Today, we have a very basic A Basic Guide to Self-Defense. This is more of an outline of things that you can do, not really a direct guide on how to. There is no way for us to give you all the details and possibilities of self-defense. There are all kinds of self-defense methods and styles. You will need to research and decide which one is best for you.
We are not advocating violence, we are advocating self-protection. We are telling you to prepare before an event so you can defend yourself if needed.
It is always best to avoid confrontation, but if it can not be avoided, you need to be able to defend yourself and your family at least to the point of escape or to incapacitate your opponent.
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In the state that the world is in, you need to know some kind of self-defense. At some point, you could be called on to defend yourself or your family. You should take some time now to decide what you are willing to do and just how far you will go to protect yourself and your family.
Each of your family members needs to know how to keep themselves safe, including senior citizens and children. By learning self-defense, you can protect your family, your home, your supplies, and maybe even your life.
In A Basic Guide to Self-Defense, we will start with a quick overview of personal defense.
1. Personal Self-Defense
Unfortunately, violence has become a way of life. When a crisis hits, violence will become even more commonplace. There are several methods, along with tools, that you can use to protect yourself from someone who means to do you harm.
You should learn the basics of self-defense. When avoiding a physical confrontation is not an option, you must make a stand. Most attackers who go after someone either think they can take them physically without a weapon, or if they are carrying a weapon themselves.
There are different ways to handle each scenario, and every situation will be different for each person.
a. When you know someone intends on hurting you, do not be quiet about it. In a loud, firm voice, say, “Back off!” or some alternative to show the would-be attacker that you mean business and will defend yourself.
For people looking for an easy mark, this can sometimes be enough to make them move on. Though fight scenes in movies are long and drawn out, the truth is that you have seconds to fight off an attacker.
b. They can subdue you in a matter of seconds and from that point, render you helpless. You can not let them get the upper hand. Your goal is to wound your opponent so that you can subdue him or wound him to the point where you can escape relatively unharmed. Or wound them to a point where they decide you are not worth it and will run from you.
c. If you must defend yourself, attack hard and do not let up. Gouge or punch the areas of the body where people will feel the most pain from a blow or injury. You will want to strike the nose, eyes, the center of the throat, the person’s knees, or the groin. Yes, even a woman can be hit in the groin to cause pain.
Remember that if you can reach them, they can reach you. Do your best to stay beyond arm’s length and lash out with your fists, the side of your hand, or your feet. A hard kick to the groin will take most attackers to the ground.
Always aim to strike what you can reach first with your feet. Kick the person in a vulnerable area. If someone has you by the arms, reach up and with the palm of your hand, bring it up swiftly underneath the tip of their nose with a hard upper thrust.
The hardest bone in your body is the elbow. Don’t hesitate to use your elbow to take your opponent down. Keeping your elbow closer to your body as you deliver a blow will pack more punch than if you extend it out and away from you.
Remember, you will probably get hit back, so be ready to take some hits also, but do your best to stop them before they stop you. Or find a way to get the upper hand, use whatever is at hand against them. But they will likely be thinking the same thing.
With any Basic Guide to Self-Defense, you must consider how to defend the family.
2. Family Self-Defense
a. It is not enough for one person in the family to know how to defend themselves because an attacker will often choose the smallest person and the one they consider to be the least risk to them.
You want every member to know how to fight back, especially your children. There are family programs you can use to teach every member how to fight back when a situation calls for it.
These programs cover things like being aware of your surroundings, not letting yourself be moved from scene one to scene two, where an attacker is weakest, and how to break free from different types of holds if you have to.
b. Make sure your family members know that there are three areas of the body that they can use to fight back against an attacker. These areas are the head, the elbows, and the knees.
These areas are tough and hard, and the bones are extremely tough. When used correctly, you can take down any attacker. If someone puts his hands on you and he is facing you, use your elbow like you would a fist across the face in a left or right cross.
As the person reels from the blow to the head, immediately bring up your knee with a hard jab into the groin.
c. When you are grabbed from behind, you can use your head and slam it backwards into your attacker’s face.
You can also use a backward elbow jab to their gut.
d. When you are fighting off an attacker, it does not matter how big you are or how strong you are, because you can use the power of your body’s weight to help your defense.
Obviously, there is a point where size and strength do change things, but you can still use the other person’s body weight to your advantage if you know how.
If you are shorter than your opponent, that gives you an advantage as they have to bend over to grab you. This puts their body off balance, and you can use that against them to flip them over or pull them down.
You do not want to get into a place where you are rolling around on the ground in their grip, but throwing them to the ground may give you a chance to escape.
Throw your weight behind every strike, give each hit all the got and keep going at it until you are free of them, whatever that takes.
e. The old saying “Use What You Have” is very true when it comes to self-defense. Use whatever you have available to strike back with such as ordinary items like keys or pens. Grab a broom or a large book. Anything that hurts them and gives you a chance is an advantage. Surely, you have seen movies where someone will pick up a towel or a pot, or a large spoon to defend themselves with. This may seem stupid, but it also may work.
If you carry one of those large, metal water bottles, use it. Hold it in both hands and give it a swing. It may not knock them out, but it will make them hurt.
Do remember, anything that you pick up as a weapon, they may take away from you and use it against you.
In this Basic Guide to Self-Defense, we will also mention a few specific self-defense tools. There are some very inconspicuous things that can be carried on you at all times. It would be best for each family member to have something that they are comfortable using and have with them all the time.
3. Self-Defense Tools
a. Pepper spray or mace makes an effective weapon against an attacker. However, you have to be careful that you are not going to have to remain in close proximity after you use the spray, or it is going to affect you as well.
If you do not have pepper spray, any kind of spray will do. Grab whatever is handy and use it. Hair spray, spray deodorant, spray cleaner, spray paint, even pet flea spray in the face should give an attacker pause.
b. There are stun guns that you can purchase. Stun guns come in all kinds of shapes and styles. You can find small ones to carry on a keychain, disguised as flashlights, or cell phones, in the shape of a baton, and the regular-sized stun guns. There are also ring stun guns that will shock your opponent.
Some people don’t realize that it is legal to have a stun gun and use it to protect yourself in most states. There are a few states that require registration for the stun gun, and some states outlaw the carrying or use of a stun gun in any form. Be sure you do your research and find out what the laws are for your area.
c. There are self-defense knuckles that you can buy and fit right on a key chain. You slip two fingers into the holes, and the pointed ends of the knuckles aim at the attacker. These ends of the knuckles are extremely sharp and can penetrate skin like a knife can. They are very effective weapons.
We bought ones for our kids that are on key chains and are in the form of cat and dog heads. They are cute and look like nothing, but they will do the job.
The old-fashioned brass knuckles can be very effective, but they are illegal in many places.
d. Knives are self-defense weapons that mean business. You can buy regular knives, but you can also buy knives that are disguised as other objects, such as a knife that looks like a pen or one that looks like a tube of lipstick from the outside.
There are also key chain knives and knives disguised to look like bracelets.
There are, of course, legal issues with using knives. Be sure you know what you can and can not do in your area. As knives are considered lethal weapons, you need to be sure of the level of danger you are in before you choose to use one.
e. Batons are good weapons to use for self-defense. The small, wooden “Billy Club” is handy and easy to control. It is short, so you have to get close to use it.
There is the “Asp”, made of metal tubes. These are small and pocket-sized but expand into full size for subduing an attacker.
These are not, by any means, the only self-defense weapons available. Do your research and find ones that you are comfortable with and that are allowed in your area. As we said, if a pinch, use whatever is at hand. Just about anything can be used as a weapon if the situation calls for it.
Any Guide to Self-Defense will give tips on what to do or not to do if you are not at home and have to defend yourself. But it is best to keep from getting into a bad situation in the first place.
4. Self-Defense When You Are Away from Your House
a. You have the right to protect yourself wherever you go. The number one priority you want to remember when it comes to self-defense is to pay attention.
You should never get so lost in thought or in conversation on a phone call that you do not know when someone is behind you or coming toward you in a threatening manner.
b. Attackers, whether it is a robbery or a physical assault, choose their victims based on several criteria.
They consider the location, whether it is crowded or secluded, the time of day, the manner of the victim, whether they are distracted or not, and the ease of escape or ability to carry out the crime.
If you are away from home, do your best not to become a target. Keep your eyes and ears alert. Don’t walk in areas that are secluded, and don’t block your ability to hear by wearing earbuds. Do whatever you can to make yourself less desirable as a target.
Remember, if something feels wrong or suspicious, then odds are good that it is. Trust your instincts. Learning how to recognize a threat can often help you to prevent it from becoming one.
c. If you are attacked, use the self-defense moves you have learned to fight. You must own the scene. Take control and don’t allow it to be taken from you. Once someone lays hands on you, strike first and stay on the offensive.
Your goal is to keep from being hurt while making sure your attacker is injured enough to render them a non-threat to you. Sometimes that means fighting until the brutal end, but it is you versus the other person.
Home defense is another part of this Basic Guide to Self-Defense.
5. Self-Defense at Home
People are comfortable at home. They feel safe. So safe that they often let their guard down. Attackers and thieves know this. While many home invasions are a case of opportunity and randomness, some are not.
An attack in your own home can be an advantage to you. If you plan, prep, and practice, you can make your home a trap for intruders and a defense for you.
Have designated places for hiding and weapons, and teach your family where these are and what to do in case of an intruder. If you and your family are ready for an intruder, the intruder will be caught off guard and may turn and run in the face of a good defense.
a. In some cases, the attacker will study the home to learn the comings and goings of the people who live there. This is how some attackers learn when a woman is home alone and then plan their attack for that time.
Try to keep away from a strict schedule. Doing the same thing every day at the same time gives stalkers an advantage.
Also, do not announce on social media everything you do, where you are going to be, or what you are going to be doing. If someone is watching you, this will only give them your exact plans for the day, so they can plan a better attack.
We have a young friend who used Facebook to journal her everyday life. Just about everything she does, everywhere she goes, what she eats, and where she is planning to be later is posted on her social media.
This is crazy and dangerous. On more than one occasion, we have told her, No one cares about your exact moves all day long, except for your stalker.
Do not advertise when you will be vulnerable to an attacker.
b. In an emergency situation, most home invasions are going to be carried out because the looter is looking for supplies.
However, in a time of chaos, some crimes become violent and more severe simply because the victim was there.
This is why it’s important for you and each member of your family to prepare for various scenarios. Don’t make it easy for intruders.
c. Make sure you don’t have dark areas outside your home. Keep everything well lit and use sturdy locks on all openings. Double glass on windows and window locks should be used on all windows and kept in good shape. You should also inspect doors and windows regularly to see that they are in good repair, or fix them if they are not. An open window or a broken lock is just an invitation for an attacker or looter.
d. Despite the precautions you take, if an intruder does make it in, fight back and don’t be afraid to use whatever object you can get your hands on if you have to.
e. Have a plan before you need one so that everyone knows what to do in an invasion. You will need to know how many intruders are in your home. Have a designated room for smaller children to remain in, and make sure there is a phone in that room.
f. Most intruders are not expecting the homeowner to fight, especially if they are armed. If the intruder has a weapon and you know he is going to use it or he’s been violent toward another family member, your best option is to take him down.
You will need to disarm him by grabbing the arm holding the weapon. Using one of your hands, force his arm up with the weapon pointing toward the ceiling. With your other hand, use your palm and forcefully strike him under the nose.
If that does not make him drop the weapon, follow through with a left or right elbow cross to the face. Take the weapon from him and force him to the ground. Twist his arm back up behind him and pin him there.
If you have zip ties on hand, secure his hands behind his back. You should always have zip ties on hand. They are great for all kinds of things, and securing an intruder is one of them.
g. Every self-defense situation is different, and you’ll need to base your actions on that particular situation. If you are outnumbered and each intruder has a weapon in play, you will need to use extreme caution.
In that case, you would take the risk to fight back only if your life or the lives of your loved ones were in danger. You may have to employ some psychological maneuvers to gain the trust of your intruders so you can make your stand.
Again, you will need to do some soul searching before such a terrible event. Know what you are willing to do and how far you would be willing to go to protect yourself and your family. Once you are in a situation, that is not the time to work it out in your mind.
If you have decided to fight, go all the way and follow through. Do not use half measures or start and then balk and back off, this will only get you or your family hurt.
Of course, any Basic Guide to Self-Defense must talk about lethal and non-lethal defense.
Again, we are not advocating violence. We want you to be ready to repel attackers as quickly and effectively as possible, with the least time and involvement possible to, let you get away.
6. Lethal and Non-Lethal Self-Defense
a. While you are legally allowed to protect yourself, some states do have laws against using a knife or a gun. But you have to weigh the law against the odds of whether or not you will survive the attack if you do not use the weapon.
If you are looking for a way to fight back that uses non-lethal means, you can do that using a few different means.
b. You can engage in self-defense moves that are effective at subduing an attacker. You can learn these moves through self-defense classes, through online videos, home DVDs, or through books. Some of these moves involve common ways to defend yourself and to fight back.
In-person training is always best, but you can get some ideas from books and online.
It would be best to get the whole family into some kind of self-defense classes. It does not have to be one of the martial arts, although they are very effective, but a basic self-defense class is a good start. You can find self-defense classes at some local student centers, churches, YMCA, and other social groups like that.
You can, of course, enroll your family in one of the martial arts schools. There are many, and you will need to research which one is best for you.
c. Other self-defense methods involve knowing where the pressure points are in a person’s body. If you use this method, you must know what you’re doing in order to take down your attacker.
By hitting a pressure point, you can cause the other person to experience pain, knock them off balance, and render them unable to fight back. If you press a pressure point the right way, you can cause your opponent to experience spasms, confusion, and even render him unconscious.
No, this is not the Vulcan Death Grip. Pressure points are actual, medical, and science-based areas that can be used to physically incapacitate a person.
Many basic self-defense classes and martial arts forms use pressure points.
You can use your fingers to learn self-defense using pressure points, but you can also use pressure point tools. Tactical pens are good for self-defense when you want to use non-lethal means.
d. You can also use a BB gun, a slingshot, a crossbow, nunchucks, or throwing stars. But make sure that you have the practice to know how to use these weapons to stop your opponent.
Having a weapon is not the same as knowing how to use it effectively. Again, there may be legal issues in your area that you need to research.
e. Lethal forms of self-defense are the quickest way to stop an intruder or attacker. Sometimes, all it takes is seeing that you have a lethal weapon to make the other person run away.
Intruders and attackers are counting on being the victor, not the victim. Knives, such as combat blades, hunting knives, and military knives, are quick tools that can incapacitate someone who wants to harm you.
Though some people like to use folding knives, just know that if the knife fails to flip open, your opponent can then get the jump on you.
Make sure the weapon you choose is one that you can count on and that you know how to use properly.
Guns are one of the most effective lethal force weapons you can own. You will want to have a gun that you are familiar with. While handguns are more popular for use within home self-defense, rifles and shotguns are also good weapons to have on hand.
Not all rifles are good at stopping intruders because they do not pack the same power that other guns do. A 12-gauge shotgun is designed to stop whatever the ammo hits, but it has a strong recoil.
If you use a revolver, you want to have a .357 or a .38 special. One of the more popular guns used by survivalists is the Glock. This 9mm has low recoil, and they are known as good home defense weapons.
However, many consider a handgun only a tool to get you to your rifle.
There is no way for us to cover every weapon that you could use for self-defense; there are just too many to choose from. Do your own research. Know what you are comfortable with. Practice to be effective with your chosen weapon. And know the legal issues you may run into if you use that weapon. But at the end of the day, protecting yourself and your family is the only goal.
As we have said, you will have to decide what you can do and what you can not. If you are not capable of lethal force and you know it, then find a non-lethal method and become good with it.
Whatever method or methods you use, and we do recommend being efficient in more than one, be sure you are well-trained with it and can use it effectively and dependably.
As we said at the beginning, this is a very Basic Guide to Self-Defense. Every person has different abilities, and every situation will have different elements. Be prepared, be trained, and be flexible. If you are not within reach of your chosen weapon, grab what you can and use it. Do not get into the bad habit of being so dependent on the tools that you can not defend without one.
In the end, it is up to you and your skills. Be self-aware, practice situational awareness, and teach your family to do the same. Prevention is always the best defense.
We hope you have gotten some good info and ideas from this Basic Guide to Self-Defense. As we said, it does not cover everything by any means, but it is a place to start and things to think about.
If you are interested in some of our other talks, please see the ones below.
Month 11: Reaching Self-Sufficiency
Learning to Heed Warning Signs
Basic Survival Planning for Women
Thank you for visiting, and please come again for another edition of Out Standing in the Field.
Very good and helpful information!!
Thank you, we try to give the best info we can and still make it fun.
Good and useful information.
Thank you we hope it is helpful.