Shifter Shaft

I'm trying to remove my stock AT shift knob and in order to stop myself from thinking that twisting the knob with too much pressure will break or damage something, I decided to vice grip the small visible part of the shift shaft right below the knob.

But before I do it, I just want to ask to make sure if the shaft is strong enough to withstand a huge amount of pressure from the vice-grip, assuming that it's not hollow and break or bend if I grip it..