby open myself up even further. I might also make a 'nail' fist and strike rapidly and hard at the back of their hand grabbing my throat (try this roughly around the middle of the back of your hand...it hurts). Finally, I might even try and drudge up some rough trapping, which has bought me time before in the past in situations like that during sparring (I have had a very limited amount of wing chun training which has unexpectedly been useful at times). If you are really good at trapping, you might be able to out box your attacker. However if you use primarily kicks, then you are kind of in trouble.

[bushido_man96]

I would attempt to grab a finger and pull it away, and try to get to an eye with the other hand at the same time. Then, I think I would try to thrust my hips up and to a side, and try to get the guy off, and roll over to get up.

[SBN Doug]

Technically I'm not a grappler, but we do have a lot of standing grappling. Sooo....

If his left is on my throat and he's preparing to punch with the right;

I'd reach my left hand over to place my palm on the back of his hand (pointing my elbow up toward the incoming punch for covering my face), get my fingers under the pinky side of his palm while bracing the wrist with my right, peel his hand off and rotate the elbow and shoulder to my left to lock the joint, roll my body to that direction to pin his arm under me, then either sinch the lock or break the elbow (or dislocate the shoulder).

[Montana]

I'm not a good grappler, but one thing always comes to mind in that scenerio is that where the head goes, the body follows. One hand under his chin, the other behind his head (assuming of course you can reach it) or grabbing his hair and twisting hard...VERY hard. Basically like bulldogging a steer.

That, or attacking his eyes and throat viciously. Put him on the defensive until you can get to your feet.

[TraditionalDan]

I think grabbing a finger with either or both hands is a good one, if not, striking the elbows inwards or outwards can reveal more opportunities to attack more vulnerable areas.

[Jay]

Very difficult question after you have been trained in grappling.

Personally I think that grabbing his finger etc would take too long and he would have hit you by the time you manage to do this. I think I actually would just hit him first and then use pressure points eye gouges etc even may pull their hair or ears im pretty sure someone would get off you if your pulling some delicate part of their head.

[ps1]

Very difficult question after you have been trained in grappling.

This is exactly why I asked the question. I'm going to be working with some people with little/ no ground experience at all. I'm trying to get back into their mindset, so to speak. I've been in BJJ for almost 4 years now and the other options simply don't occur to me anymore without me thinking of an imediate grappling counter.

For example: If I'm mounted and someone reaches up in any way, I armbar. From there I can keep on going to other submissions or ways to stand. But those counters are not obvious to the non-grappler and I'm trying to get a handle on some of the information I'll need to cover. Your responses are very helpful.

[dete]

I'd go with simple principals.

1. defend the punch/choke/submission/attack

2. control them (you can start by hindering their posture, and work towards getting to a good position for full control)

I think it really helps to look at old school vale tudo tapes,

from a BJJ point of view, your actually too technical, too good for

your own good

for example I'll defend Royce Gracie when he fought Matt Hughes,

Royce is so good, how many times do people get his back in training,

how many times has he trained the rear mount escape since he was a

blue belt?