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When being attacked, a lot of other things can help out besides strength. Adrenaline, stamina, and “know how” all contribute to whether or not a person is able to ward off an assailant. It is a good idea to learn how to protect your body from physical harm.
The dictionary defines self-defense as ‘defense of oneself when physically attacked’. The second definition deals with a more conceptual self-defense, not usually physical, and is defined as ‘defense of what belongs to oneself, as one's works or reputation’. Another definition deals with the law regarding self-defense. It reads ‘the right to protect oneself against violence or threatened violence with whatever force or means are reasonably necessary’. When acting in “self-defense”, it must be in response to an attack (physical or verbal) from someone else. It is not self-defense when you start to use defense techniques before you are threatened or attacked. Here is a short list of several self-defense strategies:
Karate and other martial arts
Often, classes in martial arts will include a special section on self-defense. Martial arts can be a wonderful skill to have, but can be particularly useful with regards to self-defense.
Pepper spray, mace, and foam spray
Primarily utilized by women, these physical tools can be particularly useful in the heat of the moment, as the can temporarily blind an attacker, and give you a chance to run away and get help
Self-defense courses
Offered locally, these courses are usually taught by specialized instructors and feature many different techniques to utilize if you’re attacked.
Keep in mind these are only some of the strategies you can use. There are many others. One example is a personal alarm, or something you keep on your belt or around your neck that makes a loud noise when you set it off.
Another all around self-defense skill is not to put yourself in high-risk situations. Be smart, take the obvious precautions, such as not walking outside alone after dark, and try to avoid strange or dangerous neighborhoods.
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