Infinite Hugs (Patreon)

• If you’re new to LMA, start with our table of contents

Infinite loops, but starting from the bear hug.

Bear hug

A "bear hug" in LMA refers to looping around the arms and trunk of a partner. This activity involves bear-hugging a partner from behind.

Branch collar

The swollen or thick area of a tree limb or trunk. On the human body, areas around the joints act as branch collars—solid handles that amplify any force applied through them.

The activity

Practitioners alternate roles as front partner and back partner. The front partner begins with their back to the back partner, who applies a bear hug from behind. Without breaking contact, the front partner breaks the loop and finds a way to circle behind the back partner, reverses roles, and delivers a bear hug in turn. The exchange creates an infinite loop of action and reaction.

Loops may be open or closed, with practitioners collaboratively deciding their tightness and resilience. When the loop opens, the former back partner relaxes, stays balanced, and supports a safe and smooth role reversal.

Analyzing the video

The accompanying video from the LMA Learning Lab shows practitioners exploring both open and closed loop scenarios, discovering creative strategies through patient experimentation.

The open loop scenario

This was much more straightforward than closed loop. The front partners discovered that clasping their hands together turns the elbows into a strong, singular wedge. By lifting the clasped hands and flaring the elbows, they drove the back partner's arms upward. Spreading their legs and lowering their center of mass allowed them to slip free from the loop.

To prevent a reloop around the neck, the front partner then grabbed the back partner's wrist (the branch collar) with both hands, controlled it, and circled behind into the bear hug.

The closed loop scenario

A closed loop, squeezed tightly, closes most escape paths. Clasping and wedging alone proved insufficient. Instead, front partners learned to squirm and turn sideways while hinging forward, then drop to a half-kneel, continuing to flare the elbows to carve space. From this low position, they "climbed the tree"—ascending the partner's arms—to emerge behind and complete the bear hug.

Try the activity first

Don't rob yourself of the fun of problem-solving. Before studying our solutions, try exploring this activity with a partner first. Trust yourself and see what you come up with. Feel free to adapt, contextualize, and improve our strategies.

Final thoughts

"Infinite hugs" and "infinite loops" both demonstrate why direct step-by-step drills, instructions, and instructionals often fail you and why learning through designed situations and direct experience is essential. If you've already encountered techniques to counter these situations, test them with someone strong (preferably big and safe) who can really hold you. Nearly all, if not all, techniques will fail. With escaping what's called the rear or back body lock, try the methods shown in self-defense when someone grabs you high under the armpits. See what happens.

I can best explain this movement disconnect in pro wrestling terms: instructionals, especially for self-defense, are often martial artists doing works (pretend) thinking they're shoots (real).

Or put another way, it's like pulling a fish out of water, putting it on land, then telling it to memorize the step-by-step sequence of swimming that a non-fish made up, while depriving it of the actual experience of swimming in water.

Use this module and the LMA curriculum to strengthen your embodied problem-solving and deepen your understanding of context-driven solutions and direct experience.

– Sam