đŸ„Šâœˆïž Slammed or Saved?

Four bearhugs. Four different problems. One mission: Adapt.

Author

Paulo Simoes
June 12, 2025

In partnership with

Hey Warrior,

Welcome to What If Thursday — where we step off the main track and ask the question that separates survivors from tacticians



“What if it played out differently?”

This week, Slam Period showed us a one-sided slam KO, but what if you were the one caught from behind?

What if your arms were trapped?

What if they weren’t?

Let’s dig into the variations that change everything.

But first a word from out sponsor.

Decode the Zeitgeist with 1440

Every week, 1440 zooms in on a single society-and-culture phenomenon—be it the rise of Saturday Night Live, Dystopian Literature, or the history of the Olympics—and unpacks it with curiosity-driven rigor. You’ll get a concise read grounded in verified facts, peppered with thought-provoking context and links for deeper exploration. No partisan angles, no fear-mongering—just the stories, trends, and ideas shaping how we live, work, and create.

If you missed it — this week’s scenario takes place in a high school cafeteria.

An aggressor swings wildly, then turns his back.

The victim wraps him in a rear bearhug and slams him unconscious.

Watch the scenario:

or


What If It Was You Getting Grabbed?

Getting bearhugged isn’t a technique—it’s a problem.

And depending on how it happens, the solution changes fast.

So let’s run the playbook



What’s your response if you’re suddenly clinched tight
 and you don’t have control?

Can you adapt when:

  • Your arms are pinned down from behind?

  • You’re facing them but can’t move?

  • You have your arms free but no space?

Every one of those situations demands a different game plan.

Let’s train the mind to switch gears before the body gets stuck.

Bearhug Variations You Should Know

Not all bearhugs are created equal. The direction and arm position completely change your options — and your risks.

Here are the four core variations you must be able to recognize and respond to:

From Behind

  • Arms Pinned
    ➀ The most dangerous. You can’t strike, frame, or post. Slam and choke risk are high. Defense must focus on base, hip control, and disruptive strikes like groin shots or foot stomps.

  • Arms Free
    ➀ You’ve got tools — elbows, hands, even headbutts — but you're still at a mechanical disadvantage. Posture and timing matter. Counter quickly before you're lifted or collapsed.

From Front

  • Arms Pinned
    ➀ Limited visibility and no striking tools. Your first job is to stop the grip from riding up to your neck. Use hip movement to open up groin shots and destabilize their structure.

  • Arms Free
    ➀ This is the best-case version. You can frame, strike, clinch, or even disengage — but don't relax. The attacker still has inside position and forward drive. Act before that changes.

Train all four.
If you’re only drilling one variation, you’re not preparing — you’re hoping.

What If


In the scenario we saw the assailant get caught up in a bearhug from behind.

Today I teach you how to deal with other variations of the bearhug.

Inner Circle members get access to the full bearhug video.
👉 Join the Inner Circle

Before You Go...

Adaptability is the ultimate self-defense skill.

It’s not having the one answer—it’s having a process for picking the right one when it counts.

So let me ask you:

Which variation scares you the most?

Arms pinned?

Slam risk?

Vision loss?

Hit reply or post your take in the Operators Lounge.

Let’s break it down together.

Because real violence doesn’t wait for clean scenarios.

And your response should never be one-size-fits-none.

Stay dangerous,
– Paul Simoes

Reply

or to participate.