How to defend the clinch?

[Georgios T]

Some people like to close the distance and clinch, which they transition into knees, head strikes and elbows.
What’s in your opinion the best way to defend the clinch?

Thanks

[George (Instructor)]

Couple things come to mind. First off maintain distance to avoid this in the first place. If you find yourself in a clinch work to snake your hands to the inner position. From here elbows and knees are your best tools. I wouldn’t hesitate to bite as well. Don’t forget that kicks to the shin are also very brutal. Just my personal opinion.

[Henry]

At that close range you can also try eye gouges. Gouging out someone’s eye will likely end their will to fight you. Or at least give you a significant advantage.

[George (Instructor)]

When dealing with the clinch you will need to rely on ballistic movements and extreme close quarter secondary tools such as eye gouges, ripping, tearing, headbutting and when space allows elbows. You can also rely on stomps and knees as low line attacks.

The point of using these secondary tools is to create the space so that we can get back to close quarters range where we can utilize our primary strikes again in order to finish the threat.

[Author]

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