The Top Five Self-Defense Techniques that Women Should Know About
Walking home late at night, hanging out too late at parties, and going around with no one with you can spell your doom, your mom once told you. You may or may not have obeyed, you may or may not have resented the advice, but guess what: you, woman, can be easy prey if you’re alone on those dark and empty streets. Aside from knowing how to run fast enough, or spot an attacker from miles away, what should you know? You should be able to defend yourself.
You might be thinking: I have mace spray, or I have a Swiss Knife with a mean blade. But what happens if you don’t have the time or space to reach for that can of mace buried deep in your handbag? Worse, what if you suddenly forget how to use the can of mace and accidentally spray yourself? Can you tell your attacker to wait for a minute while you figure out which gadget on your Swiss Knife is for stabbing? Can you defend yourself if you whip out the Swiss Knife and unfold your trusty, deadly can opener?
All you need to know are what parts of your attacker are the most vulnerable. And you need some practice, so be sure to do refresher courses, or ask a male friend to help you out. Just don’t be too violent during practice, and you’ll start getting your skills honed.
1. Mace spray is truly effective. So are a stun gun, a tazer, and a baton. But guess what: your mind can start changing and doing unimpressive things during an attack. You will need to practice using them. Moreover, keep these weapons in a space in your hand bag that you can easily reach. Make sure that you do not have to dig through piles of hair brushes, lipsticks, and calling cards before you get to your defense stuff.
2. Remember this as you find ways to defend yourself. Your attacker will want as little space between you and him as possible, and you will find it hard to do a Bruce Lee if you’re being pinned to the ground, in danger of being raped. To counteract this, you need to put space between you and your attacker. If you are being pinned down, don’t struggle aimlessly: put your hands on your attacker’s shoulders, and then, firmly, lock out your elbows, as though you were about to spring forward and push him back. Pull your feet up and position your feet on your attacker’s hips. Now, with all your energy, push!
3. If your feet are pinned down, but your hands are still free to put on your attacker’s shoulders, you may as well reach up, put your hands on either side of the attacker’s face, and jam your thumbs directly into his eyes. Press in as though you were launching his eyeballs way out of his skull. The eyes are a susceptible region, and you can use that to your advantage.
4. Kicking is a good thing to do. Find a way to kick your assailant in the groin or in the knees. These are also susceptible and sensitive parts of the body. If you are lying on the ground, you can lift your knee and kick your attacker in the groin. If the attacker is down but you can sense that he is still ready for another attack, spring up at once, and if you can, kick him in the throat. High heels can be your best friend for good kicks, or putting down a very painful pressure point.
5. Your elbows can help you. Jam it into your assailant’s stomach if he comes from behind, and then into the throat as you try to put some space between you.
Got your own self defense technique to share?
image credits to: rageforst
Tags: cool gadget, female self defense, mace spray, self defense techniques, woman self defense
August 1st, 2008 at 9:25 pm
What great advise to women for self defense techniques! Thanks for posting this information.
August 2nd, 2008 at 5:14 am
The Top Five Self-Defense Techniques that Women Should Know About is a really good blog. Thank you!
August 3rd, 2008 at 2:08 pm
Mace spray is SOMETIMES effective. A civilian Taser gives you one shot at one attacker and only disables for a few seconds, after which he’s going to be geometrically angrier. A baton is of very limited use against a large, aggressive person, especially if he’s on any of the most popular mind-altering chemicals.
Here’s another suggestion: Learn to use a handgun; buy a major-caliber handgun that you can handle and conceal; get a concealed carry permit; carry your gun everywhere that it’s legal to do so.
Nothing levels the playing field between an attacker and a would-be victim as much as a firearm.
“But what if he takes it away?” some sheeple respond. Don’t let him get close enough. Learn weapon retention techniques. Develop a non-victim mindset.
Practice shooting. Take a variety of handgun courses: One of the most valuable things you’ll learn is how to be aware of possible trouble and avoid it before it happen. Take some unarmed defense courses to give you other options to add to your firearms training. Learn when you can and must use your weapon and set your mind that you WILL NOT be a victim. After all, the only thing necessary for evil to prevail is for good men (and good women) to do nothing.
August 3rd, 2008 at 5:30 pm
Mike, Cindy – thanks!
Friend – I appreciate your feedback. You’ve mentioned even greater tips! Thanks for dropping by and chiming in..
February 5th, 2009 at 10:47 am
Keys are an effective tool for self defense. Just hold them firmly in your hand with the key sticking out between your fingers. The point of the key can then strike the eyes, temples, or throat of the assailant.
March 23rd, 2009 at 2:56 pm
This is a really good article I am amazed by how many women don’t carry anything to protect themselves when many times they don’t feel safe walking to their car when they are in a mall parking lot or something like that.
April 8th, 2009 at 2:26 pm
As a martial arts school manager and head instructor I almost 100% disagree with the idea of using mace, a gun, knife ect… to defend yourself. More often than not a woman is in more danger of having her weapon used against her. The rest of it sounds pretty good though. I always tell my students (kids for kidnapper defense and adults for attacker/mugger defenses) “If they cant see, they cant hurt you. If they cant breathe, they cant hurt you. If they cant walk… you guessed it, they cant hurt you.”
May 18th, 2010 at 5:47 pm
if a guy grabs you from behind and you cant get out, with the hell of your foot stomp on the top of his foot as hard as you can. while he is moving toward the pain in his foot, elbow him in the ribs then throw your head back as hard as you can into his face. trust me, this will hurt him a lot more than you.
May 19th, 2010 at 11:51 am
Getting a Gun?!? I am a gun supporter, But I never tell people to get a gun for self defense and even at home, I strongly recommend a shotgun. A handgun is a precision instrument which takes on-going practice on a regular basis to maintain a minimum level of proficiency. Furthermore it can be taken away, which is why law enforcement has special holsters for their weapons…
Follow the original article and utilize pepper sprays, eye gouching, groin kicks/pulls, slapping ears hard, hitting the throat…..
All effective attack areas. If a person can’t breath (throat strikes) they cant attack.. If a person cant see (eye popping/gouching) they cant get to you.
December 3rd, 2011 at 10:55 am
I agree with COP. I am a gun supporter but one of the biggest problems with the average civilian is the unwillingness to commit to deadly force. Most of your average viewers are not going to be dedicated to the training it takes to be accurate with the gun, or to train in techniques to quickly deploy the weapon, and then even if they do, most civilians are unwilling to commit to deadly force, which is what you need to be willing to do if you are going to draw a gun. I can’t tell you how many times I’ve trained students where to hit how to hit and why, and still, they won’t commit to the extremes of violence that is necessary against an assailant who has almost twice their body mass, and 20% more muscle mass, never mind having the mind set that it actually takes to shoot someone dead. Then, if she pulls the weapon but is unwilling to fire it, it will CERTAINLY be used against her when he takes it from her.