In an age when the crime rate seems to be spiralling out of control, it’s no surprise that women are attending self-defence classes in record numbers.
Here are 5 awareness tips to help you get out of a sticky situation (brought to us by, CBS Action (DStv Channel 133) :
Use your elbows, knees, and head
These are the parts of the body used most effectively for inflicting damage: they’re your body’s bony built-in weapons.
Use everyday objects
There are plenty of things in your environment that can be used to your advantage as weapons. For added assurance, hold a key or pen between your middle and ring finger while you’re walking home in the dark. Outdoors, you can toss some dirt or sand into your attacker’s eyes. The point is, use whatever you can to make your defense stronger (for more inspiration, watch some Jackie Chan movies).
Leverage your weight
No matter your size, weight, or strength in relation to your opponent, you can defend yourself by strategically using your body and the simple laws of physics. This is the principle behind martial arts systems like Jujitsu and other self-defense programs where a smaller person is able to defeat a larger one.
Never go to crime scene number 2
If all they want is money, fine. But if an attacker wants to take you somewhere else, take a stand and fight for your life. You stand a better chance of surviving. If you go with them, statistics say you will not escape or be rescued.
Choked from behind
If an attacker grabs your hair from the back, grab his hands, dip down and pivot until you are facing him. If you discover he’s grabbed you with two hands, knee or kick his groin and/or legs until he loosens his grip then slap him or strike his eyes, nose or throat. If you discover only one hand is grabbing, release your stronger hand while maintaining the grip to his hand with your weaker hand then strike with your stronger hand.
People naturally have good instincts, and it’s extremely common for victims of crime to say after the event that they had a bad feeling about a situation, that something or someone didn’t seem right. But they ignored it. When you’ve got a bad feeling, pay attention to it!
