How to Defend against a Shirt Grab - Self Defense

Learn effective self defense:

If you watch street fights on YouTube, you will see that there are many situations where one guys grabs the shirt of his opponent and just starts throwing punches at him.

The shirt grab is a common thing in a street fight. It's a tactic that allows a fighter to grab on to his victim or opponent to give him more leverage to throw a barrage of punches.

And one thing is for sure, receiving a barrage of punches in a street fight is not a good thing.

That is why, we taught it would be a good thing to demonstrate how to defend against a shirt grab.

There are 2 different sorts of shirt grabbing techniques: with one hand or two hands.

The first thing you want to do if you're placed in that situation is to immediately bring your hands up. You should also make a slight contact with your arm to the hand of your attacker which is grabbing your shirt.

By having a slight contact to his arm, you can avoid getting sucker punched from underneath.

Against a double hand shirt grab, you have the advantage of having both of your arms free while his are holding on your shirt. That gives you an opportunity to palm strike your opponent directly to the face.

You also have other self-defense options such as eye gouging or even striking the throat of your attacker.

If you go on with the attack, make sure that you follow up with your offensive tactics. You can strike the legs of your attacker with solid short kicks and follow up with devastating blows such as palm strikes, elbows and bicep pops!

We hope that you enjoyed these self-defense tips!

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Thanks for watching and stay safe,

Nick Drossos and Patrick V
Code Red Defense

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[idnthavanam]

My "stepdad" did this to me after i pushed him, causing him to slam hard on the wall and knock down on the ground after i caught him grabbing my mom's hair in anger in the middle of an argument they had. But i am 16 years old. His hands were much longer than mineand he is taller so his body was much further away from mine and i couldn't reach his face/torso easily. I was throwing punches but no hit. But then one strike was the lucky one, right on the teeth, go my first punch-cut, so he let me go. Just practice these things people, after that happened i wasnt really into learning defense techniques but people often think that such things will never happen to them, u never know, trust me.

[Mrpompey]

What happens if he has longer arms then you. Then what do you do??

[davidcollins]

All good - as usual!! Another benefit of raising your hands/trapping, is that with your palms up (as you demonstrate) you are also able to guard against the attacker pulling you in for the head butt; your palms being between your face and hie forehead.

[dizzydays]

anyone else got tense when watching this?

[saeem]

What if you're short and a tall person grabs you and you can't reach them so easily?

[M-KAZITmedia]

Trust me this u can't remember in a real fight if u don't practise much.

[zeeshanparvez]

If a really tall guy grabs you with one hand lapel could you grab his wrists with both hands and then fall to the side to drag him down with your weight?

[matejfrece]

Nick, GREAT video once again, but one question.
if that happens in club when someone grabs you like this, am i allowed to just go straight on him, or do i try to talk it out and risk getting punched.. what's your suggestion?
TY again for great content on your channel :)

[williamnguyen]

I know it sounds dumb, but I always thought it’d be cool to grab the arms, pull them in, and headbutt them

[shinwook]

I don't know why but I feel that most of your videos are helpful for wing chun students, because you use a lot of concepts that wing chun also has, but with a completely different approach.

[eyedkillu]

Great stuff guys, very handy little tricks along the way.

[amartyapandit]

You don't have to defend against it. If you're the one using it hehehe

[Dac-]

Wat if the opponent is taller than u ? U won’t be able to reach his eyes or throat nor will u be able to reach him with a knee. Groin kick may work though

[woe]

When someone grabs your shirt just start punching them in their face. You have both hands. I’ve beat so many people up by grabbing their shirts though. I have a mean haymaker.

[AhmadAlhoseiny-ztyg]

How do I stop my employee from giving me a stiff Tie pull by the tip end of my necktie just to stiff me in public and laugh at my tight ass knot ? Lol

[johncool]

These self defense teqniques are too traditional. People who just fight in the streets always win

[antman]

What happens when the guy has a longer reach ?

[Arrowgamesefootball]

The dumbest shit I ever seen in a fight, and corect me if I'm wrong, is when people in rage grab your shirt with both hands, that works
with people who are scared, not trained at all or who are inexperienced, as you said you expose yourself In multiple ways with that as you showed. Grabbing with one hand is different, especially if you're a big guy with long range, but as you showed there's a way out of that situation as well. Good lesson Nick

[Arnav]

I wil do it anyone who thinks I am weak . I have a kind heart amd they rhink that I am weak.