MAYBE WE WERE BORN TO RUN: EFFECTIVE SELF DEFENSE TACTICS THAT DON’T INVOLVE VIOLENCE

People look at martial arts training and think that it is the be all and end all of successful self defense. While it is extremely useful to know what to do when you are attacked, it is just as important to know how to avoid being attacked in the first place as well as possessing the ability to see an escape opportunity and going for it. Too many individuals try to be heroes and that is how they get hurt badly and permanently. Also, a shockingly high number of people don’t know how to steer clear of problems in the first place. There are ways in which you can scream out ‘attack me’ without even realizing it. This article will show you how to stay away from thugs and will emphasize the importance of escape.

Whether you have an immense amount of martial arts training and the ability to fight your way out of trouble, or else you’re only a beginner in the realm of protecting yourself, one of the most effective self defense tactics there is involves the way you carry yourself around your area in which you are traveling. It should be common sense which tells you not to walk by yourself at night in secluded areas but the way in which you move is also important. Thugs look for signs of weakness and feel that they have hit the jackpot when they see someone who walks with their head down, unaware of their surroundings save for an occasional furtive glance around. This is manna from heaven for an attacker who will immediately target that person as a viable mugging option.

You need to show confidence in your movements. If you see someone looking at you, don’t immediately turn away like a frightened rabbit. Meet their eyes for a second or two before coolly turning away. Walk with authority with your head up and shoulders pulled back. Be sure to remain aware of your surroundings at all times by occasionally surveying the area you are in. Avoid looking nervously over your shoulder as this is as bad as keeping your head down. If someone says something to you, reply with authority but in a non-threatening way. It is vital to show that you are not scared. The streets are filled with sharks who will move in for the kill at the first smell of blood. It is important that you don’t bleed!

Of course, such self defense tactics will only go so far. Sometimes there is no getting away from the fact that someone wants to attack you. If confronted, you should immediately look for ways to escape. This may seem like a cowardly move, especially if you have years of martial arts training behind you but it is still the most prudent move. You have no knowledge of this attacker. For all you know, they could be as skilled as you, they could have a knife or gun or else they could have back up that you don’t know about. Either way, scan the area for escape routes and flee if you can. It is unlikely that an attacker will pursue you very far because of the risk of being arrested.

While you may feel that the best self defense tactics involve punching and kicking, avoiding trouble is better by far. Even if you are victorious, you could badly hurt your attacker and get into legal trouble or else you could sustain serious injuries yourself. Only use violent retaliation as a last resort. There is no way real way to “win” a street fight. Getting home in one piece generally constitutes victory.