Watch: Get familiar with your weapons
The third week of the challenge focused on different forms of weaponry and how to use them
The virtual self-defence challenge on Saturday, August 23 focused on all things weaponry and how to use them. Risha Harie from i-LEAD Self Defense showed participants different items in the house that can be used as weapons in a dangerous situation.
“How do you protect your home? Where do you keep your weapons? Do you understand how to use them?” Harie asked as she began the session. She said if you have weapons, it is crucial to have easy access to them and be proficient in using them because sometimes they can be used against you.
Pepper sprays are easy to carry and can be bought essentially anywhere. When intruders come into your home, spray it in a figure 8 because pepper spray stays in the air for much longer. Harie said this delays the perpetrators and buys the victim time. She advised the class to always turn their faces away when spraying the pepper spray to avoid it getting in their eyes.
The second weapon of defence was a pepper grenade. The pepper grenade can be thrown at the object of danger, and allows the victim to escape and get out of the area. “Next is the baton,” Harie said. “This is best used on bony areas. It is important to look at weapons around the home. Things such as skewers and hair pins can be used to stab and defend yourself. Keep weapons in your car as well.”
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Risha warned that fighting to keep possessions is not always worth it. When you are in a compromising situation, it’s often best to cooperate and part with what they want. She warned, however, to fight when attackers try to take you to a secondary location. “Possessions aren’t worth your life but if they are trying to take you somewhere, fight as much as you can. Inflict as much pain as you can.”
Once you have armed yourself and figured out your weapons, how do you use them? Which areas do you go for? The founder of i-LEAD said the heel of the palm can be used effectively to hit the nose and chin areas, which are sensitive. Go for areas that are going to hurt and inflict damage.
