According to the National Women's Martial Arts Federation, ". . . self-defense techniques are those you would use for the real dangers women and girls face in our society today, such as harassment, abuse, and sexual assault." Men, of course, can just as easily learn basic self-defense techniques to avoid and counter the physical assaults they are most likely to encounter.
Martial Arts and Self-defense
The misconception that martial arts and self-defense are identical remains widespread. Some martial arts such as Krav Maga, Jeet Kun Do and combat forms of Jujutsu are designed to be effective in threatening situations a person is liable to encounter today, while others such as Aikido and some forms of karate are rooted in traditional practices that take years of practice to perfect. Other, sport-based martial arts have eliminated techniques that are especially effective for someone who has not trained for years and simply wants to learn basic techniques to help them survive an attack.
Awareness and Avoidance as Defense
The first goal of anyone seeking to increase her self-defense capabilities is to learn to avoid potential threats. Increasing your ability to read body language and learning about the warning signs and behaviors of muggers, rapists and other criminals is as important as, and perhaps more valuable than, time spent learning how to strike an attacker. Good self-defense means getting away from danger if at all possible. If you are convinced that a robber only wants your valuables, for instance, good self-defense dictates that you surrender them. If, however, you sense your physical safety is in danger even if you give up your valuables, good self-defense calls for the use of techniques to stun and incapacitate the threat to allow your escape.
Basic Techniques of Self-defense
Effective self-defense techniques are often those that have been banned by professional fighting organizations because they are too dangerous to allow in competition. The popular sport of mixed martial arts, for example, does not allow eye gouging or any attacks directed at the throat or groin -- all valid targets when you are resisting rape or life-threatening physical assault. Another key aspect of self-defense training is practice using readily available items in your immediate environment. For instance, any object than can serve as a stick or club provides an advantage when faced with a knife-wielding opponent.
The Goal of Fighting for Self-defense
The goal of self-defense is survival. That means escape from the threatening situation. The goal is not the defeat or humiliation of the person who threatened you. Your chances of survival increase if you can avoid a confrontation in the first place. Also, if you have to fight, strike quickly and effectively using techniques that are easy to remember and use. Examples include palm heel strikes to the nose or chin, low kicks to the knees and strikes to the eyes and throat. These are delivered to stop an attacker from hurting you and from posing further threats while you get away.
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