Weighty matters

Well, from the article (and I'm not entirely sure what a "yob" is, but I assume it is a derogatory term that probably shouldn't be in a news article) it would appear that the assault began with a hand-to-throat choke and slamming of the victim's head against a fence. I train several techniques that can be used to defend myself in that situation that work regardless of how heavy my attacker is. If someone that heavy were to get to a point where they were sitting on top of me, though, I probably wouldn't be able to get out because I'm just not strong enough, and my technique wouldn't be good enough to overcome his weight advantage unless he was positioned very poorly. This is another good (albeit not often discussed) reason for training in stand-up grappling and takedown defense--so you can stay on your feet where your opponent's weight advantage can be somewhat managed.

Maybe he has got some advantages in grappling and ground-fighting, but I think that a man of average build is faster or more persistent. As long as you are on your feet, you should be able to escape.

Some potential things to consider...

Shrimping, bridging, hip movement, backdoor escape, being the better grappler so that you are sat on him rather than the other way round. Mix in a liberal sprinkling of flesh grabs, gouges and other tactics.

But the basic escapes of BJJ would have helped here I think.

One reason why I did BJJ (back when I did it) was to answer the question of what to do when a larger opponent sits on you.

Wastelander wrote:

 I'm not entirely sure what a "yob" is, but I assume it is a derogatory term that probably shouldn't be in a news article

You're right... but the article is from The Sun, which should say it all.

I haven't read the article (mainly because it's The Sun) but my perspective is that it is possible to overcome weight advantage but it's damned hard. I fight in Combat Jujitsu which is essentially semi contact MMA. I'm not a great fighter but I am proud of my last performance. I carry a little extra weight so I'm a Super Heavyweight but very much at the lighter end of it. There's no upper weight limit. My opponent outweighed me by nearly 40KG! I didn't want to go to the ground for obvious reasons but Kickboxing him was almost impossible so I took it to the ground out of desperation. I mounted but rolled of the other side! From him in my guard I attempted the gogoplata, which at the time wasn't well known, hence me practicing it. It slipped and I caught him with the omoplata for the win.

Now, change the context of this. From a self-protection perspective I wouldn't want to go to the ground, of course. But we did. The omoplata would seem a perfectly valid escape technique to enable the person underneath to get back to their feet.

So, overcoming weight advantage is certainly possible, but damned hard work.

From a self protection point of view I would not of been there in the first place.

the warnings signs were clear. 

Your in a pub, near to a big rough looking and argumentative person...

do not engage in conversation, just get out of there fast.

That was my first reaction too.  Unfortunately, the story is too concerned with using words such as 'yob', 'jobless', and 'benefits' to be of much use in putting the assault in some sort of context.  So maybe the victim played a part in his own downfall, and subsequent flattening.

Thanks Tau, I'll look up the techniques that you mentioned.  To be honest, I've no idea what they are!

I share your contempt for this 'newspaper', believe me.

Thanks for your comment.  I'm not sure what 'yob' equates to in US English, maybe 'jerk' or 'a---hole'?

 It's interesting to learn about the situtations people get themselves into, I'd like to think that if avoidance/de-escalation did not work, then stand-up grappling would be the next best option in this context.  Like you, I'm sure I'd be able to escape if I were pinned down by such a heavy guy.

 Have been pinned down a couple of times in the dojo. At the risk of sounding like a complete animal I have always noticed that the best fight back seemed to be a good bite to a vulnerable area rather like Spartacus in the classic movie of the same name! Have to add that on these occasions I haven't followed through on the idea but suggested it.

Hello all. I have been reading the responses to this article with interest, but I am surprised that none of you have discussed what seems to me to be an important point. Let's leave aside the issues of who is to blame for the violence and how de-escalation/avoidance could have been used (assuming that either party wished to do so) for the moment. Once things began, the bigger guy struck the smaller guy's head against a solid object several times, before depriving him of oxygen and then placing him in a situation where the speed, strength etc. he may have had while upright were negated.

Now, in my opinion, the blows to the head decided everything. I am a halfway competent grappler as I am sure many of you are, but there is a big difference between dojo grappling and fighting a vicious and unrestrained larger opponent while suffering concussion. These are serious, incapacitating and potentially lethal attacks, and the kind of impairment they would cause to the recipient in terms of ability to think, act or even function cannot be over-estimated.

Looking forward to hearing your responses. Regards, David.