Ten self-defence tips

You’re walking home alone down a dark street when you feel movement behind you.
The hair on the back of your neck stands up. Your heart races. Your palms are sweaty. You hear a branch snap and spin around ready to face an attacker, and, most of the time, it will be a stray cat. But if you faced someone, would you know how to defend yourself?

Also read: Local woman disarms attacker at shopping centre

Here are some tips that could help you:

Improve your body language
Walk and move with confidence by standing tall with your chin up and shoulders back. When you walk with your shoulders back, your lungs receive more oxygen and you’ll be able to better see your surroundings.
Use eye contact
Eye contact is a powerful thing and by making eye contact with someone, you’re letting them know you’re aware they’re there. Avoiding eye contact can show that you’re intimidated and attackers may see you as an easier target.
Go with your gut instinct
Focus on how you respond in different situations and learn to read your body’s cues – these cues make up what we call our ‘gut instinct’ and they’re rarely wrong. If have to defend yourself, trust your intuition.
Be aware of your environment
One reason it’s so important to stand up straight with your shoulders back and head up is so that you can know what’s going on around you. If you see potential danger, you can avoid it or be prepared to defend yourself. Stick to well-lit areas, don’t get distracted scrolling through Instagram and look for exits or alternate paths.
Negotiate out of a situation
Be confident and practise what you’d say if you had to talk your way out of a potential situation. Mentioning you have friends and family nearby or talking on the phone to someone and letting them know exactly where you can create a deterrence for your would-be attacker.
Learn safe boundaries
If a potential attacker comes into your personal space, don’t be reluctant to take action. It’s important to have safe boundaries when someone makes you feel uneasy.
Use your voice
One of your most valuable assets in self-defence is your voice. Take a deep breath and yell no or stop as loudly as you can. Not only will this draw attention to your situation and potentially get you help, but it can also startle the offender. Using your voice can also improve your breathing pattern, focus and strength – all of which can help you escape.
Make it difficult
Get light on your feet and move around as much as possible – try not to be a deer caught in headlights. If there is more than one attacker, pick one to focus on and move around using them as a shield between you and the other attacker. If you’re on the floor, roll around and use your body as dead weight – this makes it so much harder for someone to move you.
Know vital target areas
Know which areas of the offender’s body to target. Some of the most common sensitive areas to aim for (with a punch, kick or scratch) include eyes, ears, temples, nose, throat, groin and knees.
Learn self-defence
The best way to learn how to defend yourself is to head to a self-defence class. Not only is it a great way to meet other people, get fit and have fun, but you’ll also learn practical tips and tricks that will leave you feeling more confident if you ever feel threatened.
When looking after yourself, it’s important to remember that size doesn’t always matter. If your attacker is larger and stronger than you, use what you have to your advantage. Whether it’s your voice, your agility or your wit, keep calm and stay confident.

• Information provided by Silent Rights