Easy Self Defense

As a mother and a woman I know what an overwhelming idea defending yourself can be. I started in the martial arts as a teenager, but having years of fighting experience is not necessary in protecting yourself or your family. Having a clear understanding of your environment, your body and the vulnerable spots on an attacker, will help you stay calm and find a way out of most self-defense situations. Many people don't understand what their options are prior to an attack. Here are my suggestions on both avoiding potential dangers, as well as escaping actual confrontations.

Preventing a dangerous situation:

* Always Be Aware of Your Surroundings.
Talking on your cell phone, listening to your MP3, or reading a book, are ways of blinding you to your environment. This is dangerous, as it blinds you to potentially dangerous situations. Know who is walking down the street, see who might be sitting in their cars, etc. When you are out and about utilize all five senses in observing your environment. If you see someone sitting in their car, in an area they shouldn't be, avoid and call the police or security.

* Keep Your Hands and Feet Unencumbered.
Always wear comfortable shoes and clothing, so you can run if need be. Wouldn't you hate it if you tripped due to your shoe choice? Don't carry a million things. If it doesn't fit into a single bag, than make more than one trip. A single bag can be use as a weapon (swinging your purse, with the strap, at your assailant, for instance), but having to take the time to drop the unnecessary could be the thirty seconds you need to surprise your opponent.

* Leave No Door Open or Unlocked.
This seems like simple advice, but many of us do not realize all the points of entry an attacker can use. Car doors, all windows, house doors, car ports, etc. Many a robber or criminal will follow the path of least resistance. Therefore, even when you are sitting in your car or at home, do not leave ground floor windows open, nor doors unlocked. At the very least, a lock will slow a criminal down, perhaps giving you a chance to escape. Women have a tendency to sit in their cars and do things - balance their check books, talk on the phone, etc - Do Not! As soon as you enter your vehicle (after checking the rear seats for a hiding assailant of course) immediately start the car, have your phone at the ready. Also, Never sit with your door ajar. This is a car-jackers dream.

* Review Your First Aid Training.
An ambulance may not be permitted to enter a scene until the police deem it safe. Your being able to apply a tourniquet or provide CPR may save someone's life.

* Allow Your Children to be Your Eyes and Ears.
Speak to your children about stranger danger. Explain the importance of seeing things out of the ordinary. When you are out in a busy place, tell them to let you know if they observe something or someone out of place. Often parents are too busy trying to ride herd on the little ones to notice things out of the ordinary. But, children notice everything. Use that in your favor.

Fighting Back

* It is important to know when to fight back.
If a mugger demands your purse or wallet, give it to them. Its not worth your life to fight back. Do not hand it to them, toss it on the ground away from you, then run. If you think they wont let you go once they have your property, or if they have grabbed you, then you should fight back. There is no need to fight someone who is a few feet away.

* Do Not Scream for Help, Scream 'Fire'
Sadly in this day and age we are accustomed to car alarms and screaming children. We don't often call the police for these occurrences. But, if you hear someone screaming 'Fire' - this will attract your attention. Attracting the attention of others will discourage an attacker.

* Do Not Go With A Criminal.
This sounds like more simple advice. But if an attacker tries to force you into your car or drag you with them, fight for all you are worth! The act of bringing you somewhere else, means an attacker want to do something to you and they have previously discovered a private enough location. "Fighting Tooth and Nail' is not just a saying. Don't be afraid to scratch, or bite. It would be better to tick off an assailant than let them bring you along. Again, most attackers want an easier time - so they will not like a person fighting back.

* The Best Places To Strike.
The first place a woman goes to strike a man, is the first place a man expects to be struck. This will waste your first, and most effective, defense. The best areas to strike are soft-tissue areas: The Eyes, Nose, Under the Chin, Front of the Neck, Inner Thigh, Stomp on the assailants foot, or Kick to the side of the Knee. To strike effectively, you can punch, but if you're not sure how to punch for the most force, don't worry. A claw or poke can be equally painful - especially to the eyes. This may not disable them, but it will make their eyes tear, thus giving you time to break away and run.

* Do Not Stop And Drop.
When we hear a gun shot, our instinct is to stop and drop. But, it is much easier to hit a stationary target than a moving one. Get everyone around you to emit utter chaos. Run, jump, do cartwheel, whatever will make it more difficult for the shooter to get a fix on your location. Furthermore, a bullet is very small. The danger zone is only about a foot square. For instance, if the barrel of the gun is pointing at your chest, you only need to be concerned with your torso from head to pelvis. If the trigger is pulled, you want nothing vital in that space. So, jump, roll, run, etc.

* Do Not Panic At The Sight of A Weapon.
If a criminals goal was to shoot you than they needn't have gotten close enough to show you the gun. They could have shot you from the back or a hundred yards away. If they are showing you the weapon, then their first priority is something other than murder. They want you afraid so you will do what they want. This can work to your advantage. If your assailant has a knife, for instance, they will take an extra thirty-seconds (on average) to decide to stab. Stabbing is messy business, and extremely personal, as the fighters must be very close together. Therefore, fighting back can startle your attacker. You have thirty seconds to hit, kick, scream, etc, and then run. Again, assess the situation. If they are showing you a weapon, so you will be frightened enough to hand over your valuables, then don't fight back. If you think they plan to use the weapon, fight.

* Be Conscious of Available Weapons
Believe it or not, just about everything can make a weapon. A metal nail file, or a rat tailed comb would make an excellent weapon for stabbing - especially to the soft- tissue areas of the body. The same can be said for keys. You can use a can of hairspray or spray deodorant as a make-shift mace. Spraying an attacker in the eye will temporarily blind them. As I stated previously, you can swing a bag to hit your assailant as well.

The key to any self defense situation is to stay calm. Spend time thinking about different scenarios. If you visualize what you would do in a situation, your mind will not freeze in terror if the situation occurs. Go from your stunned stuper to a snarling cat as quickly as possible, this will startle your opponent, buying you the thirty second window you need to make your escape. Fighting back should be explosive, so think and plan ahead. Be aware of your environment - both to prevent entering a dangerous situation and to be aware of escape routes if needed.