Defending yourself against the deadly rear strangle, complicated by a hammer lock.

1. A rear strangle with hammer lock combination can be difficult to escape from. Quick action is required so as not to get choked out or dragged to the ground. Using your free hand, pull down on the choking arm and move your chin to the crook of him arm to keep your airway and blood flow to the brain.
2. For illustration purposes I have my attacker (training partner) twisting so that you can see my hand grabbing his shirt or jacket. I want to hold on tight as this prevents him from cranking up the hammer lock on my arm.
3. Direction reversed to see strike. Next, using your free hand, slap the groin.
4. Back to original direction. Immediately after the groin strike, reach up and grab your own hand (the one that is holding on to his shirt). Drive down hard with both hands, straightening our your arm.
5. Then immediately snap your arm straight forward, breaking the hold on the hammer lock wrist.
6. From here you basically have a rear strangle, now that the hammer lock is broken. So, go into the same techniques used in that defense. (Here I am driving a rear elbow into his abdomen at a 45 degree angle).

Continued

This clip is taken from Street Self Defense 101. Please visit http://www.easy-self-defense.com for more details.