Summary

Remember:

• Trust your instincts
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Know your strengths, work on your weaknesses
• Be alert and be confident
• Prevention i.e reducing your risk of getting attacked, violence and uncomfortable situations e.g. avoid particular areas
• If you are going out for the night, go out with someone you know and trust and secondly let someone know where you are going and time you are expected back
• If you have to strike, strike fast and with power, do not hesitate
• If you have to strike, strike in the weak areas that will enable you to escape
• Be resourceful e.g. using your perfume as a substitute for pepper spray

Here is a summary video of the main self defence moves for : wrist hold, shoulder grabs (both sides), both wrist grabs and bear hug.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j_YOvLi06-0

http://graphics8.nytimes.com/images/2012/07/26/fashion/26DEFENSE_SPAN/26DEFENSE_SPAN-articleLarge.jpg

Self defence class benefits

• Teaches you the physical skills as well as the verbal skills 
• Builds confidence
• Teaches you how to avoid threatening situations
• Increase feelings of safety
• Reduce feelings of anxiety 
• Improves overall physical health and mental health
• Social Interaction
• Improves muscle tone and therefore increase in strength

Those who attack others seek people who are portrayed as vulnerable. Self defence classes can combat this, making you feel more confident, stronger and in control. It is much better to be equipped and have these skills rather than not have them.

Joining Self-Defence Classes

In the event of an attack, you may only have very limited time to react and defend yourself. Time is precious and can be the difference between safety and serious damage. Equally important is technique. Having the right skills and knowing how to perform each action will greatly improve your chances to achieving a positive outcome and avoiding damage. Your skills need to honed and should become 2nd nature, so in the event of an attack, your instincts will take over and you can evade the trouble.

Your area should have classes available to teach and help practice these skills. In Sydney, self-defence classes are available around the CBD, Bondi and Sutherland Shire, provided by Krav Maga Defence - http://www.kmdi.com.au/sydney-locations-2/

Sourced from: http://www.lotl.com/images/cache/cache_2/cache_3/cache_c/23c4561a896ff68d482bd536b2ebb0e7.jpeg?ver=1393967132&aspectratio=1

Martial Arts can take a number of forms including Karate, Jiu Jitsu, MMA, Kick Boxing etc and are perfect ways to build confidence, physical and mental strength, as well as the skills to administer self-defence techniques.

http://www.australianmartialarts.com.au/ - The Australian academy of martial arts will help you find a class today!

sourced from:

http://www.australianmartialarts.com.au/

by Nathan Tripolone

Bobbing and weaving

 Bobbing and weaving are two boxing skills that are also essential self-defence techniques.

              Image sourced from: http://selfdefencemumbai.com/martial-arts/boxing-sports

              Self defence in Boxing

Slip

Slipping rotates the body rapidly and you will be not be attacked by  incoming punch.The skillful boxer quickly rotates his hip and shoulder in order to turn his chin in another way.

Sway or Fade 

Swaying or fading lets boxers to use their punches and move upper body or head back in order to miss or make attackers to be leesened.

  

Duck or Break 

Ducking and breaking are to drop down with back body straightly and the punch which 

aimed at the head or shoulders will miss entirely.

Bob and Weave 

When an incoming punch comes, bobbing moves the head and body. As soon as the 

attacker’s punch comes, the boxers will bend their legs quickly and shifts body in right orleft direction. Bobbing to the inside tends to move opponent’s extended arm when boxing.

Parry/Block 

Parrying or blocking is applied to use boxer’s hands, shoulders or arms as useful tools to survive from dangerous attacks.

The Cover-Up 

Covering up is the last chance to avoid an unexpected and  incoming strike to vulnerable face or body. 

                                             Video sourced from:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-VLnl43i9bE

Hair grab

Getting caught in a hair pull can be dangerous and painful, and you can end up in a vary precarious position. Suddenly the head goes forward and down in front of your body -- balance and strength are lost.

For this reason, the hair pull is a preferred way to control someone. Women are especially vulnerable because they tend to have longer hair.

So, what can you do? The most important rule to remember is to follow the energy and not fight it. That means when someone pulls, you don't pull back.

How to get out of the hair pull depends on whether or not you saw it coming. In a perfect world you would be alert all the time, so if attacked you could easily thwart the attack. But unfortunately, you may not see it coming; you may find yourself hit first, or pulled from behind. It is therefore valuable to know how to counter a hair pull in either situation: first, if you see the attack coming and can respond, and second, if the attack comes as a surprise and the next thing you know you are bent over. We also discuss escaping from a hair pull if the attack is just a playful fooling around by a friend or relative.

           http://www.dreamstime.com/royalty-free-stock-image-grabbing-girl-s-hair-image7101896

                                              http://blog.actselfdefense.com/archives/150

If You See It Coming And Are Prepared
Again, the first rule is not to pull back. This means that as the attacker pulls, you move inward.

If you see the hair pull coming, instead of allowing your head to be jerked forward, you follow the attacker's energy and move yourself toward him or her. In this case, you also step and turn your body so that you are in a small horse stance. This way you are in a wider, more stable stance over your feet while the attacker's feet are not as well aligned. Thus if the attacker continues to pull, he is more likely to pull himself toward you. At the same time that you step, strike with your elbow against the attacker's floating ribs. The attacker's pull will only give your attack more power.

At the same time the opposite hand should reach up and grab the attacker's hair, pulling the head toward you (alternately this motion can be a palm heel strike to the nose, or a strike to the eyes - only to be used in a life threatening situation - followed by a heel strike to the chin). At the same time, the opposite fist (back fist) strikes the nose or chin. When done together with speed and power, this combination can be devastating.

You can finish the technique with an arm bar. The attacker's grip on your hair will be loosened, or the arm will be pulled back toward his or her head. In either instance lift both your arms (almost like the first move in the karate kata Pinan four) under the attacker's arm. Your left hand grabs the attacker's wrist and rotates the arm while your right forearm circles up and over the attacker's arm to rotate the elbow upward for the arm bar. Be sure to keep some bend in your right arm in order to keep downward pressure on the arm. (2)

If You Don't See It Coming
In this case you find yourself being pulled forward by the hair (see lead photo). Here again, don't fight the energy. Your attacker's energy is pulling you forward, so accentuate it.
Instead of resisting, take a quick step or two toward the attacker into his motion of energy. This nullifies the pull and will actually allow you to get close to the attacker. At this point you can move your head up inside the pulling hand and follow with your body. The attacker is suddenly vulnerable to a variety of attacks. Here I follow up with a punch to the attacker's face.

If Someone Is Just Fooling Around
Then there is the case where a friend or relative is just fooling around or testing what you know. Here, you don't want to hurt them, but still want to make them to stop. One effective technique is to reach up and pinch the underside of the attacker's forearm -- being sure to catch just a little skin between your first finger tip and hard second knuckle of the thumb.

Content derived from http://www.fightingarts.com/reading/article.php?id=202
                             Related videos

Assault

In a 2005 survey it was found half a million of Australian women reported they had experienced physical or sexual assault in the past 12 months. Violence against women is a serious problem in Australia.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FNO0pBB6RYs&list=PL43FDAB53FFA62235

Sexual Assault

Is any unwanted, non-consesual, forced sexual contact or activity.

In any uncomfortable situation

1. Be bold and give a clear and firm "NO" or "STOP"

http://firstdefensekravmaga.wordpress.com/

These general tips may prevent an attack:

• Remember all the techniques learnt thus far e.g. effective areas to hit and look for any opportunities to escape
• When going out be careful what and where you drink. Watch your drinks
• Always use a buddy system
• Be aware of your surroundings
• Let someone know where you are going and what time you will be expected back 

If the attack occurs, do not let your guard down or give up, only let your guard down when you are safely away from the attacker. Although this is a tough situation to go through, speaking to someone and reporting it to police may prevent others from getting assaulting and help you recover from your ordeal.

Physical Assault

1. Watching signs that signal danger

• Be aware of anyone approaching you. Casually walk away
• Do not panic, Keep calm
• Look for opportunities to escape if trapped or cornered in a room
•  Although this may be hard, try to remember details of the attacker, to later report to the police
• As above, remember techniques and strategies learnt thus far

Domestic Violence

Domestic violence occurs when a family member uses violent and/or abusive behaviour to control another family member. This may include physical, verbal, emotional or sexual abuse. Women are mostly subjected to these kinds of abuse, usually committed by their male partners or fathers. 

 

http://icmhd.wordpress.com/2013/09/30/domestic-violence-against-women-and-migration-2/

General tips:

• In an immediate danger, call 000
• Make an escape plan
• Prepare for emergencies
• Being aware of domestic violence shelters and who to contact if it does happen
• Know your abuser's signals that may trigger violence
• Identify safety areas in your house
• Keep a bag with you that includes essentials such as money for cab or phone, change of clothes, medications etc.

National 24 hour phone: 1800 737732
www.1800respect.org.au

Weapons - How to deal with them... Part 2

The last post on weapons, looked at how to deal with and evade an attacker who is possessing a weapon - be it a gun, knife, bat, rod or plank of wood. This post looks at how to use weapons to your advantage when defending yourself against an attacker. We are not encouraging the possession of weapons, merely providing options to defend yourself in the event of an attack, whereby an object nearby can be used to strike back

Bars, pubs and clubs can turn sour very quickly. Alcohol-fueled violence is common and a peaceful evening, can turn very nasty, very quickly. If threatened in bar, all parties involved have access to glasses. These can cause serious damage. A salt shaker can be used as a hard object to deliver a brute force strike. Aim for the head and if it breaks, the salt will double for vision impairment. This can allow you to run away

Most people will carry a set of keys. Keys are often sharp and can easily slot between your fingers for a brutal punch, that can substantially wound the attacker.

image sourced from: https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEju7gUlD61yHwmveX7v5IzeXeN34x3bnqjhvMmHRMS5FFhhvJ4X1PoxaqGGcqRrLrk10HC3a0wMniRdmLlgfSAUkhzjmu6BbuHZjpxZFnlDPPgK851a2vbnCRTnf66o9sTZD4crBoYXhjw/s1600/keys.jpg



A bar stool is handy to put distance between yourself and an attacker. Or swinging the stool toward the attackers head or groin will cause enough damage to allow you some time to run away or obtain help.

Fence palings, bin lids, rocks, bricks and branches are all effective objects, likely to be found outdoors - that can help in the event of an attack. Swinging them toward the softer areas of the attackers body, like the head, neck and eyes, or toward the groin and stomach, will deliver maximum results.

By Nathan Tripolone



Waist grab

Tips on waist grab release                                                It is necessary to know how to get out of an attack from behind. To protect yourself from dangerous situation, you need to strike in areas which can easily cause immense pain especially some sensitive areas. Thus, the assailant can be vulnerable for counter-striking. 

                  Image sourced from: http://loadoutroom.com/6357/womens-self-defense-basic/

            1) Make your hands into a claw.     

             When you make your hands into a claw, you can strike in attackers' sensitive areas.      

            

            2) Dig your thumbs into his eyes. 

Striking eyes is an excellent way to defend yourself. This will cause a temporary loss of vision and gives you a chance to escape.

      3) Make fist and drive it into his throat. 

It has the similar effect as make hands into a claw. This also focuses on attacking assailants’ sensitive areas and causes intense pain.

      4) Take your heels and dig them into his knees or instep.

In dangerous situation, heels can be used as weapons to defend.  

      5) Run

            Running away is always the most effective way to escape from danger.

Video sourced from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=m-1LA565MYY

Back choke hold

Back choke hold is a very powerful and super-difficult to escape, is performed by placing one arm around a person’s throat from behind, using the biceps area and the inner forearm of that arm against the carotid arteries on either side of the neck. The hand of that choking arm hooks into the inside elbow of the other arm , which goes behind the neck, locking it in. The assailant presses the hand of the locking arm forward against the back of the victim’s head to cinch it tighter. If you are aware of your surroundings and know the principles in this book, however, you are unlikely to succumb to this deadly hold.

http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSIG_pECx-2Oa-kLub__darlfErE0FKS-D2IF0wpu693912ROwp

There are a number of escapes to combat this technique before the attacker can fully apply it (not all of them may be available in a particular circumstance):


1. Stick your arm in front of your neck and tuck your chin as someone attempts to apply the lock. Your arm will prevent a solid lockdown as well as elbow strike the attacker (figure 10.2b). This is what the fright reaction is for. You can now use your free hand to reach back and gouge out his eyes, which usually causes a release.
2. Slam the assailant’s groin with a chop or hammer fist.
If you find yourself fully in the grip of this hold because of various factors, such as being attacked by multiple assailants or being stunned by a blow to the head, you could attempt one or more of the following releases. (When practicing them, have your partner hold with full power without pressing on your arteries.) You must perform the releases in under three seconds.
1. Turn your chin into the crook of the choking arm. Simultaneously, raise your shoulders and bear down with your chin to relieve some of the choking pressure. Try to bite the attacker’s forearm.
2. While holding the fingers of the attacker’s front hand, practice reaching backward and peeling the fingers off the arm that is behind your head. This will make the choke weaker if you are standing or being pulled off your feet.
3. When an attacker feels you releasing his grip, he may try to change tactics. You must seize the opportunity and instantly twist out of the choke.
Remember, you can easily be killed with this choke. It’s you or him. Eye-gouge to maximum effect. If necessary, push your fingers into his eye to hit the brain.

http://www.humankinetics.com/AcuCustom/Sitename/DAM/025/208ph2_artL.png

video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8_OL42WVwdA

Front choke hold

A front choke hold occurs when the attacker is facing you and uses both hands to grasp your neck.A front choke hold is usually performed out of anger and rage. It is very important to get out of a choke hold as it can restrict blood flow to the brain causing unconsciousness.

Key point include:

• Remaining calm
• Using speed and force when performing strikes

http://www.wikihow.com/Defend-Yourself-when-Choked-from-the-Front

How to escape from a front choke hold

There are numerous ways to escape these include:

1. If the attacker is close enough, using your fingers to poke the eyes or kick and punch other weak areas such as the groin or the neck. A quick but effective strike will cause the attacker to relinquish his hands providing time to escape.
2. If the attacker is too far away, use your fingers to grab the attackers fingers and bend them back until he or she lets go. With force, the finger may dislocate, causing the attacker to relinquish his hands.
3. If the attacker is too far away bring one of your arms up and over their arms, take a step backwards and turn your body quickly in the opposite direction of your up arm. Drive your arm through theirs. With enough speed and force you should be able to break their grip. By taking a step backwards and turning your body you are now in a position to escape quickly.

http://img.howcast.com/thumbnails/511197/24_escape_front_choke_xxxlarge.jpg

Other techniques include forcefully striking the weak part of the arm (the opposite side of the elbow) as shown in this video

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WfnWWiISIKc

Weapons - How to deal with them...

Weapons offer a distinct advantage for an attacker, as they can cause far great damage in much quicker time. A knife is swift, quiet, light-weight and concealed. A gun is fast and can cause instant fatality. A Taser can temporarily disable a person, for further attack to ensue. A bat or length of metal or wood, is quick to obtain and malicious and highly damaging.

In the event of the threat of a knife, metal rod or plank of wood, the aim to either substantially decrease the distance between yourself and the weapon or substantially increase the distance.

In the case of a club, bat, rod or plank - to decrease the distance, attempt to grab hold of the hand/s that are in possession of the weapon and deflect them away from your body.  Twisting an attackers wrist, may force them to drop their weapon.

For a knife - similar principles apply as above, but the blade should be the focus of defending yourself against. When twisting the attackers hand or wrists, make sure the blade is pointing away from your body. Do not be afraid to point the weapon toward the attacker. This may cause them to drop the weapon.


http://ww1.prweb.com/prfiles/2009/09/23/1298784/1000379.JPG

The best option Is usually to run, but In the case of a gun attack, you may need to be calm and ask the attacker what they want. If the gun is within grabbing distance, you may attempt, with extreme caution to deflect the gun away from your body and twist it, to break the attackers finger and hold on the gun.


http://www.bojuka.ca/techniques/gun-disarm-defense-5.jpg

If the threat of the attacker firing a shot, is too high, then the best option is run.

Nathan Tripolone

Ground position

Ground position can be regarded as one of the the worst situation in self defence. The ways on how to escape or to end up this position are discussed as following.

Image sourced from: http://user21165.websitewizard.com/images/GROUND/IMG_1166_copy.JPG

Key points in ground position defence

1.Attack vulnerable areas
When you are in a ground position, you can still strike or attack their vulnerable areas like groin. Also, you can make a full-force strike or escape as soon as possible.

2. Maintain or achieve top position

In a real scenario, bottom position is always bad.Changing into topper positions provides more chances to defend against attackers successfully or escape.

3. Be aware of other opponents

It is possible that there are other attackers around you. Please always be aware.

4. Be aware of weapons

You are recommended to be aware of weapons and to find chances to draw their weapons and attack.

Ground Fighting Positions

1. Top Mount 
It is the top position you are in and it is easy to apply various of joint breaks and chokes.

2. Bottom Mount 

It is one of the worst positions. Escaping is highly recommended in this situation.

3. Top Cross Chest 
It is the top position you are in. A number of joint breaks, chokes and strikes from this 

Related video

                         https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uUd3i60tLnU

Background image retrieved from: http://blog.awma.com/are-self-defense-classes-worth-it/