A working understanding of basic tactics that can help you defend yourself is an effective way to build self-confidence and help you become more aware of your surroundings. If you know what to look for, it is often possible to keep yourself out of dangerous situations. It is recommended that individuals take a self-defense class to correctly practice combat techniques.
Use a Weapon
There is no such thing as a fair fight when your safety and well-being are in jeopardy. A weapon doesn’t necessarily have to be a knife, gun or club. It can be something as basic as throwing your purse at the attacker as he is closing in on you. Another effective weapon is your voice. Scream. Draw attention to yourself. Make sure anyone within earshot knows you are in danger. Use the heel of your shoe to stomp on your attacker’s toes. Your keys also make an effective weapon if you stick them through the fingers of your clenched hand. Use your teeth. Anything you can do to distract and startle an attacker can buy you precious seconds to get to safety.
Use Your Legs
Attackers often choose victims who are smaller and weaker, thinking it will be an easy fight. Your legs are probably much stronger than their arms, so they can be an efficient tool to help keep you safe. Effective karate-style kicks take years to master and even longer to be effective in life-threatening situations, but there are some techniques you can use right away. The traditional kick to the groin is an effective way to temporarily immobilize an attacker and buy you time to get away. Your legs can also be used to keep an opponent away from you by simply raising one knee and putting it between you and the attacker. High heels can serve as a weapon if you stomp on the top of your attacker’s foot.
Use Your Hands
In a life-threatening situation, there is no such thing as fighting with honor. Gouge at the eyes of your attacker. Use nails to scratch at his face. Scratches can be a way for law enforcement to identify an attacker. Punch him. If possible, a quick grab to the groin area can often be enough to make an attacker change his mind about an attempted assault. Punch the attacker in the throat. One effective technique that requires little practice is a throat strike using the webbing between your thumb and fingers.
Member Comments