Tips and Tricks of self-defense and why it is important

Self-defense training not only helps you protect yourself but others too. Plus, training helps you become physically and emotionally fit. Having the ability to defend yourself increases your self-esteem and boosts your confidence.

The best self-defense strategies and techniques work equally well for men and women, but let’s face it: Women really need them because they’re assaulted more often than men. Statistics indicate that one in three women will be the victim of some type of violent attack in her lifetime. Women also endure more incidents of verbal and sexual harassment.

Although most women’s self-defense courses focus on skills for quickly and efficiently destroying an attacker, self-defense training also should include methods for preventing a confrontation from turning physical in the first place. Learning how to steer away from a threat may not sound as exciting as ripping out an attacker’s heart, but as they say in every beginner’s class, evading an attack is almost always superior to blocking an attack.

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Here are 10 tips for self-defense

1. Trust your gut instinct

Don't be afraid of your intuition. Many women take a self-defense course after having been attacked. When they talk about their experiences, they typically repeat the same story: "I had this bad feeling, but I told myself not to be paranoid," or "I knew I shouldn't have gone, but I didn't want to hurt his feelings." If there's a feeling that something isn't right and you're not sure if it's secure and this is the most important thing to consider. A lot of women have been taught to ignore the warning that warns them that there's a problem coming. Your senses are the most reliable detector of risk. If you ever notice that voice, pay attention to what it is saying.

2. Practice target denial

Do not create yourself into a target. What happens in a fight will usually be established before the first punch is thrown. If you are able to escape an incident before it becomes a disaster, make use of the opportunity. If an individual who is coming toward you causes you to feel the uncomfortable move to the opposite end of the block. If the elevator doors open, and the person in the elevator causes the hair on your neck to rise then wait until the elevator next door opens. These actions aren't a sign of cowardice; more so, they're an effective way to reduce the risk.

3. Present yourself with confidence

Aware of the message that your body communicates to others who are around you. As with animals, humans are prey to attracted to those they believe to be the weakest or the most vulnerable. They look for women who look scared and confused or even distracted. They seek out women walking with their heads down and their hands in pockets, ones that are overloaded with bags or distracted by kids.

4. Establish strong verbal boundaries

Good communication skills are a powerful self-defense tool that you're likely to use more frequently and more effectively than any physical method. If a predator gets with you, it's basically "interviewing" you to see whether you'll be a suitable victim. A skilled attacker is adept at using words to frighten you into fear, thereby reducing the chances of you trying at defending yourself.

5. Maintain a non-confrontational posture

In an emergency situation of self-defense, one of your most effective tools can be the ability to surprise. The majority of predators are confident that you'll not defend yourself, so you need to take advantage of that belief. If you adopt an oath instantly tells the attacker that you are knowledgeable about the best way to defend yourself. As a result, you'll likely be more aggressive.

6. Keep a safe distance

Everyone has a comfortable zone or private space. When an attacker gets into the zone, you're uncomfortable because you're aware that you'd require this space in case you needed to defend yourself. In an adrenaline state, you'll need just a quarter second to respond to an attack. The "reactionary gap" should be thought of when you think about your personal comfort zone.

7. Utilize the element of surprise

The majority of predators believe that you are unable to defend yourself. Thus, you must make use of the element of surprise. When you're involved in a conversation, you'll have the possibility to use your communication abilities and a non-confrontational posture to get the person who is inflicting the harm to drop his guard. If you're snatched from behind, you should respond quickly. In any case, fighting could surprise the attacker and increase your chances of delivering the first blow.

8. Keep your technique simple

One major effect of adrenaline surge is the diminishing of motor abilities. This means that simple movements like loosening your fingers or pulling your hands from your pockets will become more difficult. Also, the chances of performing a stunning joint with a high kick or lock quickly decrease.

9. Don't be upset if you're knocked down

Often women end up on the ground after being attacked. The good thing is that the majority of attackers aren't experts in fighting on the ground. They're just bullies who are accustomed to taking women to the ground and requiring women to obey. I suggest the following:

• Heel-palm strike - Striking with an open hand minimizes the risk that your hand will be injured and allows you to effectively attack from an unconfrontational posture in which you hold your hands high and open while setting the boundaries of your speech.

• The eye strike - Eye strikes can be employed either in a prone or standing position. In most cases, just pointing your fingers into your adversaries eyes will cause him to recoil. Even if you don't actually make contact, it opens up the space for an even more severe attack.

• A knee strike - This is a technique that's recommended over any standing kick since it's simple to master and is able to be performed in a manner that keeps you focused and on the ground. This is essential when you're in a state of adrenaline. An elbow to your groin could stop a fight in a flash.

10. Follow-through

The fight isn’t over until the threat no longer exists. Therefore, you must be 110-percent committed to the battle. If you fight back and then pause, you give up the initial advantage you gained from using the element of surprise.

Once your opponent knows you can fight, it becomes more difficult for you to prevail. To survive, you must continue your barrage until it’s safe to stop striking and escape.