Real Wrist Escape and Control Techniques for Self Defense and MMA

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Icy Mike: Imperfect
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Wrist control as a lot of arts teach it is a virtually nonexistent thing in actual fights. Wrestlers do this all day every day in the form of handfighting. When you add in strikes, wrist control and handfighting changes significantly. These are some wrist control and wrist escape techniques and principles for a standup fight with striking involved, or at least one that starts standing.
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[@TheRosyCodex]

Awww the look on Jay's face at 3:13 when Mike called his arm cute

[@round5fit163]

Priceless 😂

[@Nepthu]

The bromance is real.

[@Projectdarksource]

He was like aw bro, you noticed LoL... J/k.

[@TheCantoneseGuyLucas]

In judo we do a lot of wrist control and it looks like what you were doing 👍

[@edwhlam]

Win the grip fight, win the throw.

[@TheCantoneseGuyLucas]

@@edwhlam oh yes!

[@TheCantoneseGuyLucas]

@Kane Vision I know that feeling! Hope you can find a partner or a place were you can practice again ;)

[@SenseiSeth]

“Grab my wrist... other wrist” 😂😂

[@joeluigi2008]

'My other wrist'

[@SenseiSeth]

I teach wrist releases on a regular basis. Too many people’s immediate reaction is to push and pull rather than twist

[@intrepidschool]

Coffee and Hard2Hurt: that's how I start the damn day, son.

[@FrodeFalch]

Haha thats me right now

[@jasonperry7010]

How you start a day correct

[@round5fit163]

Ahah yes thats a good start to the day

[@fireknight187]

I have always avoided self defense channels but lately I been curious to see what's going on. These guys are gold. Pragmatic and easy to understand great instruction here. Coffee in hand lol.

[@10moonj]

I come from a TMA background and we did spend sometime working wristlocks. Our instructor was pretty up front with us an acknowledged that someone can just snatch their wrist away. However they have to let go to do it, which is still a win. That being said, we still learned this kind of wrist escape you demonstrate.

[@HeavyHardDrive]

HeavyHardDrive: "If he did that i would do this" Great video. You're correct. A lot of styles teach wrist grabs with arms down. Same technique used, but it is more real world application with hands up.

[@thejoojoo9999]

I like what you say about wrist control in fights and self defense. It seems very practical and not many people talk about it.

[@jonatanlj747]

Yep, totally overlooked by many who don't do anything. I don't really have much formal fighting education but I practice fighting with my friends and have been in a couple minor scuffs. If you can dominate their wrist, you can dominate most fights.

[@mitubogoogle]

hard2grab if this is not AIKIDO, Mike!😀 good stuff

[@masterchief167]

Mike! You're an inspiration man! Congratulations on 100K subscribers!!!!

[@daveedfermin8824]

Congratulations on 100k Subscribers! I'm happy for you and this channel.

[@loveasians7208]

Rest of the video is awesome. 🙂 Thank you for sharing.

[@nunninkav]

To flip the guy with "bull-shido", involves a bit of space and foot work. When he grabs your wrist, circle out side and away, while bringing your joined arms to your belt knot (center), always moving away, you are now standing outside his punching range with the opposite hand, his arm holding your wrist is now straight and extended, making sure his arm remains extened, turn in reversing your circle while always moving away and roll his wrist over keeping it at your center, now cirlce in and turn his wrist over using both hands and your abdomen. He will either follow his wrist and you have thrown him, or you will spiral fracture his forearm bones. Doing this technique with proper foot work, manipulation of the attackers posture and limb as well as creating space, he will not be able to "just punch you with the other hand". Use the power of your whole body against his one limb and both your combined body weights against one joint to finish and let physics and anatomy do the work for you.

[@dylanrexrode]

I've been waiting for you to make this video, I teach a lot of wrist control in my self-defense class, because it's mostly women and children. Thank you for some added insight into these techniques, I will confer with my teaching partner about utilizing this new found information. 👍

[@DriftmanX]

Great information. Thank you

[@AlexanderGent]

Have you been talking some Aikido lessons? As a lot of the points you are making are Aikido principles! You are right about practicing grabs with hands up. I always say this as its not practiced enough if at all!

[@colesaul-milligan7478]

Thanks guys!

[@gordondunn3694]

I was taught that when I was 10 years old and it has helped me in every fight of being mean in

[@Victor-gr2yj]

Omg this is so *a* *i* *k* *i* *d* *o*

[@mitubogoogle]

Yes

[@dabash00r]

more like ju jutsu, but yeah, aikio has those, too.

[@thef.a.c.e.foundation8316]

100% But he does it saying it doesn't work. Lol

[@screamtheguy6425]

We also train wrist control and escapes in WIng Chun! Nice to see MMA practitioners addressing this aspect of combat as well!

[@zhaozilong99]

Interesting, these are ones like ones we learn in Chen Taiji and Eagle Claw. Fun.

[@karolkrzywinski3819]

I love your videos Mike, so big pice of good work... always :) Greatings from Poland :)

[@HomeBizNetworkscom]

great video.. i traid hapkido for a very long time.. now im in to bjj.. you mentioned a big point. the spreading the fingers is essential, we call that "live hands in hapkido " also a big component to braeking wrist grips is level changing so you kinda bend lower at the knees or stand taller as you circle twods the thumb. its funny how alot of ppl say wrist control and wrist breaks are legit. ppl say oh ppl dont grab wrists in real fights. how ever basic wrist controle stuff is key and is alot more common then ppl relize.. great video.. mike.. cheers to having a real discussion on wrist breaking concepts.. IM a little guy so to me its about timing and leverage.

[@TENNSUMITSUMA]

1:08 easiest way to escape that is to twist your wrist so that the 'blade' part of your wrist faces the opening where his thumb meets his middle finger, then pull it in the direction of the opening. That's the one thing aikido got right... even thought I learned it in taekwondo class back in the 90's before I would have gotten my white belt.

[@goodbuy7556]

2:56 now isn't that an awesome example of how kata is applied?

[@umbrellastation25]

Lol ok no-spar boy

[@ficedulamortis6434]

What Kata? There's literally no point in doing Kata if this is all you get from it lol

[@goodbuy7556]

@@umbrellastation25 WHAT!?! I spar, like every day, under kickboxing and mma rules*

[@goodbuy7556]

@@ficedulamortis6434 of course this is not everything, and you don't get some physical ability from doing kata, due to it being a instruction and not a training method like modern jumping, screaming karateka does it. Just for a record I spar on a daily basis with good kickboxers, wrestlers...(mostly under mma rules) and I apply kata all the time(99% in grappling) like for example, age uke(so called upper block) is actually no block, but I frame created in clinch in order to pass opponent's overhook and take the back. (fist on the hip represent the need of every technique to be done while you are grabbing some part of opponents body)...I hope I explained right

[@Kerthil]

Kata may make sense if you put it in context.

[@samhansen5323]

This is highly entertaining, yet strangely informative. I have no training. Keep going please.

[@feirabbitt]

Good hand fighting skills.

[@jorgebueso7948]

Nice side kick!

[@dabash00r]

Nice Vid! One remark: you can also role your wrist sideways, always over his thumb.

[@michaelhanrahan738]

We do a similar wrist escape from the hands down position. The only difference is as we're applying the leverage with our elbow, we rotate our wrists so that our thumbs are aimed at that gap between their thumb and fingers, then adjust our angle so that the lever force is applied in that direction instead of against the thumb. It makes it that much easier to escape a much stronger opponent, or someone with a vice-like grip.

[@fightbackselfdefence8833]

"Some dumb shit is just gonna be like 'I'd ...'," - sums up the comments column on a lot of vids. Love your energy Hard2hurt

[@edi9892]

Wristlocks and throughs in a brawl are notoriously hard to pull off, but as soon as it becomes a grappling match, you can do it, if you know how and it´s perfectly possible to actually force someone on the ground, or dislocate a joint. They are particularly nasty, if the opponent is already on the floor or in a compromised position.

[@HouseOfWarriorsverobeach]

You Never fail to disappoint. This is very similar and I could see we have a very similar background from Korean martial arts. And I do teach how to escape from risk wraps with your hands up especially for women because that's what's going to be most common for them. Good stuff! As always

[@mitubogoogle]

Did u mean "never disappoint" maybe?

[@Tomc3218]

The bent arm / arm pulled down positions are actually in Wing Chun / JKD principles too.

[@Docinaplane]

Very useful discussion on wrist grabs! Thank you!! I was thinking that maybe the only time that initial violent release that you did that turned you back and away from your opponent may have merit is if there is a high probability that you can use that motion to successfully run away.

[@danielhounshell2526]

Problem is if someone sees that coming, they now have your back

[@Rutger303able]

Thanks man! Watching your vids here from my home country Holland. Martial arts have always intrigued me but I never found the right spot to develop any. Now, at 50, the attraction is unchanged and my 10 year old son has begun taking black-belt prep lessons. He's doing pretty okay and it's a father's dream to witness such progress. Now here's the thing... I'm 50 years of age, everybody thinks I'm 40 and I feel like 23... I'm reasonably fit and I really want to learn practicing Jiu-jitsu, starting asap but at least within the next 6 months. Can anyone who's reading this give me any advise on anything considering all of the above? Greetings from beyond the great pond

[@turkishgetup3924]

Great wrist control explanation. Can you do a video with wrist control in the context of self defense?

[@benjaminthai9915]

5:26 I have used that many times in sparring and like one time fighting with no gloves, tbh it's only useful if they are super vulnerable to quick parries... they'll eventually catch on and feel that whirling motion and just back step if they are experienced...

[@MrEazyE357]

Still loving the content Mike! I don't know how to explain it but when I first discovered your channel, I didn't want to like it. However, you've become one of my favorite channels. You're an awesome teacher and have definitely found your niche.

[@cesaralvesdemoraes3187]

"best time to escape is before it happens, second best time is as its happening" This works for everything in jiujitsu in every position. Probably wrestling and other grappling arts too.

[@juliansanderson839]

Almost every sport, combat or athletic, benefits from preemptive action like that, it makes sense really

[@EliteBlackSash]

Great vid Looks like basic Catch Wrestling, except I’d say they aim to use the grab as a lever to push-pull the rest of the body / lock out the joint - Which is great for grappling sports with a lot of hand fighting - judo, cacc, bjj... hockey... LOL And, well, the only time I’ve seen someone grab like that in a fight is when they’re already getting smashed and they’re just trying to hinder all the incoming punishment by grabbing the arms lol - they’re already being dominated and vulnerable to being controlled

[@Dalccis]

I like this channel because I have a couple of really big boys in our club (think 25+ kilo / 50+ lb weight difference compared to me) and Mike shows these techniques that work even against stronger people. He also points out when you're just f'd against them lol.

[@elijahhughes6455]

That’s a awesome tattoo

[@edwhlam]

Wrist locks are good as training tools to learn wrist escapes, which are themselves just tools in grip fighthing / positioning clinch / throws.

[@propertoke420rep4]

thanks for the information man you're actually probably I'm going to reset an older video when I used to watch you and your retired cop or quit don't remember it's the only information I ever took from a cop 🤣🤣 seriously though I've pay attention to a few of your videos and appreciate the knowledge on mixed martial arts

[@JeanMichelAbrassart]

Aikido time!

[@boxingforselfdefence7620]

Yes, features a lot in SD circles but for me, if someone is grabbing at you and you can't make distance to escape, breaking grip just results in them gripping you again some other way, got to think of the bigger picture, probably time to start fighting in earnest at that stage, whole body movement, thrashing and crashing.

[@glens2019]

It helps to keep your own elbows in for better control.

[@lorismarchitelli5274]

Dude, you should chek out Kake-dameshi style sparring from okinawan karate, you got lots of this

[@chbu7081]

That last one looked like a cool dance move. A waltz, perhaps.

[@VTSifuSteve]

Tango

[@RighteousBeardArts]

Wing Chun Sticky Hands frequently practices these methods of circling out of potential grabs

[@VTSifuSteve]

Correct. But everybody on KZbin knows that Wing Chun is useless!

[@ezekielgarza1150]

Wrist escape push away at 45 degree angle for side control. That wrist twist worked for me in a self defense situation. No way I could that off in a boxing match

[@TemplarX2001]

Yeah dad taught me this at like 10 i think its judo related

[@crustyrage4008]

How long did it take for your heavy bags to come in? Is it normal for one bag to not be shipped by 2 weeks

[@wajeehdaouk1424]

Hey man, how can I get better poise? I have been sparring with this guy and he can take lots of hits and kicks before I can get him to break poise and perform a take down/clinch. His not all that muscular too, was more like average looking, except his legs ( he did a squat with a 115kg guy on his back and he weighs 84kg. his absurdly good at close-up fights ).

[@johnny_veritas]

When most people grip a wrist, there is a a gap between their thumb and their middle finger. But not for me. My hands are so big, that my thumb grips over my middle finger nail, creating a full circle. Even when they push with the legs against my body it usually my decision if to leg go or not.

[@enoughofyourkoicarp]

3:00 A third reason I'm seeing to at least push their hand back towards them is that he's inside your guard at that point and has a straight right already aimed at your head. I don't know if I'm catching something that slipped your mind at the time or if I'm seeing something that isn't really a big deal because of other factors, could you please expand on that a little? Also I love the stuff that you show, it's good to see people teaching actual self defence instead of all of the recycled bullshido that's out there.

[@juliansanderson839]

For that specific reference, the straight right isn’t all that much of threat because the hand is already 5 inches away from the face and the grabber wasn’t in a good position to throw body weight or rotation. But if they (or anyone) were at either a longer range or if their arms weren’t so far extended, that may be a good reason as well.

[@maxwhatsittoya7865]

Ever thought of doing a podcast? I think you’d be great for it

[@hard2hurt]

Did one. I was never satisfied with the audio quality without doing heavy editing... and it was too time consuming. There is a link in the description to a couple episodes.

[@xyz-sn7kg]

Can you buy Jay non-baggy shorts for Christmas mike :) love the channel btw

[@hard2hurt]

Yeah he needs to grow up.

[@LuccaHz]

Is this wing chun?

[@danielhounshell2526]

If the person's arm is extended that first escape doesn't work. And even if it's not there are a ton of faster ways to get out of that which compromise your position less than just ripping your arm back. If a person's making an effort to keep their wrist from rotating that second escape is significantly more difficult than some other options, although still a useful move.

[@Chance-ry1hq]

I can’t imagine anybody trying to grab me by the wrist.

[@chillinwithchris1536]

Chance1957 Try getting hit in the face first.. then see where you’re trying to grab to stop them from hitting you lol

[@Chance-ry1hq]

Chillin With Chris I wouldn’t be grabbing I’d be hitting back.

[@noahlevine7894]

I love how he bashes aikido and then does aikido movements

[@i_hate_mma]

Good video reminds me of some Jon Jones and DC shit.

[@cc1426]

There are some dudes with ridiculously strong grips though that can hold on.

[@Tigersharkmma]

Wing Chun baby

[@victorellobohugo2241]

Looks like my Korean Hapkido.

[@squirrelbong]

If someone grabs your wrist, you have control over them just as they have control over you. Of course strength comes into play, but it's simply a connection. They're only in 'control' in the sense that they can let it go at any time. I don't mean to sound all mystical or anything...but sometimes focusing on breaking the grab(s) isn't even important. You could use that connection to pull them into a forward knee or headbutt...it's situational, but something like that.

[@counterkidnapping1737]

In wrestling we rotate against the thumb

[@proletariennenaturiste]

My hands were down low because I didn't realise he was going to fight me and I wasn't wanting to fight nor was I a pro.

[@mattyb4125]

Hey Mike. Reached out to you long time ago. In that first message I mentioned that you where the first youtuber I have ever interacted with... Well now you're the second haha. Anyway. I watched all your content a while ago, thought it was good shit and reached out to express that view of mine towards you. Any way I'm waffling. I have a story. Bit of a preface. I'm ex military 14 years (engineering side) keen an active runner. Did boxing for a year or so. A while back I was on a run, on my way home. And I'm running through fields and under a motorway. Prior to my run I was aware of a gang of kids (16/17/18+) are picking fights and robbing people in secluded sections around the local area. I wasn't expecting to see them. But I did. They where blocking the only way I could go. One guy was on his bike, straddling the path with 2 more taking up the spare space. At 100+ meters away I began weighing my options. Now they may be kids but they weren't small. I decided to go through the opening he made with his front wheel. Am still running get 1 meter, half a meter away and he's moving the wheel back across the path (i.e. to trip me). So I kick his tyre. And carry on my running. 70/80 meters to a road. This kid ran after me, initiating the fight. Immediately I can tell this guy is gonna hit me (been in enough confrontation to know) and also that he obviously has been hitting the gym. I square up to him, he goes to come at me. I crack him. As he falls I hear "Carl, max" and I turn to look. And there has to be about 15/18 bodies standing up from in the grass. Crucially! Blocking my path to the road. I run, back the way I came, past the two helping him block the path. I won't bore you with the rest. But I run a lot and got away. But they followed for 2 km up a gravel trail. Dunno why I started writing this, just wanted to give credit. Where credit is due.... To me, I did awesome. No way was I gonna win against more than one. But your videos definitely contributed. But my running away helped more haha Side note. They are well know to be pricks.

[@hard2hurt]

Crazy story. We are actually doing multiple attackers soon.

[@dajozale7010]

Whats with the beard gandalf? Good stuff ,i like getting the arm down and strait good time for an arm drag. Little wing chungy ...oh god your buyin a wooden dummy arent ya?

[@user-vt8jp7px9v]

I looked at the same wrist grab last night into rokkyo, lift the elbow over his forearm and go into an arm lock hurts like a bitch

[@alasdairmackintosh]

You should look up defendo and combato. Defendo is self defense and combato is lethal kill or be killed for soldiers.

[@The31st]

The southpaw orthodox lead hand trap to force a cross was mcgregors whole game plan

[@jamesrowlands1943]

But then his foot was a bahlewn

[@phantom_troubadour]

How do you avoid getting to a place in your life where you need to train for some guy who wants to take control of your wrists?

[@LeeMorgan07]

I like the description of body mechanics and how this maneuver works. It reminds me of Roland Warzecha ( kzbin.infovideos ) on KZbin talking about how all body mechanics dictate your plans of attack and how you use a weapon effectively.

[@hori83]

You guys are so down to earth, but we got 2019 almost 20. Where are the advanced no touch techniques like all the clips in McDojoLife?! 🤪

[@lordhumongos]

Love it, proper mechanics are proper mechanics. Once upon a time traditional martial arts worked and it was because it was based on simple body mechanic principles and then a buncha guys that never wanted to train started teaching and adding insane flappy hand bullshit.

[@beenright5115]

😂 "insane flappy hands bullshit" 😂 truth!

[@webherring]

Can you show SLEEVE grab escapes? Most wrist escapes don't work against sleeve grabs.

[@beenright5115]

Good point!

[@Nepthu]

When I took a traditional Karate class years ago, we spent months practicing wrist shit. I quit the class. I was never worried about people grabbing my wrist, but they thought it was very important.

[@complexblackness]

It can and does happen.

[@gerardcruzblanco9713]

It may happen although it's difficult that someone grabs you like that, but the fact is that this training may transfer to controlling a situation while descalating and,in case of getting into the fight, it's very useful against grappling

[@stevewaters1516]

Ok so first off no one is just gonna grab your wrist n stand there that's called learn the move second I use this technique almost 100 percent of the time every single time my wrist connects to strike grab what ever without thought I will roll my hand around in wich ever direction and grab learn the basics train the basics they set up everything else

[@stevewaters1516]

Also see that's a issue nobody wants to do the simple stuff there like that wrist escape is a waste of time but that technique is the basis for almost everything

[@abenice]

You Thinking of only your self women are often attacked by grabbing by the wrist and thrown in the “raper van”!

[@arthurmukiibi5925]

Finger rings cut bad dude!! Don't train with them on... 😂

[@Nepthu]

Hey Jay, that tat is off the hook! Is it finished now?

[@jayschuff9857]

Nepthu yes it has been for awhile now, all healed now on to the next one!! Thanks man

[@jayschuff9857]

The small lettering is the preamble to the Constitution and the large lettering is “We The People”

[@Nepthu]

@@jayschuff9857 The design came out great. BTW, I recently listened to the podcast and enjoyed learning more about you. I feel like I can relate because my teacher used to use me as the uke too. Any more radio work or ICP concerts? Anyway, IcyMike is at his best when he's working with you. Thanks for all your contributions to the channel. You guys rock.

[@ionlucian421]

I think that wrist grabbing at the beginning of a fight is applicable mostly for womens' self defense...I mean who is gonna' grab a guy's wrist in a bar or parking lot, instead of punching him in the face. Most of the attackers want to overpower women and the wrist grab is more frequent in women's self defense...so cool tips

[@Bradley9967]

What if he grabs your sleeve.

[@mxu111]

Side kicks don't work?

[@semihahmetk.469]

i think the editor was just joking cause theres no way sidekicks doesnt work

[@markalford5406]

Kick wool won teaches a lot of wrist techniques.

[@danielhounshell2526]

Is #sidekicksdontwork a real thing? We see them in fights all the time. It's the most practical kick after the front kick and roundhouse

[@scarred10]

You dont see them doing any damage

[@raymcgrath7340]

His face whem mike says he has "acute arm".

[@biohazard724]

You could see the pun form in his mind

[@round5fit163]

😂😂

[@proletariennenaturiste]

My uncle tried to break the bones in my hand and such like that.

[@TITANia69420]

What's your definition of a cute arm?

[@zenlot13]

Step 1: Get wrist control Step 2: Pull out your gun Step 3: You have successfully subdued your victi- I mean attacker

[@anthonygerber8261]

LOL #SIDEKICKSDONTWORK. Idk brother...Depends on who's throwing the kick. Great video as per usual sir.

[@danielhounshell2526]

Yeah it's a pretty high percentage kick in terms of it landing. It's rarely a fight ender, but it keeps distance and does some damage to your opponent from a relatively safe distance.

[@anthonygerber8261]

Daniel Hounshell I've dropped many guys with a lead leg to the gut/ribs over the years but yes, I mostly use it as a jab to keep people on the outside so I can engage on my terms...

[@Nevergiveup-jt1tb]

Kick on the main point of an opponent in such situations

[@jamesrowlands1943]

Your sidekick wouldn't work your legs are too short 😂, good stuff though mate, you can create a lot of openings for headbutts that way too

[@SuperZombiezero]

I don't rotate my elbow, i rotate my wrist instead

[@sethfellingham7168]

Thanks my Granny never stood a chance

[@professor_incognito]

3:41 oh shit, it looks so cute )))

[@davidhill3568]

#sidekicksdontwork

[@9usuck0]

You want to know what is funny about this video? This is what intro to good aikido teaches. But they don't teach the thumbs out, you'll break a thumb missing once. But also, the position you put him in, against his body, try pulling your elbow into his center line and driving up that line, elbow pushing the hand. It takes some practice but you can gather, not as much power, but enough power to be able to drive through a strike. It isn't great, but it works if you find your hands crossed against your chest like you had him.

[@9usuck0]

I think aikido isn't shit, I think most people who teach it now a days just don't understand its use. None of the drills are combat involved. You can't fight with them, they're structured exercise. Great to understand some things, but everyone teaches them like you don't need anything else. You can't fight and expect anything to go as planned. They do. This didn't involve the video at all, but I just remembered it.