Self-defense: How to grip a t-shirt

As judokas, we are used to gripping the judogi when we do our throws. So, what happens in a real-life situation where you have to use your judo to protect yourself but the other person is wearing a t-shirt? You can’t exactly get a sleeve-lapel grip when your opponent doesn’t have a sleeve or a lapel.

Don’t worry, there are creative ways around that problem, as Shintaro demonstrates with the assistance of his fiance, Lara.

There’s no point trying to grab uke’s t-shirt from the front. There’s nothing much to hold onto. And t-shirts are flimsy. If you pull too hard, they are liable to rip. To do your throws, you need to get a sturdy grip.

To set uke up to get the grip you want, you strike with your left arm. Uke will put up her right arm to defend herself.

This allows you to get into a clinching situation, which is what you, as a grappler, wants.

From there, you reach deep over uke’s back and take hold of the end of her t-shirt. It’s almost like reaching over to get a hold of uke’s belt (the kind of thing Georgians and Russians like to do).

This is the vital part. You pull uke’s t-shirt up towards the collar area and bunch together the end of the t-shirt and the collar. This provides you with a very sturdy grip, and the t-shirt won’t rip when you grip this way.

This gives you good control over uke’s head.

Let’s say uke breaks loose of the clinch and pulls her right arm back in preparation to take a swing at your head.

First, you block that punch with your left hand.

Then, you take hold of uke’s short sleeve and collar, bunching them together and getting a superb grip with your left hand.

With two solid grips on uke’s t-shirt, tori can then easily do a harai-goshi!

Check out the video below: