8 Helpful Tips For self defense every women Should know

Society seems to dictate that women should be delicate, passive and always polite. In many cases, we give our power away because we feed into these societal norms. Crime has escalated exorbitantly and women must know when to go from passive to a fierce warrior. We cannot stand idly by waiting for help. We must rise to the occasion and know how to give someone the beat down.

Self defense is a crucial skill that all women should know, and it takes time to develop these skills. Many women, including myself have been in situations where we looked around and didn’t feel comfortable, and in some cases the situation had the potential to quickly become dangerous. It’s important to have situational awareness and be aware of your surroundings at all times. If you do not feel comfortable, don’t feel bad about getting out of the situation all together. As well, trust your gut. When your intuition is making your spidey senses go off, it’s time to get out of there.

In many cases, predators watch their potential victims before they strike. In a study regarding how predators selected their victims, pedestrians were videotaped walking down a street and had incarcerated convicts view them. Within seven seconds of viewing the pedestrians the convicts had selected their targets. Selections were not based on gender, size, age or race, but rather on the body language exhibited. The convicts identified the following body language cues used as their basis for victim selection:

Posture: People that walked with shoulders slouched or slumped were selected as victims as opposed to those who walked with their chin up.
Gaze: Those avoiding eye contact were chosen as victims because of the perception that they were preoccupied. Making eye contact naturally communicates confidence.
Stride: People who walked with a stride that was too long or too short, or those who shuffled or dragged their feet, were selected over those who had a smooth and natural gait.
Rate: Those who walked slowly with no apparent purpose, and those who walked fast as if they were uncomfortable, were selected over those who walked naturally and deliberately.
Fluidity: Those who demonstrated awkwardness in their movements were chosen over those who seemed to glide as they walked.
Wholeness: Those who swung their arms wildly while walking were selected over those who moved from their center, with coordination and balance.

Physical impairments may prevent some people from projecting confidence. If they fail, victims must decide whether or not defensive action is necessary and appropriate. Carrying a concealed firearm can level the playing field, but retrieving it may not always be possible. Introducing a firearm into a volatile situation isn’t always the best response. That determination is dictated by the totality of the circumstances. Two studies may provide helpful insight when making that decision. (Source)

In the following video, essential self defense techniques are discussed. The presenter wants every female to be able to defend herself by focusing on eight soft targets: “Eyes, ears, mouth, nose, throat, groin, fingers and toes.”  Knowing how to use these soft targets in a self defense situation could save a life. His main priority in this video is for you to defend yourself so you can flee to safety.

Practice these moves until they become second nature. You never know when you will need them.