You don’t have to be an expert in martial arts nor have impressive physical strength to fend off an attacker. Self-defense is all about technique and, although I hope you’ll never need them, I believe no woman should be without the following five tips.
Many self-defense tips for women are written by men and, I’ve noticed, that they consist of guidance, such as “don’t drink too much” and “don’t wear provocative clothing that will draw male attention.” Now, this may seem like practical, sensible advice, but it bothers me greatly, because it implies that women are at fault if they are attacked; they have somehow ‘asked for it’.
As far as I’m concerned, women should be able to walk around stark naked and blind drunk (if they choose to), and go about their business unmolested. I know, the world doesn’t work like that. I just question where we assign blame for violent and sexual attacks against women. And, I suspect, that until we start to look at it from a different perspective, things are unlikely to change.
Anyway, now I’ve got that off my chest, on to the important stuff!
1. Trust Your Instincts
Ladies, our intuition is often our best weapon. If a little voice is telling you something is wrong, listen to it! If someone, male or female, stops to offer you a ride and you sense that something is iffy, don’t get in the car. If, when walking, you get the feeling that you’re being followed, brace yourself to use force if necessary.
2. Carry Pepper Spray
More important than having it, is that you keep it somewhere handy. If it’s in your purse, asking your assailant to ‘wait one moment’ while you fumble for it, isn’t going to work. If you’re walking alone, especially at night, but at any time if feel vulnerable, have the spray in a pocket and keep it in hand, so it’s ready for use.
3. If You’re Attacked From the Front…
Take a swift kick to the shin or kneecap. If you’ve been grabbed before you get a chance to get a kick in, bring your knee sharply up to his groin. As long as your hands are free, make sure you’re using them to punch at his head; nose, temples, eyes. One of the most effective ways of neutralizing an attacker is to place a sharp blow to the windpipe. Remember, he can’t chase you if he can’t breathe.
4. If You’re Attacked From Behind…
Shift your hips to the side and jab your elbow into his solar plexus (the area directly below the breast bone), which can be followed by a punch to the groin – the side of your fist will work nicely for this. Alternatively, if you’re unable to move your arms, kick back into his shin and/or stamp on his instep.
5. Whatever You Do…
Do it decisively and do it like you mean it. As soon as you’ve neutralized your attacker, run like the wind. Never stop to find out whether you’ve hurt him.
Of course, none of these tips are guaranteed to be effective and you may need to employ several techniques in order to fend off an attacker. However, they can prove extremely useful and all women should be aware of them.
In addition, it’s worth mentioning that the best way to learn self-defense is with a professional tutor or, better yet, by taking regular classes in any form of martial art (if it’s something you do regularly, it will be second-nature should you need to put it into practice). So, if you want to learn more about self-defense, I urge you to consider joining a local class.
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