Women's Self-Defense Technique:
How to Escape When Trapped Face Down!

You are attacked from behind and you've been pushed to the
ground or the floor.  Maybe you've even been pushed down on
the seats of a car and the attacker is pinning you down flat in
an effort to beat or choke you into submission.

First of all, you are in a dire situation here -- by being face down
you have no ability to defend yourself.  The blows rain down and
you are susceptible to being choked into unconsciousness.

You are going to need to know exactly what to do in this situation:

1. First, pull one elbow in toward your side and place your
palm along side of your face which allows your wrist and hand to
protect one side of your neck (preventing him from choking you
and to cushion the blows to your head somewhat);

2. Extend the other arm completely straight toward the top of
your head. Use the shoulder and biceps of this straightened arm
to protect the other side of your neck (the combination of hand
on one side and straightened arm on the other side also helps to
protect your face and head from his hits);

3. Start to roll onto your back toward the side where your arm
is extended straight up (you might not be able to roll to your
back all in one motion because he will be either trying to push
you face down again or he will be hitting you in the back of the
head, but trust me, it's difficult to stop someone from rolling
onto their back with one arm up like this -- little by little
you inch onto your side and then to your back);

4. Now you should be in a position where he is pinning you down
on your back. What you've essentially done is jumped out of the
fire BACK INTO the frying pan. You are still in a bad position,
but you are a lot better off here than face down.

5. When he tries to hit your face, you lift up one arm to block
his hit. Then you wrap your arm around his and trap it against
your body (this is taught is Rape Escape Level 2).

6. Place your foot on the same side as the arm that you trapped
on the outside of his leg.

7. Push with both of your feet against the ground to tilt your
pelvis up toward your head. You will bump him up and he will
lose his balance and fall toward his face and will, naturally,
try and reach out to stop his fall.

8. But you have his arm trapped to your body, so he cannot stop
his fall -- you roll toward the side of his trapped arm.

9. As you roll over, now his back is on the ground and you are
on top in between his thighs. Raise your elbow high above your
ear and drive it downward into his groin.

10. Push on his knees to help you get up and make your escape.

The "bump and roll" technique is taught in Rape Escape Level 3.

A variation of this starts at #5. Reach up with both hands and
drive your thumbs into his eyes. He will invariably reach up
and clutch your wrists. Trap one of his legs with your foot,
bump your hips up and roll him toward the side that you've
trapped. Again, drive the elbow down toward his groin to make
him let go of your wrists. Escape.

You must always, always protect your throat. Don't let him
manually strangle you (with his hands) or mechanically strangle
you (with a cord, wire, panty hose, etc.) That's why it's
important to get your hand against the side of your face. When
you do this, notice how your wrist and your arm block part of
your neck and face. The other arm blocks part of the other side
of your face and neck when it is straightened.

This method works even if he is holding your hair and trying to
drive your face into the mud, water, dirt, etc.

Your first priority is to keep your airway clear. 

Get your trusted training partner and try this scenario.  It might
be a little scary at first because of the helplessness you feel when
you are held face down.  But shoot that one arm up hard and get that
other arm against your side with the hand against your face.  Inch, inch,
inch to your back.  Little by little you'll get there.  Then you can bump him
up and roll him.

Start slow and get some confidence with the technique.  Then work
it against more resistance from your training partner. 

Remember, you only have one life, so fight for it!