For many women, walking through the streets at night is a treacherous proposition. Sure, the world is safe most of the time for women, but there are times when we feel uneasy about our surroundings. One must not advocate constant paranoia, as that is unproductive. One can suggest, however, to prepare in advance for a possible attacker. Doing a little forethought and preparing for all scenarios will come in handy if an attacker accosts you on the street. Here are some tips and self defense moves for women under attack that may help you escape the situation unharmed. (Note: this article assumes the attacker is male.)
First, don’t panic. The last thing you need is to lose all your senses and reason. This will not help you at all, and will only benefit your attacker. It may seem strange to say this right now, but during a stressful event, you’d be surprised at how cogent and focused you might be. Think through all your options, fight or flight. Then be decisive – don’t hesitate!
Second, if he attacks from the front, consider a groin shot. Since your assailant may already have considered this possibility, think of other options for attack: focus on weak areas, like the eyes, nose, and throat.
Third, if he attacks from behind, head butt his face with the back of your head. Use any advantage you may have gained to escape or to strike again, perhaps with an elbow to the jaw.
Fourth, if you do manage to get free, run away immediately! Don’t stick around. Run to the nearest lit, public area, and call the police straight away. Do not be embarrassed or hesitant to do so, and don’t assume the police won’t catch him. Having all the information about the incident may help them in future investigations.
Finally, consider buying a weapon to protect yourself in the future. Sprays and horns are good options; guns and other deadly weapons are not. The last thing you need is for you to pull a knife and for your attacker to follow suit. Also think about other self defense education – how about mixed martial arts training, for instance?