Having been an active street cop for the entire 33 years of my police career, as well as an active police trainer for 43 years, in this series I share some of the defensive tactics techniques that helped me prevail on the street. The series presents a variety of defensive tactics in a format that allows you to follow the instructions and practice the technique. Remember practice makes prepared.
Ambush by an unarmed suspect can prove just as deadly for an officer as an ambush by an armed suspect.
This article in the defensive tactics series gives officers an option to practice for the unarmed ambush commonly referred to as the “chicken wing.”
THE AMBUSH
You have probably seen the chicken wing, which is a common wrestler’s hold, used by bouncers to eject unruly patrons from their establishments. To perform the chicken wing, a person will hook both arms of the target to keep the arms secured behind the back.
Since the hold is so common and easy to learn, a police officer may have this hold put on him by a friend of a suspect while making an arrest. An officer must react quickly to this assault because this hold incapacitates his or her arms.
For a police officer placed in this hold, immediate escape becomes imperative.
THE ESCAPE
The instinct of most untrained victims is to try to out-strength the attacker and pull the arms out by bringing them both forward and out. Unfortunately, this merely serves to further tighten and secure the attacker’s grip. You’ll need a different approach to escape the chicken wing.
STEP ONE
Turn your gun-side foot sideways so your toes are pointed out. Lift the foot, keeping the toes turned out. With the side of your foot, find the attacker’s shin and rake the foot hard against the shin downward. At the bottom of the shin rake, stomp the foot as hard as you can. The resulting pain will cause your attacker to at least rear back and loosen his grip, if not release you altogether.
STEP TWO
To take advantage of this natural separation caused by the foot stomp, allow your gun-side arm to go totally limp. (This is crucial. The arm must be limp.) As you do, use your reaction side (non-gun side) foot to be the planted post, then pivot the other foot forward and to the left while you keep your gun-side arm limp. Slip the gun-side arm out of the grip as if you are letting someone help you take off your coat. Pivot forward and around toward your reaction side (non-gun-side) in a 180-degree arc.
STEP THREE
You should now be beside the attacker with your non-gun-side arm still hooked with his. You are set up perfectly for a take-down. Bring your non-gun-side leg, which is closest to the attacker, up and forward, then shoot it sharply back between the attacker’s legs. Don’t just sweep the leg, but thrust it hard between the attacker’s legs from behind. Plant the toes of your reaction-side foot on the ground as far through the legs as possible while still maintaining your balance. The suspect’s feet should come out from under him and he should land on his back, or side turned away from you.
The chicken wing is not an inherently life-threatening hold like the stranglehold. However, it is a restraint that could lead to life-threatening situations, such as an officer being disarmed or beaten.
Once you escape the hold, circumstances will determine whether you choose to control the suspect on the ground, or unhook the arm, disengage and cover the suspect with the appropriate defensive tool to fit the circumstances (TASER, pepper spray, baton, or firearm.)
I encourage you to practice the escape on a mat with someone who is trained to take a fall. This training will give you an option if you find yourself suddenly ambushed with this technique.
Police officers need to have a prepared response when facing a sudden armed or unarmed assault. The prepared police officer pre-trains for all eventualities and never trusts his or her survival to wing it.
Photos by Anya Marcou. Techniques demonstrated by Lt. Dan Marcou and Aidan Marcou.
