How to Defend Yourself against a Full Nelson

A Common Attack with Multiple Attackers

There are many different types of attacks when it comes to self defense. In this article, we’ll cover a common one used when facing multiple opponents. So, here’s how to defend yourself against a full nelson.

A full nelson is when your attacker is coming at you from behind and grabs you from under the armpits and puts his hands behind your neck cranking it up.

This is a very common type of attack when there are multiple attackers. The person who is doing the full nelson is holding you hostage while other attackers punch you in the face!

You’ll certainly agree that this is not a great position to be in!

Being able to protect yourself against a full nelson is crucial in self defense. It’s the ultimate self defense technique you want to learn if you want to be complete in self defense.

This will not only help you further develop your self defense techniques, but it will also come in handy if ever you’re faced with multiple attackers.

The important thing to remember is that you want to act quickly. If you don’t react quickly, chances are you will be hit or taken down by larger attackers which will then make it close to impossible for you to defend yourself.

Learn Self Defense When Placed in a Full Nelson

To defend yourself against a full nelson, you need drop your weight completely by bending your knees. Make sure you do this very quickly and engage all your core when you decide to drop down. This will have your attacker come down with you which will catch him off guard. That can give you the upper hand.

While you’re doing this self defense technique, you want to try and strike your attacker in his groin. If you see an opportunity to do a headbutt, don’t hesitate and go for it. This will allow you to strike your attacker as you attempt to break free from his hold.

When you do break free, it’s crucial that you don’t waste any time in striking your attacker. You only have a few seconds to make your moves, especially against multiple assailants! The goal is to neutralize your attacker so you can have control of the fight and get away.

To see our video on how to defend yourself against a full nelson, check out the clip below:

As seen, the best way to know how to do this technique efficiently is to practice regularly with your training partner. It will allow you to further develop your self defense skills.

We hope you enjoyed these tips on how to fight back when placed in a full nelson. For more self defense videos, subscribe to our YouTube channel and get regular updates.

Take care,

Patrick Viana
Code Red Defense