No one can
deny that the best self-defense strategies and techniques work equally well for
men and women, but women really need them because they’re assaulted more often
than men.
Statistics
indicate that one in three women will be the victim of some type of violent
attack in her lifetime. Women also endure more incidents of verbal and sexual
harassment.
Here are a
number of effective, real-life situation tested self-defense concepts and
techniques that anyone can use.
1- Practice
target denial
Don’t make
yourself an accessible target. The outcome of a battle is often determined
before the first blow is struck. When you have the opportunity to escape from a
situation before it turns bad, take it.
If an
approaching person gives you the creeps, walk to the other side of the street.
If an elevator door opens and the guy standing inside makes the hair on the
back of your neck stand up, wait for the next elevator. Those actions aren’t
cowardly; rather, they’re a smart way to eliminate danger.
2- Present
yourself with confidence
Be aware of
the message your body sends to those around you. Like animals, human predators
target those they consider the weakest or most vulnerable.
Attackers
search for men or women who appear frightened, confused or distracted. They
look for women who walk with their head down and their hands stuffed in their
pockets.
By walking
with confidence and awareness, looking around and keeping your head up and
shoulders back, you’ll dramatically reduce the likelihood of becoming a target
in the first place.
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3- Set
strong verbal boundaries
Good verbal
skills are an effective self-defense tool, one you’re likely to use more
frequently and successfully than any physical technique. When a predator
engages you in conversation, he’s actually “interviewing” you to see if you’ll
make a good victim. An experienced attacker is practiced at using his words to
freeze you with fear, thus reducing the chance that you’ll try to defend
yourself.
Although an
aggressive verbal confrontation can be terrifying, you have to be strong enough
to show the attacker he’s picked the wrong victim. If you stand tall, remain
calm and respond confidently and assertively, you’ll probably “fail” his
interview. The power of your voice alone can cause him to seek an easier
target.
4- keep a
safe distance
Everyone has
a comfort zone or personal space. When an aggressor enters that zone, you’re uncomfortable
because you know you’d need that space if you had to fight back. When you’re in
an adrenalized state, you need a quarter of a second to react to an assault.
This “reactionary gap” should be anticipated when you think about your comfort
zone.
You should
try to maintain approximately one to one-and-a-half arm lengths between
yourself and the aggressor. If he starts closing in, you need to use verbal
boundaries. If he still doesn’t back off, it’s time to get physical.
5- No matter
which martial art you practice, learn techniques that are basic and stick with
them in a self-defense scenario.
- Eye
strike.
The eye
strike can be used in a standing or prone position. Often, simply driving your
fingers toward your assailant’s eyes will cause him to recoil. Even if you
don’t make contact, it creates space to set up a more devastating blow.
- Heel-palm
strike.
Hitting with an open hand reduces the chance that you’ll injure your hand and enables you to more easily attack from a non-confrontational stance in which you’re holding your hands up and open while you set verbal boundaries. Then, if your attacker steps into your comfort zone bang! he gets it right in the face.
This
technique is recommended over any type of standing kick because it is easy to
use and can be delivered while you stay centered and close to the ground ,which is crucial when you’re adrenalized. A knee to the groin can end a fight
immediately.
Don't panic if you are knocked down. More often than not, women end up on the ground when they’re assaulted. The good news is that most assailants are not skilled ground fighters; they’re bullies who are used to knocking women down and forcing them to comply. Remember that the heel-palm strike and eye strike work well on the ground. It’s a good idea to have a few kicks that work there, as well.
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The most
effective Self-Defense weapons
Carrying the
best self-defense weapons isn’t always about prevention, either. Just knowing
that you’ve got an alarm or a pepper spray ready to go can provide a level of
comfort and help keep fear levels to a manageable level, especially if you’re
visiting a new place or walking through a sketchy part of town.
Successful
use of these tools usually involves some kind of distraction or painful
deterrent, whether through noise, light or electrical immobilization. Examples
of the best non-lethal self-defense weapons include:
Pepper Spray
Personal
Alarms
Stun Guns
and Tasers
Tactical
Whips
Steel Batons
Tactical Pen
Baseball
Bats
Emergency Whistles