No, this post will not make you an ultimate fighter but it will help you have a fight when faced with malicious people. Not to be negative or whatever, but safety has become a grave concern for many nowadays.
I'd like to go direct to the point. The best self-defense is not to fight at all. You either avoid a situation or run from it!
In Karate class, I was surprised at the first thing we were taught to do when faced with dangerous people. We were told to pick up our slippers and run as fast and as far as we can! Really! And if you’re wearing shoes, that’d be one less task for you. 😆
Easy, right? Yes, it's easy to think but when you break down the process, preventing an encounter with danger or running from dangerous people is not as effortless as you think. You actually have to factor in a lot of things, and that's before panic sets in. But since we can't always prevent being in a precarious situation, I have included a few notes on what to do in life or death situations.
I am not all-knowing but I have learned enough about self-defense to be able to protect myself and the people I care about, and I hope these few notes can help (even just a little).
original art made for this post
1) Awareness and Avoidance
Ever get that inkling feeling that something is not right? That’s probably your natural instinct telling you to be on guard against something or someone malicious. And it will do you good to listen to it because that inkling feeling usually saves our lives. Prevention, as they say is better than cure. If it feels wrong, walk away.
Be aware of your surroundings. You don't have to act paranoid as that will lead to panic. Just be mindful and make sure your mind is not elsewhere so you would be able to react when a situation arises.
Be aware of your habits and schedule. We are naturally habitual people | read more , thus we tend to form patterns which makes us a bit predictable. Not varying your activities makes it easy for other people to remember your schedule and routine. Once in a while, deviate from your routine, reorganize your schedule and try different routes on your way to work or going home (if possible).
Take note:
- Know the exit points when you're somewhere unfamiliar
- Take a look at your surroundings and the people around you
- Be cautious of agitated people
Again, if you can avoid a fight, why go through it? Prevention will always be better. Be vigilant and be aware of your surroundings.
2) If forced to fight, fight smart!
No matter how much precaution we take, there are situations we can't avoid or perhaps we noticed too late. When you are already faced with danger, the most essential thing you could do is to stay calm and never ever forget to breathe so you'd be able to think!
Remember, you are your best weapon. A pen would certainly be handy in dangerous situations. It's light, not noticeable and it will hurt when you stab. Trust me!
But the best weapon you can have is yourself. It will always be with you. 😊
Fight smart. Without a background in Martial Arts or self-defense, it might be challenging to overpower the perpetrator with brute strength alone. So you have to fight smart!
Know your own strength (and weaknesses). If you’re good at throwing a punch, go for it. If not, just kick the balls or poke the eyes!
Element of Surprise. When cornered or isolated and you think shouting for help will not help much, do not resist. Let the perpetrator think that you won't fight and time your strike when the person let his/her guard down.
To make your strike effective, go for vital and soft points. To name a few, you could go for the the eyes, the groin, the neck, the ears. There are vital points that are hard to reach or penetrate, so go for the easy-to-reach but painful ones like I mentioned.
Here's a list of other vital points for additional knowledge.
Hitting the vital points is very dangerous thus it should only be used in life or death situations.RUN!!! It's not a sign of weakness. It's a sign of wisdom.
- If you can run before the fight could start, then move that feet -better safe than sorry!
- In a fight, when the opportunity to escape presents itself, run!
Martial Arts teaches you to fight when avoidance is not possible. The best way to protect yourself is not to fight at all.
3) Go learn how to punch and kick! Seriously! 💪
Learning how to protect yourself is an investment that would eventually prove profitable. So, go learn how to fight properly. Knowing who and how to fight will come in handy sooner or later. 👊
There are fights we can win even without fighting. Avoid fighting or being in a situation where you need to defend yourself but if forced to then stand your ground and never think you're powerless! You always have a fight. It's just a matter of fighting smart.
A bit of extra.
Enjoy this video of Mr. Obnoxious on the most effective knife self-defense
I hope you found this article helpful. Feel free to comment and add more knowledge and information.
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