Bear Hug

Directory: Techniques → Offensive Techniques → Rush Attack

A Bear Hug (ベアハグ, Beahagu) is a grappling clinch hold and stand-up grappling position.

Overview[]

The user's arms are wrapped around the opponent, with the opponent's arms sometimes pinned to their body. The user's hands are locked around the opponent, who is held tightly to the user's chest. Although intended to be a torture hold, it can also be used as a restraining technique to pin an opponent long enough for their allies to attack.

Usage[]

Zarbon applies a Bear Hug from behind when performing his Monster Crush.^[1]

Pathos of Frieza - Bear Hug — Frieza holds Goku in a Bear Hug

Frieza uses a Bear Hug on Super Saiyan Goku near the end of their battle on Namek. The Saiyan, however, counters by repeatedly smashing his elbow into Frieza's ribs, eventually dislodging him.^[2]

0raape n — Cell strongly holding Piccolo

Cell uses the attack against Piccolo during their fight in Gingertown, in order to restrain him while he begins absorbing his energy. Later, during the Cell Games, Cell uses a Bear Hug against Gohan in order to make him release his hidden power. However, as the technique does not work, Cell breaks the hold and decides to create Cell Juniors.^[3] Also in the Cell Games, Android 16 utilizes a Bear Hug on Cell when he attempts to sacrifice himself by activating his self-destruct function.

Super Buu uses the technique on Super Saiyan 3 Gotenks.^[4]

In Dragon Ball Super, Shisami attempts to crush Gohan using his Bear Hug variation called Bull Crash, however it proved ineffective. Top's Justice Rear Naked Choke is also in the same manner with bear hugging and is powerful enough to disarm Goku's Super Saiyan form and caused the latter to nearly faint. In the Tournament of Power, Nink uses a Bear Hug on Goku and intended to sacrifice himself to eliminate Goku. However, Goku powered up to Super Saiyan Blue and managed to break out of Nink's grip at the last moment. Nink ended up falling off the arena by himself and became the first of his team to be eliminated. Tupper used a bear hug on Goku and took on his Petrified form to make things difficult for him and left him vulnerable to Zoire's Justice Spin. When Tupper kept getting heavier, and just when Goku seemed finished, he was blasted in the back by Android 18, forcing him to let go.

Film Appearances[]

In Dragon Ball Z: Cooler's Revenge, Dore uses a Bear Hug against Goku after he and his comrades ambush Goku on Earth. While Dore traps Goku in a Bear Hug, Neiz attempts to kick Goku, but Goku manages to avoid his kick, resulting in Neiz kicking Dore by mistake.

In Dragon Ball Z: The Return of Cooler, One of the Cyclopian Guards uses the hold against Krillin during their confrontation on New Namek.

In Dragon Ball Z: Bojack Unbound, Bojack uses the technique against Gohan too, as his way of repaying Goku for freeing him (referring to Goku's sacrifice during the Cell Games). He breaks the hold when Goku punches him after returning from the Other World to Earth for a brief instant.

Broly crushes Gohan in a powerful Bear Hug

In Dragon Ball Z: Broly - Second Coming, Broly uses Bone Crusher to crush Gohan during their battle on Earth. However, Gohan ultimately breaks free after Broly ended up distracted with knocking away a crystal thrown at him by Videl.

In Dragon Ball Z: Resurrection ‘F’, Vegeta attempts to trap Whis is in bear hug, however Whis easily slips through the hold.

Variations[]

Self Destruction - A variation where the user uses a Bear Hug to immobilize the opponent before self-destructing.
- Saibaman Bomb - A variation used by Saibaman to immobilize the opponent in order to utilize their Self Destruct.
- Last Resort - A variation used by Android 16 and his new model to immobilize the opponent in order to detonate his Android Bomb.
Monster Crush - A variation used by Zarbon in his Monster Form.
Life Absorption - In his Imperfect & Semi-Perfect Forms, Cell uses a variation where he grabs his opponent from behind to immobilize them then stabs them with his Tail to drain their bio-essence. Originally used against Piccolo.
Bone Crusher - A variation used by Broly during his fight with Gohan in Broly - Second Coming.
Bull Crash - A variation used by Shisami during his fight with Gohan in the anime.
Justice Rear Naked Choke - A variation used by Top where he grabs the opponent from behind.