What technique is used when the officer is on their back and the subject is grabbing for the holstered handgun from between the legs?

• A. The Two-On-One Escort
• B. The Two-On-One Escort Disengage
• C. The Hip Drill Retreat
• D. The Two-On-One Takedown

Answer: (C)

When an officer is on their back and the subject reaches for a holstered handgun between the legs, the priority is to protect the weapon and create a safe path to regain control. The Hip Drill Retreat is designed for exactly this situation. It uses the hips as a powerful pivot and barrier to redirect the attacker’s grabbing hand away from the holster while generating space and a better angle for disengagement.

The hip movement helps transfer the force from the attacker into the ground and away from the weapon, so the arm and forearm don’t stay in a vulnerable line toward the holster. By driving the hips and creating separation, the officer shifts to a safer orientation and reduces the likelihood that the weapon can be seized. This retreat also keeps the officer’s balance more favorable, making it easier to stand up or reestablish a controlled position without clinging to a risky grip—essential when you’re off the bottom and need to reassert control quickly.

In this context, other techniques that assume a different posture or rely more on upper-body manipulation may not offer the same immediate protective effect or leverage when the officer is on the back. The Hip Drill Retreat emphasizes using core and hip mechanics to create space, protect the firearm, and position the officer to safely regain control.