Self Defense For Women: What Should You Do If You're Attacked?

Why Women Are At Risk

Preventing Violence

• Travel In Groups: Although this is not always possible, you should when you can walk around in groups of two or three minimum as more often than not attackers are working alone looking for vulnerable people, therefore a group of women is a more difficult target than a lone woman — particularly at night. ​​
• Be Aware of Surroundings: This sounds like a simple task, but many women who walk home or to a destination listen to music or look at their phones to "keep busy". This can cause an opportunistic attack as you are advertising you have expensive gadgets but also it distracts your attention from the people around you. In particular, when walking alone. Especially at night, you should only have one ear phone in if any so that you can hear people around you. If you keep both in you may miss hearing a person behind you or a car pulling up to the side. A distracted person is a much easier target than someone who looks aware of what is going on — and potentially being able to identify an attacker later on.

• Carry An Alarm/Whistle: it is a sad fact that more women are carrying personal safety alarms due to the rise in violent crimes. A hand held alarm is easier than a whistle because your attacker could block you using it. The best advise is to carry the alarm in your hand when walking so you can alert it very quickly as soon as an attack or threat of an attack happens. Ninety percent of the time, an attacker quickly departs if an alarm is sounded because of the increased risk of getting caught. Even a suspected attack can be deterred by "accidentally" hitting the alarm button.

Simple And Effective Self Defense Moves For Women

B​elow are some simple tips that you can employ if you are attacked from behind or in front or even in your car in a car jacking. Don't be afraid to practice them safely with a friend to make sure you know how to use them effectively, but any kind of self defense will help to deter an attacker. 

What are the key hot-spot areas on an attacker's body?

Eyes

Targeting the eyes is a great self defense move as this can completely incapacitate an attacker long enough for you to get away. Gouging, poking or even scratching your attackers eyes with your fingers will stop them in their tracks. This generally causes an attacker to let go long enough for you to escape.

Nose

Normally an attacker comes towards you and ends up being very close in front of you. A very simple but effective method is to use the heel of your palm and strike up under the nose and remember to use all of your body weight behind the strike. This will cause the most amount of pain and force the attacker back and off balance — loosening his grip and allowing you to get away. 

Neck

​For a bigger target, the neck is a good place to aim for, the carotid and jugular veins are located here and this can stun your attacker. Rather than punch or slap this area, the technique is called a knife hand strike. Keep your fingers straight and tight together and tuck the thumb just into the palm. 

Knee

The knee is a great self defense target because an attack from any angle can be effective. If an attacker is holding you by the arms (either one or two), you can use your foot to kick the attacker's knee as hard as possible. Hitting from the side is the most effective because it causes more imbalance but the front will cause more severe damage but may not cause the attacker to lose balance.

Groin

Particularly if you are being attacked by a male — which most violent crimes are committed by — the groin is a prime target to aim for. You can easily hit the groin area are if the attacker is in front or behind you. If you are in front of your attacker you can simply force your knee upwards into the groin with as much force as you can muster, and this will make the attacker bend down then an elbow to the back should stop them completely! 

READ Sexual Assault and Rape Prevention Tips: What Can a Woman Do?

All of these tips can be employed when are attacked either out and about or if attacked at home. Remember if you are being attacked the best advice is to make as much noise as possible and exert the most pain as easily as possible to get away quickly. Call the police as soon as you can to increase the chance of catching the attacker but remember prevention is better than cure. ​