When you find yourself pressed against a wall with someone choking you from the front, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed. However, a few key moves can give you the leverage you need to escape. The first step is to raise the arm on the same side as the attacker’s choking hand. The goal is to trap their hand between your shoulder, neck, and arm. But this isn’t just about lifting your arm—you need to make sure it’s tight to your head. If you leave space, the choke won’t lose its pressure. Once you have that secure pinch, turn your body downward along the wall. This creates the leverage necessary to manipulate their hand and loosen their grip.
Sometimes, just turning and applying pressure will make them release the choke. But if their hand stays in place, don’t stop there. The real trick is to drop your entire body—not just your elbow. This downward movement, with your whole body weight behind it, generates much more force to break free. Once the choke is broken, you’re in an ideal position to counterattack, using the element of surprise and momentum to regain control of the situation.
How to Escape a Rear Wall Choke
A rear wall choke presents its own challenges, especially since you’re being pushed into the wall from behind. Without quick action, your face could easily meet the wall with force. The first thing you need to do is create a barrier by crossing your arms in front of your face in an X pattern. This protects you from any immediate impact. The next move is to raise the arm that’s on top, using it to trap the attacker’s choking hand, much like you would in the front choke scenario.
Once you have that hand locked in, you want to turn your body, making it difficult for the attacker to maintain their choke. This movement alone may disrupt their grip, but just like in the front choke escape, dropping your entire body adds the necessary force to break free if the choke holds firm. From here, you’re again in a position to counterattack. The ability to move from defense to offense quickly is crucial, and with practice, these steps can be executed smoothly to create space and defend yourself effectively.
By focusing on using body mechanics and leverage, rather than just brute strength, these techniques give you practical tools to escape dangerous situations against a wall. Whether facing a choke from the front or the back, your movements should be deliberate, quick, and effective, allowing you to break free and counter before the attacker can regain control.
