Every two minutes, a woman in the United States is the victim of sexual assault, according to the United States Department of Justice. Using self-defense techniques may not prevent you from ever coming in contact with someone who wants to do you harm, but they can help lower your risk for serious injury and assault.
Be Aware
The most important self-defense technique has nothing to do with punching or kicking. It has to do with being aware of your surroundings. The best way to defend yourself is to do everything you can to avoid dangerous situations. Avoid going into dark or secluded places by yourself. Don't go anywhere alone with someone you don't know or trust. Park your car in well-lit places such as under a lamp post. Tell people who care about you where you'll be and what you'll be doing if you have to go out on your own. Carry a cell phone with emergency numbers at all times. Do everything you can to minimize your risk for being assaulted.
De-Escalation
Look for any opportunity you can to quickly de-escalate the situation. Giving in to a robber's demands for money or your purse, for example, will sometimes prevent him from getting angry or physical. Avoid using physical force until you absolutely have to. The potential for assault may come from someone you know, such as a domestic dispute. If you're worried things might get physical, de-escalate the situation by dropping the argument or even agreeing with the person. You don't have to mean what you say---the most important thing is to slow things down before they turn violent, then leave as quickly as you can and go to someone you trust or somewhere public. De-escalation may not work every time, but it's always worth a shot to avoid a harmful situation
Distraction
If things do get violent, your first objective should not be to completely pacify your assaulter. It should be to get as far away from him as possible. To do this, use quick distraction techniques and blows or moves that will temporarily incapacitate him. A kick to the groin or fingers to the eyes can in many cases give you enough time to run to safety. Many attackers will flee if they fear they'll be seen or caught, so scream things like "No!" or "Help!" as loud as you can to distract your attacker if things turn violent.
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