Self-defense is the use of physical force to prevent an immediate threat from the attacker, expressed in harm to the physical and psychological state of health.
Some styles of karate and martial arts practice exemption from captures. An attack can occur with and without weapons.
In both cases, the chances of success for the defender depend on his physical and mental state, as well as on the seriousness of the intentions of the attacker. A large proportion of martial arts teach how to defend themselves in an attack.
This article is about how to protect yourself from an attack by a fraudster or criminal, what needs to be done so that the attack situation is excluded and how to act if the seizure occurs.
Principle of operation
Tim Larkin, in his Target Focus Training self-defense system, teaches that tackle-free techniques are not kicks and kicks, but strategically measured throws of an attacker through oneself. The capture victim is not allowed to stand still, experiencing fear and panic, on the contrary, it is permissible to carry out effective targeted attacking actions. It is generally recommended to target pressure points located in the ears, eyes, and throat.
How to escape?
Each time, when attacked, it is necessary to apply all possible methods of liberation from capture. When seized from behind, it is likely that the attacker really intends to do harm, a quick reaction can prevent an attack and even save a life.
- Do not be afraid to protect yourself in any known way, because life can be at stake. If there is an opportunity to hit the foot, you need to do it immediately after being grabbed from behind.
- A large man will easily raise a woman above the ground, thereby depriving her of the ability to fight back in self-defense. If the attacker lays the victim on the ground, self-defense opportunities become more limited.
- Do not be afraid to inflict physical pain on an attacker. Do not underestimate your physical strength when it comes to self-defense during an attack.
Key points
There are several key points to breaking free of grabs that are useful to know. First, you need to resist grabbing and spinning, this will greatly increase the chances of release. Secondly, one should not panic and doubt. The second you feel that someone grabbed by the shoulder, you need to instantly respond. The suddenness will take the attacker by surprise. Thirdly, you need to tilt your head down, so you can protect your face from injury.
The most effective body parts to protect
The defender has several seconds and several movements for the outcome of the confrontation in his favor. Before an attacker gains full control, everything necessary must be done in order to injure him and leave the place of battle. It is necessary to strike on the most sensitive areas of the body: eyes, nose, ears, neck, groin, knee, legs.
Depending on the position of the attacker and on how close he is, it will be determined where to strike and, accordingly, what part of the body this needs to be done. Do not hit your opponent’s nose with your hand when his knee is in close proximity to you. In this case, you need to kick the knee of the attacker.
If you hit a target located in the upper body, use your hand. Effective strikes can be made using the outside of your hand, palm or fist on the most sensitive areas.
We list the areas that should be affected when exempting from capture with two hands.
- Organs of vision: you need to put pressure on the eyes of the attacker with your fingers or knuckles. Besides the fact that visual impairment will cause him incredible pain, this action can facilitate your escape.
- Nose: If the attacker is in front of you, use your fist to strike. Put your whole body in motion to hurt the attacker the most, make him loosen his grip and let you go. If he is behind, you can hit the nose with your elbow.
- Neck: this area is the most extensive area, the carotid artery and jugular vein are located here. When an attacker strikes a hand to the side, he can be temporarily disabled. The correct technique implies that the fingers slightly bent in the joint hold together tightly, the thumb is raised up.
- Knee: This is an ideal target for self-defense due to the vulnerability of the area from all sides. It is easy to strike at her, while the risk of being captured is virtually eliminated. The execution technique is as follows: you need to kick the back of the knee of the opponent so that the injury he received distracts him.
Wrist
What should I do if an attacker grabs you by the wrist and holds you tight? The main technique for freeing the front grip is to find a weak spot. It is known that the weakest zone is between the thumb and the four others. Try to turn your hand so that its narrow part falls into this place. After that, push your hand forward. So you can get freedom.
Do not try to hit the one who holds you, because this way you can lose your position and not be able to take control of the situation. After release, one of the main methods of self-defense should be applied.
Neck
How can you protect yourself when the attacker grabs you by the neck? The first impulse is to grab your hands and try to remove them from this area, but you cannot. His hands are strongly located in place, and you need to approach the problem from a different angle (literally). Place one hand on the guy’s esophagus, directly on the throat, and press hard. At the same time, when there is a release from the hand grasp, try to free the neck from the elbow. Be sure to press hard on the throat with your fingers and push with full force.
If you are seized from behind, and their hands are under yours, you should consider turning and bumping your elbow in the head. You can lean back on your knees or fall to your feet.
Bear hug
This type of grip is when a person attacks from behind and squeezes your body and arms tightly. If you can, then stamp your feet, especially for women with high heels. If this is not possible, try using your elbows to hit the opponent in the head. Another good technique for freeing grips and girths is to pull the attacker's fingers to the back of the hand, so he will free your body from a bear hug.
Floor position
This is one of the most difficult positions to free from an attack. No one wants to be pressed to the ground, because an attacker who is behind him gets total control over the situation. It is also a position used by people with a low standard of living who are prone to rape, so you should know how to deal with this situation. There are several basic techniques for freeing grips. Thanks to their use, you can get out of the worst situation in which you may find yourself.
Elbows, knees and head
These are the parts of the body that are most sensitive when released from the rear. Also, the elbows, knees and head are those areas of the body that are most effectively used to strike. In fact, they are the built-in weapons of your body.
Houseware
The everyday items that you carry with you can also be used as a means of freeing grips. Here are some effective methods.
- For greater certainty, hold the key or pen between your middle and ring fingers. This is a good way to save yourself if you get to your destination in complete darkness.
- You can pick up pieces of street dirt or sand and throw them into the eyes of an attacker.
- Women can spray perfume or hairspray into the attacker's eyes.
The essence of using household items is as follows: to increase your safety, you can use everything at hand. For more inspiration, check out some Jackie Chan movies.
Your weight
Regardless of your size, weight, or strength compared to your opponent, you can also learn how to free yourself from grip in water. This is the principle of martial arts systems such as jujitsu and other self-defense programs where an inconspicuous person can defeat a stronger person. To do this, use the abilities of your body and the simple laws of physics.
Precautionary measures
Everyone should know the basic principles of liberation from captures in order to protect themselves. Here are some of them, everyone should understand them:
- Make sure that the person who grabbed you is actually an attacker, not your friend, who, using his sense of humor, decided to play a trick on you.
- Use a scream to draw attention to you and your difficult situation.
- Stretch your fingers. Exemption from grip on the neck implies that you will begin to use the second free hand of the attacker. With one hand, take his index and middle fingers. You need to pull them very strongly and in opposite directions. This will be an unpleasant moment for the attacker, so you will have a chance to escape.
- Grab your ear. You can use this protection if you are seized from behind. In this case, put your hands on the head of the attacker and pull her nails down until you find his ears. Then grab them and pull them down sharply. This must be done quickly, because if this is done too slowly, he will have a chance to understand what is happening, thereby your plan will be unraveled. However, if you do this quickly enough and with sufficient force, you can damage your ear. And if you are very strong, for example, you are a heavyweight athlete, your opponent’s ear can be ripped off.
- Poke the attacker in the throat. Your hand should not be clenched in a fist, on the contrary, you must ensure that it is open. Make sure every bone in your limb is straight. If any of your hands are bent, the proper effect cannot be achieved. With your hand, poke right into the center of his throat. This should lead to the fact that the attacker begins to suffocate. This will give you a chance to escape.
- Go back. As a last attempt, try going backward. Both the attacker and you will fall, thereby you will have a chance to escape.
Prevention is the best self-defense technique
As already mentioned, it is useful to know how you can protect yourself in an attack, that is, to know effective ways to free yourself from captures. In fact, the best and ideal method of self-defense is to prevent a capture situation at all.
You can avoid direct confrontation if you do not look like a suitable victim in the eyes of the attacker. Most people with low living standards are looking for easy targets. They attack those who cannot resist, so make sure you know your surroundings well and take all necessary safety measures. Here are some basic precautions:
- Before approaching your apartment building or your car, always look around for suspicious people nearby.
- Do not carry expensive jewelry in your bags when traveling alone.
- Park your car in a well-lit place and always keep your keys in your hand when you go to the car. If you stop right outside the car and start looking for the keys in your purse, your attention will be diverted and you can skip someone who is sneaking behind you. In addition, if you hold the keys in your hand, you will have time to unlock your car and leave quickly.
- Do not walk alone on a dark alley late at night. Darkness is the best shelter for people prone to crime.
- Be unpredictable. Try the other way when you go home or to the store. This discourages the one who picks up the victim to attack.
But even observing all safety precautions does not guarantee that you will not find yourself face to face with a scammer, criminal or rapist. If this happens, you should do everything possible to remember the attacker, if possible inflict injury on him and escape from the scene of the attack.
Even if you are very scared, your brain will still be able to quickly navigate in this situation. The main thing is to prevent you from freezing, because it turns out to be almost impossible to perform any action in this state.