Defending Yourself

Why Learn how to Defend yourself? You study in order to ace your exams at school. You practice your jump shot in preparation for basketball tryouts. So why wouldn't you learn on ways to protect yourself in the event of an attack or sudden danger? It's much easier if you practice what you learn so you're ready just in case.

Have you ever been in a situation that just didn't feel right? Perhaps you were walking home alone one night from the bus stop and you had a weird feeling inside. That was your intuition at work telling you to be careful. Listen to your intuition. If a situation doesn't feel right, get away from it. Better safe than sorry.

If you ever feel threatened, you should shout or scream to draw attention to the situation. It's even a good idea to practice speaking loudly (or yelling) so if you were ever in danger, you wouldn't freeze up. Commands like "No!" "Go away!" or "Back off!" are excellent attention-getters if you feel threatened. You can also yell "FIRE!". That gets people's attention quickly.

If you're going to be out at night, travel in a group.

Don't take shortcuts, especially at night.

Be aware of your surroundings, and pay particular attention to possible hiding places such as stairways, alleyways, and bushes.

Be sure your body language shows a sense of confidence and purpose.

When riding on public transportation, sit near the driver or conductor and stay awake. Remember, attackers are looking for vulnerable targets.

If someone begins to follow you, try to make it to a safe area, such as a police station, gas station, or other public place. If necessary, scream or yell as you run away to draw attention to the pursuer.

If all else fails, it may be necessary to use physical force to protect yourself. However, you should first determine if fighting is really your only hope. If possible, you should try to get away from the dangerous situation to a safe location where someone can help you.

But if a person blocks your path to safety or if your intuition tells you something is wrong, you may have to fight. Here are a few tips on fighting effectively:

If you are attacked from the front, kick the attacker in the shins or groin (straight up between the legs) or jab the eyes or throat with the bird beak move (wrap your fingers around your thumb to form a beak). The heel of your palm right into the tip of your attacker's nose will also get his attention.

If you are attacked from behind, stomp the attacker's foot with your heel; kick backward with your heel, aiming for the groin or knees or elbow the attacker in the head, throat, or area between the rib cage and stomach. Another move is to slam your head backward into the attacker's face.

Use your natural weapons - voice, hands, and feet - to stop an attack. If you're picked up, use your legs to resist. If your legs are not free, use your hands, if possible, to grab and squeeze the groin and twist until you are let go. Once you've broken free, run as fast as you can to get help.

If you're interested in taking a self-defense course, contact your local YMCA or YWCA. Many people also study martial arts, such as karate and judo, as a means of self-defense. Your school's guidance office or gym teacher may also be a good resource. Completion of a course doesn't guarantee your safety, but it will arm you with knowledge and confidence to help you deal with difficult situations.