Self-defense workshops are usually NOT effective! Yes you heard that right…NOT effective. I have been invited to several self-defense workshops only to see participants do high-flying moves like disarming an armed attacker, or using a credit card and slashing the wrist or using pepper sprays et al. The truth of the matter remains constant. You may disarm an armed attacker in your classroom, but can you repeat that on the street? The armed attacker in a classroom is your friend posing to be a threat, even if you don’t react, he will not attack you. The guy on the street is there to kill you!
Does classroom training deal with the most important aspect of street self-defense? No it doesn’t. Ask the general public on what they feel is THE most important aspect of street self-defence. You may get answers like strength, speed, power, alertness et al. But the single-most important aspect is the mindset. Saying NO to being a Victim mentally is the single-most important aspect of street self-defence.
Here are a few self-defense moves that you should remember:
1. If the auto rickshaw driver tries to pull a trick on you by taking you to a deserted place or you are with someone you know in the auto who harms you
What you should do: Do not attack first. You may not know of his intentions to begin with. He maybe is taking you via a short cut. Ask him to take you through a route you are aware of. If he continues riding, ask him to stop immediately. If he still continues, pull his hair from the back and bring him down as much as possible. Strike in the eyes or the adams apple. Make the driver immobile.
Yes, I know that in this case, the rickshaw driver will lose control and crash. But that is better than you getting raped and killed. Follow up with an immediate call to 100 or 103 and call up someone from your family/friend.
This entire act of pulling the hair and attacking the eyes will not last more than 30 seconds. It will be over before you know it.
2. If someone touches you the wrong way/attacks you in a bus
What you should do: This is a very common scenario in our local trains or buses. Such situations are dodgy as you do not know who the individual is and you may not have time to react in such situations. A normal reaction of a woman is to let it be. But that is the biggest mistake.
If an individual comes too close in a train or bus, turn around, strike on the groin and embarrass the man. Make sure the crowd supports you. Do not hesitate in striking and being vocal about it.
Remember the man cannot raise his hand on you, it will backfire on him. A woman striking a man will never backfire. Use that to your advantage. Use this form of defense if someone tries to molest you in a public place or if a stalker attacks you at a bus stop or near your building.
Here are more self-defense moves you should know about.
3. If someone attacks you in a train:
What you should do: Depends on the nature of the attack. Since you cannot alight from a running train, you have to deal with it the best you can. You can strike him on his groin and take help from fellow passengers to injure him. Then call the railway helpline and railway police to report the incident. If this happens at a station, quickly manoeuvre and get yourself on the platform and garner public attention.
4. If someone attacks you, teases you or touches you the wrong way in a dark alley
What you should do: This is another very common situation. The pattern of a stalker is very typical. He will first tease you. If you are quiet, he will make a move. The appropriate counter attack here would be to stop him at words itself. Prepare a speech in advance to deal with this situation. The moment a stalker sees retaliation, he will back off.
Tip: Do not be kind on your words. Show him you are as cruel as it gets and he cannot mess with you. If he still attacks you, strike him with all your might on his stomach and groin and run as fast as you can.
Weak parts of the human body are:
Eyes
Throat
Ears (disbalances the person)
Jaw
Groin (for men)
Knees
Important: In any particular attack situation you precisely have 4 seconds to react. A pepper spray, which is kept inside the bag will take a minimum of 20 seconds for you to take out and spray. A credit card, which is always kept inside your wallet will again take a minimum of 20 seconds to remove and use. The most effective tools for practical street defence are items available in 1 second. And that is only your 4 limbs and your mind. Nothing else will work. So train these in a manner that you become the human weapon.
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