The finest self-defense ideas and techniques are equally effective for men and women, but let’s face it: women need them more than men since they are assaulted more frequently. According to statistics, one in every three women will be the victim of a violent attack throughout her lifetime. Women are also subjected to increased instances of verbal and sexual harassment. Although most women’s self-defense classes emphasize on rapidly and efficiently eliminating an assailant, self-defense training should also include tactics for avoiding a physical conflict in the first place. Learning how to steer away from a threat may not seem as thrilling as tearing out an attacker’s heart, but as any beginner’s class instructor will tell you, dodging an attack is nearly always preferable to attacking.
LISTEN TO YOUR INSTINCTS
After being assaulted, far too many women enroll in a self-defense class. They frequently say the same thing while recounting the incident: “I got this awful feeling, but I told myself not to be paranoid,” or “I felt I shouldn’t have gone, but I didn’t want to hurt his emotions.”
Bottom line: if something doesn’t feel right, it probably isn’t safe. Many women have been trained to disregard the small voice that warns them that trouble is on the way. Your instinct is the finest danger detector. Listen to what that small voice says the next time you hear it.
DENIAL OF PRACTICE TARGET
Avoid making oneself an easy target. A battle’s result is frequently established before the first strike is struck. Take advantage of any opportunity to get out of a bad situation before it becomes worse.
Want to know what it’s like to train with the author of this piece, Meredith Gold? Click here to read the entire story!
If you get the creeps from an approaching stranger, cross the street. Wait for the next elevator if an elevator door opens and the guy inside makes the hair on the back of your neck rise up. Those behaviors are not cowardly; rather, they are a wise method to avoid danger.
CONFIDENTLY PRESENT YOURSELF
Be conscious of the message your body conveys to others around you. Human predators, like animals, prey on those they perceive to be the weakest or most vulnerable. Attackers look for women who appear scared, bewildered, or preoccupied. They watch for women who stroll with their heads down and their hands in their pockets, or who are carrying too many parcels or are distracted by youngsters.
Keep in mind that attackers do not want to provoke a confrontation; they seek an easy target. Walking with confidence and alertness — glancing about and keeping your head up and shoulders back — can significantly lessen your chances of becoming a target in the first place.
ESTABLISH STRONG VERBAL BOUNDARIES
Good linguistic skills are a great self-defense strategy that you are more likely to utilize than any physical approach. When a predator talks to you, he’s actually “interviewing” you to determine if you’ll be a good victim. An experienced attacker is skilled at utilizing his words to paralyze you with dread, diminishing the likelihood that you would attempt to protect yourself.
Although a violent verbal encounter might be intimidating, you must be strong enough to demonstrate to the attacker that he has chosen the wrong victim. You will most likely “fail” his interview if you stand tall, remain cool, and react firmly and assertively. He may choose an easier target just because of the force of your voice.
KEEP A NON-CONFRONTATIONAL POSITION
One of your secret weapons in self-defense is the element of surprise. Most predators believe you won’t protect yourself, and you should take advantage of that belief. A martial arts posture quickly communicates to the adversary that you know how to fight. He’s likely to get more aggressive in reaction.
Instead, take a confident, comfortable stance with your hips and shoulders forward, arms bent, and hands up and open. The attacker may be misled by your conciliatory posture into believing you’re eager to cooperate. If it becomes time for you to strike, he will most likely be unprepared.
REMAIN AT A SAFE DISTANCE
Everyone has a personal space or comfort zone. You’re uneasy when an attacker reaches that zone because you know you’d need that distance if you were to fight back. When you’re tense, you only have a quarter of a second to respond to an attack. When you consider your comfort zone, you should be prepared for this “reactionary gap.”
Maintain a distance of one to one and a half arm lengths between yourself and the offender. If he begins to close in on you, you must set verbal limits. If he refuses to back down, it’s time to go violent.
APPLY THE SURPRISE ELEMENT
Most predators believe you are powerless to protect yourself. As a result, you should capitalize on the element of surprise. If you’re having a discussion, you can utilize your conversational abilities and a non-confrontational position to convince the attacker to drop his guard. If you are seized from behind, you must act quickly. In any scenario, fighting might catch him off guard and boost your chances of striking the initial hit.
REMAIN SIMPLE IN YOUR TECHNIQUES
One of the most common side effects of adrenaline release is a loss of fine motor abilities. Simple actions like unlacing your fingers or getting your hands out of your pockets may become considerably more difficult as a result. And your chances of pulling off a stunning joint lock or high kick are fast dwindling.
Whatever martial art you do, master basic techniques and stick to them in a self-defense scenario. I suggest the following:
Strike with the heel. Hitting with an open hand decreases the possibility of injuring your hand and allows you to attack from a non-confrontational position in which you hold your hands up and open while setting verbal limits. Then, if your assailant steps into your comfort zone, he hits you square in the face.
Eye contact. The eye strike may be utilized either standing or prone. Driving your fingers at your assailant’s eyes may often force him to recoil. Even if you don’t make contact, you’re creating room for a more powerful hit.
Strike with the knee. This technique is preferred above any other sort of standing kick because it is simple to execute and allows you to stay focused and near to the ground — which is critical when you’re adrenalized. A knee to the groin may put an end to a battle quickly.
DO NOT FEAR IF YOU ARE KNOCKED DOWN.
When women are abused, they frequently end up on the ground. The good news is that most assailants are bullies who are used to pushing women down and forcing them to submit. On the ground, the heel-palm strike and eye strike are effective. It’s also a good idea to have a few kicks that work there.
The side thrust kick, in particular, is useful in a number of situations. If you’re on the ground and your attacker is standing, you have the upper hand since your legs are longer than his arms. That implies if he wants to approach you, he’ll have to expose his body to your kick.
Knee strikes are also effective on the ground. While you wrestle with your attacker, he is unlikely to defend his groin. Get near enough to hit upward into his crotch once you perceive an opportunity.
GO THROUGH THIS
The battle does not end until the threat is eliminated. As a result, you must be fully devoted to the war. If you fight back and then hesitate, you forfeit the initial advantage acquired by utilizing the element of surprise.
When your opponent knows you can fight, it gets more difficult to win. To survive, you must continue striking until it is safe to stop and flee.
We need to feel strong and confident whether we are traveling overseas or closer to home. There are cultural conventions in many nations that prevent women from standing up to predators violently and openly. We can protect ourselves by using the power of our own speech. We can help women prepare for any circumstance, at home or abroad, by adopting a safety attitude and planning ahead of time.