Learn Self-Defense Tactics Every Woman Should Know

One doesn't have to be bigger or stronger than an assailant only smarter. Basic self-defense is easier than you think. A physical altercation should always be a last resort. If you're aware of what's around you and have a safety plan, your chances of escape are increased. See my other content for tips on creating a safety plan and practicing situational awareness.

If you are defending yourself from a violent attack, your goal is to create maximum damage with minimal force. Martial arts and Combatives Instructor, Craig Caudill, of Bluegrass Budokai, advises women to hit an assailant with multiple blows in quick succession. There are multiple vulnerabilities on the human body and you should exploit every one.

The head offers many targets. Pressing your thumbs in the corner of your attacker's eyes and raking across can potentially remove an eyeball. As disgusting as that sounds now, you'll not be near as repulsed in the midst of violent attack. Slapping your hands hard against the attacker's ears can not only affect his balance but also render him temporarily deaf. A blow to the nose or throat is very painful. Repeated strikes to this area could produce your escape.

Between the breasts is a small bone called the sternum. The sternum is near the heart with the lungs behind it. Hitting it with open or closed hand can cause dizziness, fainting, breathing difficulties or even death if the bone breaks and punctures the heart.

Ladies, there's a reason guys moan when they see someone hit in the groin. Make contact with this sensitive area with your foot or hand and pain is inflicted. This is an excellent technique in an attack that comes from behind. Kick backwards into his groin, stomp hard on his foot and then kick the inside of his knee outward and you've likely rendered him unable to pursue you.

Now, that you know his vulnerabilities, let's talk about how you'll protect yourself. Obviously, you want to protect your head. But covering your head with your hands is only going to leave you open for multiple blows and prevent you from striking back. You want to stay on your feet and facing him if at all possible. As you'll see in the video the best defense is to hold your hands in front of you, arms bent, fists clenched and palms facing one another. This allows you to deflect his blows while you wait for the opportunity to unleash your own.

A well-prepared mind and a body that has practiced will serve you well in a deadly situation. By not panicking you can look for opportunities to strike. When you make your move, Caudill stresses the need to continue the onslaught until you are certain your attacker is rendered enabled. It's not the strength of the blows but the number of them that will give you the advantage. Caudill demonstrates in the video how to "answer 3 (blows) for ( an attacker's ) one".

An assailant expects the typical response of someone caught off guard. You must surprise him. To do that you must focus your energy on what you can do to him rather than what he is doing to you. For instances, if he is choking you, he'll expect you to claw at his hands and try to pull his arms apart. He knows the probability of this tactic being successful is slim to none. Don't waste your energy on futile attempts. Instead, look for his vulnerable spots and the opportunity to get them. Take his eye out, punch his sternum, pound his ribs and anything else you can think of. Strike hard, fast and be relentless about it. Your barrage of pummeling fists will draw his attention to the area you're attacking and away from your neck. Alternating the areas you hit will keep him from deflecting the blows because he won't know where you are targeting next. The key is to simply not stop. Fight with everything you have in you and don't stop.

Self-defense must be practiced. Simply reading this article isn't enough. In the worst-case scenario you want your muscles to have memory of your response and that will only come with practice. A fun way to practice is to invite friends over and have a self-defense party. Watch the video and practice the technique. Break into two groups - the attackers and those being attacked. You'll have fun while learning life saving techniques. And with the ever growing attacks upon women if you have six friends over, statistics state that at least one of them will have a need to thank you for saving her life.