Martial Arts and Self Defense: Defending Against a Pin in the Wall Attack

Most martial arts and self defense students are taught how to defend against things like punching, grappling, kicking, and even weapon attacks. But what about attacks, such as a wall pin, where you are pushed and pinned against a wall, car, or other obstacle, where your attacker uses your surroundings to aid their assault?

While this article can’t teach you everything you need to know to escape the exact attack you might find yourself in, it does offer some very powerful strategies and tactics you can use to turn him around during one of these very dangerous attacks: types So, If this is something you think is important to add to your technique toolbox, then keep reading.

If not, then this article is definitely not for you.

I’ll assume that if you’re still reading, you want to learn how to deal with this very common type of attack.

And, before going into the description of some of the strategies and tactics that I want to give you to survive a wall-pin attack, I want to tell you about something else that you should never forget. OKAY?

That thing is this. Can you never forget that a self defense situation is never like a class workout? What that means is that, many of the “invisible aspects” of your class, things like:

1) Speed
2) Time
3) Intensity
4) Your partner’s intention to really hurt you, and even…
5) The large open space of the training area

Usually it will be the EXACT OPPOSITE of what you are used to.

You must be very aware of these realities that exist in the world of self defense, but are not normally an issue in the field of sports karate and mixed martial arts. Make sure that if you really want to learn to defend yourself, your training reflects these realities.

What does this have to do with the topic of this article?

Good question.

And the answer is… EVERYTHING!

Your attacker is not an idiot. He will go to great lengths to ensure that he has the greatest advantage in the situation. He is there to win, not to see which of you is the better fighter!

And that’s where the wall pin comes in.

This is where your attacker grabs or pushes you in some way, and pushes you front or back, against a wall, and then proceeds to place their body weight on you to make sure you can’t go anywhere.

At this point, you need to think outside the box if you are going to effectively escape and turn things around.

With that being said, here are some strategies and tactics that can be used to get out of this type of dangerous situation:

1) Use the wall itself for leverage. Leverage against the stability of the wall to increase your own strength and push your attacker back. This could give you a complete escape at one end, with just enough room at the other, to be able to punch or kick it.

2) Move laterally ALONG the wall. Remember that he is pushing you “into” the wall. If you can remember that he doesn’t have you caged up on all sides, you can use the openings to your left and right as escape routes. Then, once free, you can apply your conventional punching, kicking or grappling skills.

3) Use deception. When you hit the wall, using your best fall and receiving abilities to minimize the damage, act as if the impact is much worse than it really is. Relax as if you were dazed or unconscious. Then, when he adjusts to your apparent condition, and the fact that he now has to bear your dead weight, burst into action and fight him!

Remember that effective self-defense takes into account that you will be the underdog, that your attacker will have the upper hand, and that you will NOT be “fair.” So you have to get past the sick sense of “fair play” and completely incorrect information that poor instructors with no real world experience pass around as self defense.