Self Defense

Have you ever been in a situation where you felt threatened or unsafe?

Unfortunately, most people are familiar with that feeling, having experienced it at least once in their lifetime.

Although you cannot always predict what situation may befall you, awareness of your surroundings and a few key skills are critical to assuring a level of safety and preparedness.

Some people can instinctively detect danger and take certain steps to avoid it. They may cross a street, get to a well-lit area, or enter a store, to ensure their safety. Being aware of your surroundings allows you to anticipate and avoid possibly dangerous circumstances.

Unfortunately, in some cases, that is not sufficient. In these situations, very basic self-defense moves can save your life. Your first goal should always be to remove yourself from the potentially dangerous environment. This will drastically increase your chances of survival. You can do this by creating a barrier between you and the attacker. Any number of objects can be used for this purpose. Scan your surroundings for any large items such as a chair, a desk, a park bench, and even a garbage can, and use these to create an obstacle between you and the attacker.

By forming that distance, you are preventing the attacker from getting close enough to cause harm. Assuming there are no weapons involved such as guns or

knives, which are an immediate threat to you, once you have established this space, look for a chance to escape and take it!

Because each assailant, and therefore attack, is different, there is no single technique that will work every time. Many factors and variables play a role in the outcome, some of which will be out of your control if you are the object of a threat. If a physical altercation is unavoidable, however, there are a few general things you should keep in mind when trying to defend yourself.

There is a common misconception that punching the attacker in a face or kicking them in the groin will stop the attack, making escape possible. We hear this often in our women’s self-defense seminars. In practice, however, it is not that simple. A punch may, in fact, be dangerous to the person delivering it, further placing the victim at a disadvantage.

Without proper training and conditioning, the impact can easily dislocate or even break your wrist or knuckles. That is assuming you make contact. The more likely scenario is that you miss the intended target and open yourself up to a counter attack from the assailant. That, in turn, will put you in a worse position than before you initiated the physical contact. Same is true for the kick to the groin. A person who is untrained in proper kicking techniques can easily loose balance, risks injury, and has a very low chance of actually hitting the intended target.

S.A.F.E. Day FestivalFebruary 2,2019 10am - 5pm Sarasota Fairgrounds

Did you know that Jessica Peterson, co-author of Clear Boundaries will be speaking at this important event?

In our seminars we teach to strike with the bottom of the hand to minimize the chances of injury to your wrist or hand. It is important to strike hard and aim for sensitive targets such as the eyes and nose. Since most of the time the attacker will be at close range, possibly holding on

Self Defense is taught by qualified instructors

to you, we also recommend using your knees and elbows. Both have strong bones and offer large areas of impact, to deliver powerful and effective blows. Nails can also be used as weapons, to inflict pain, and to collect crucial DNA of the attacker. The trace materials can be later analyzed to identify and apprehend the assailant.

Being attacked can be a frightening experience and create a sense of loss of control, but there are things you can do to put the odds in your favor. Remember, be aware of your surroundings. If attacked, create distance, and escape if the opportunity presents itself. If physical contact is unavoidable, use knees, elbows, and the bottom of your hand to strike hard and well-placed blows. Use the adrenaline rush to your advantage and do not hold back!

You may be fighting for your life. It is also important to scream and make a lot of noise, to draw attention of others. Knowing these few simple techniques greatly increases your chances of survival and provides you a level of control, in an otherwise unpredictable situation.

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