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7 Simple Self-Defense Tricks
All of us want to learn kung fu. Who doesn’t want to kick like Chuck Norris and use nunchakus like Bruce Lee? Unfortunately, many of us are too busy to attend martial arts training sessions. You can buy a “how to” book of martial arts, but they usually have complicated instructions that you will likely forget during an actual attack. What you need are simple techniques that you can easily use during a fight.
1. To Survive, Accept the Fact That You May Die
Here’s a fact that is useful to remember when someone attacks you: you may get killed and panicking doesn’t reduce your chances of getting killed. Accept this fact because it should help you concentrate despite the surge of fear. Many people fear for their lives too much in dangerous situations, that they ultimately fail to save their lives. Rather than vehemently denying and fearing the fact that you could die, accept it. This is the only way to get it out of your mind and think of options before you – options that can save your life.
2. Attack When You’re Being Attacked
Your instincts are made to protect you. There is one instinct though that will most likely lead to your destruction when your attacker is near you: running away. Sure running away helps, but only when your attacker is a good distance away. Rather than retreating, advance. In a typical scenario where your attacker is the one who feels he is the predator and you’re the prey, he doesn’t expect you to fight back at all. If you react quick enough, you’ll be able to surprise him and open up opportunities to deliver damage.
3. Kick Only When Necessary
Here’s a tip direct from the dragon himself, Bruce Lee. Kicking is effective only at the right distance. Make sure that your attacker can be reached by your kick before you kick him. Also, always bring your hips with you when you kick. Kicking with your leg alone is not that powerful. According to Lee, it’s also very effective to target the body part that’s nearest to you. Remember that when your attacker gets close to you, he’s not only increasing his chance of hurting you, he’s also increasing his chance of hurting himself. If your attacker steps in your range, kick his body part that’s closest to you (usually his knees).
4. Use Your Head… Literally
Do you know that bashing your forehead into a thug’s nose once deals more damage than slamming your fist into his nose twice? The human skull is a powerful weapon. Notice that in boxing, a single headbutt is enough to open a cut in a boxer’s forehead than a flurry of punches. Your skull is hard and it’s also easy to move your head. By using your head, you can deal significant damage to your attacker using minimal effort. Headbutts are especially useful when someone grabs you from behind. Don’t waste your time and energy elbowing your attacker’s ribs or stepping on his toes. Instead, try bashing his face with the back of your head.
5. The Triangle Trick
Keep in mind that you don’t have to get hit during a fight. Imagine a vertical line dividing your body into two. Your attacker is going to attack some point along or around that line. Moving in a straight line forward or backward will change your distance from the attacker, but it doesn’t get your centerline out of the attack path. On the other hand, moving laterally left or right moves your centerline but it doesn’t change the distance between you and your attacker. The trick is to move along a triangle to change both the location of your centerline and your distance at the same time.
6. Everything Can Be a Weapon
Guns, knives, and pepper sprays are not the only weapons available to you. Anything harder than your knuckles and sharper than your fingers is a good weapon. That’s why it’s advisable to always carry something that can serve as a weapon, like an umbrella or a pen. Stones on the ground are also useful, especially if the aggressor is a good distance away. The one rule you should remember is that hard objects should be smashed against bone, while pointed objects stabbed into soft tissue.
7. Aim for All Those Weak Spots
Yes, just like the big boss in any video game, your attacker is full of weak spots however fearsome he might seem. Aim for the following body parts during a fight: eyes, nose, ears, throat, kneecaps, and groin. The groin is the most effective to hit because it sticks out, it’s at the center, and it’s very painful when hit.
Master all these tricks and you can pass up on those judo lessons your friend recommends to you. Always remember that you’re not a passive target, and you’re equally dangerous as your attacker.
If only bruce lee had left instructions on the one finger punch.
Protect your chin. Aim for the knee, you won’t break it but it hurts so much that you run away.
Good advice, I’ll use it if I ever get attacked
nice tips, I am going to try them I better win
I prefer to pull out my weiner and act like a chicken.
8. Hope your attacker didn’t take martial arts. These ‘tips’ will just get you hurt if they did.
nice tips, useful advise.
Nice. Now I’m going to use these techniques to attack someone.
Thank you!
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9 times out of 10 a man will be able to turn to avoid a hit to the groin, so it’s best to aim the kick slightly above that as its still painful and brings the attacker’s top half of the body forward leaving them vulnerable for a head attack.
Also a hard forearm swing to the neck of attacker can be enough to neck them out as it compresses the artery, stopping blood flow to the head for a very brief time.
also, if you’re stuck in a bearhug or something, and you can bite the asshole somewhere, that should buy you a bit of time to pull yourself back together
Strengthen the brain and you won’t have to fight!
I used the triangle trick when a man tried to attack me. It really worked! He was so off balance when he missed with a punch, that I was able to spin him around and start ****ing him in the a** so hard that he submitted. I then proceeded to use the good old Cleavland Steamer trick, and dumped right on his chest.
Thank you so much for these tips.
In my country of Korea, we have a superspecial martial art called Sayonachi. It is discreet and can be used in everyday life. When you are attacked by a monstrous musclebound beast with a long moustache, you must breathe deep. Think of all the teachings of Buddha. When you feel the power surge within you, raise your foot as a warning sign to your attacker. Take off both your slippers carefully.
When your attacker is in range, lunge at him with both your slippers. Shout “Sayonachi!!!” then give him your slippers. Your attacker will be be dazed with your surprise attack. Run like an honorable Samurai after.
As a martial artist I think that these are great tips for a street fight and would be helpful for defending yourself against an attacker of any skill level.
I would add that elbows and knees are also effective weapons and are usually unexpected.
Usefull tips, but the big trick is a derivative from point 1. You must not panic and that is something that you can learn by actually training in full contact sports. Further I agree with Shawn, your elbow and knees are very effective weapons.
Love it! Yes, all true! i remember learning all these principles in karate school, one by one!
Best defense I know of: If you’re a guy, strip your pants off. No man can fight another man who is naked. It’s physically impossible. Just be sure to get the pants back on after they pass out from either a) surprise or b) laughing as most places have indecency laws.
Some good remarks and ideas
C’mon Vel, weren’t the Olympics first held in the nude? I have to disagree about fighting naked. Your comment sounds homophobic to me. I like the advice given, particularly the first. Learn not to lose your head so you’ve got one to use. Careful about the headbutt though, you could easily knock yourself out!