When you think about going to self-defense classes, you undoubtedly do so with the idea that you want to be better prepared for a possible attack while walking in the street. Most people don’t think about possible attacks while they’re engrossed in a project at home, having a nap, going for a run or even chatting to a friend in a bar or restaurant. The reality is that physical attacks can come at just about any time and so it is far better for someone to be prepared for a variety of scenarios instead of just one or two. Recently, I have been putting a lot of time and thought into how people can defend themselves in unexpected or awkward situations.
Below are possible awkward situations when you might need to know how to defend yourself:
- While sleeping.
- While sitting down, unaware of danger.
- When taken into a headlock unexpectedly.
- When someone is pulling your hair.
- While you are out running.
- When you’re in a chokehold.
- When you’re a lot smaller than your attacker.
Below we take a closer look at each of these awkward situations and discuss the best possible self-defense techniques to use to defend yourself. If you would like to ensure that you’re fully prepared and equipped to protect yourself if ever attacked while in the abovementioned situations, read on.
Defending Yourself in Awkward & Unexpected Situations
Each of the situations listed below present possible challenges to a person being attacked. In most instances, the attack will come as a surprise or the victim will find themselves in what seems like an impossible situation. Being able to think on your feet and react smartly is imperative. That is only possible if you have an inkling of what to do. Below are a few basic instructions and ideas.
1. How to Defend Yourself While Sleeping
Of course, you don’t want to sleep with a gun under your pillow or lock yourself in your room without a window open just to ensure that you’re safe every night. Instead, you need to have a strategy for protecting yourself if someone should break and enter your home and attack you in bed.
Knowing a bit of Jiu Jitsu or Wrestling will help you to struggle your way out of a situation where an attacker is on top of you and applying pressure. These arts teach practitioners hip strength and mobility. While lying on your back, bring your feet up to your hips and use them to propel your body sideways and away from your attacker. You can watch a great demonstration in this video on YouTube.
2. How to Defend Yourself While Sitting Down
What on earth do you do if an attacker comes at you while you are sitting down? It all really comes down to knowing where to strike to keep an attacker at a safe distance while you are sitting. In order to attack you, the attacker must come fairly close to you, which puts you at an advantage of sorts.
As the attacker comes close enough to contact you, you can stop him in his tracks by kicking his legs. Alternatively, kick his knee while grabbing his hand and pulling him. Kicking an attacker in the groin from a seated position is a good type of strike; just make sure you are firm and quick so that the attacker doesn’t grab your foot. As soon as your attacker is disarmed in pain, make your move – run to safety.
3. How to Defend Yourself in a Headlock.
If you find yourself involved in a scuffle and you are suddenly in a headlock, what do you do? It’s hard to know what to do. It might feel like you are on the losing end of the attack, but you aren’t really. There are several methods of getting out of a headlock.
Your first focus should be on staying conscious as a headlock can cut off air and blood supply and cause you to pass out – make sure you tuck your chin in to avoid this. Turn your head towards the attacker’s body and use their chest to save your face any blows from their fists.
Both of your attacker’s arms will be holding you in a headlock so grab their hands and pull down, which will release pressure. Do not fall to your knees but rather maintain a stable base. Keep your legs wide apart and slightly bent. When you are stable, punch the upper inner thigh or groin and immediate pull their head backwards by gripping anything you can such as the hair, clothing, neck.
These should give you enough opportunity to counter-attack and possibly get away.
In Jiu Jitsu there is a 4-step method of escaping a headlock. To try it out, follow the steps below:
- Rotate your entire body as much as possible by using your shoulder. Place your arm in front of the attacker’s body.
- Place your leg behind the attacker’s legs. Try to get your leg behind both of the attacker’s legs if you can.
- Push your body hard backward so that you fall backward and force the attacker to tip over your leg.
- As your attacker falls, be ready to immediately push off the ground and either run to safety or be prepared to fight.
4. How to Defend Yourself When Someone is Pulling Your Hair
The danger with someone pulling your hair is that they have a lot of control over your body while they have your hair. It can be difficult to get free or fight back if someone is whipping you back and forth with your hair. Here’s what you can do to break free so that you can run away to safety or fight back:
Grab onto the wrist of your attacker’s arm that is gripping your hair with both of your hands. Now, firmly hold the attacker’s wrist close to your head so their control of your head is limited. Slide your one hand up and grip the pinky finger. This is the weakest finger and the easiest to injure. Rip the pinky backwards in an attempt to break it, while using your other hand to push the attacker’s hand away from you. If you take some time to spend on YouTube, you will find a multitude of videos to watch on how to defend yourself when someone is pulling you around by your hair.
5. How to Defend Yourself While Running
When you head out alone for a run, the last thing on your mind is whether or not you will be attacked. Your thoughts are on health, clearing your heading and pre-empting a highly productive day ahead. There’s absolutely no reason why you should give up your running habit just because of safety concerns. Below are a few ways that you can defend yourself while running.
- Consider running with a partner. This is an obvious one, but the reality is that there really is strength in numbers. Attackers are less likely to strike if you are running with a partner and if they do, there’s more chance of survival or getting away if you work together.
- Activate a tracking app. Most people run with their mobile phone these days and that’s great, because it means that a loved one or friend can keep track of your movements, especially when you are running alone. If something does happen to you, you can easily be located and help can be on the way.
- Avoid bear hugs from attackers. If someone tries to grab you in a bear hug position, it’s because it makes it easy for you to be carried away or attacked out of sight. To avoid this, you need to make yourself heavy and awkward to maneuver. To do this, drop your bottom and hips towards the ground while bending your legs. This will lower your center of gravity and make it quite hard for someone to try to pick you up.
- Create space between you and the attacker by striking in a side-to-side motion with your arms. This should make your attacker keep a bit of distance so you can escape.
- Using your legs, kick hard into the groin area of your attacker. This is extremely painful and it is imperative that you act immediately. Scream for help while running to safety.
6. How to Defend Yourself When You are in a Choke Hold
The choke is a brutal technique used by an attacker who is serious about getting what he wants. The choke hold is a powerful technique, but the good news is that you can counter it by applying practical self-defense knowledge. There are 3 things or steps you must keep in mind when trying to get out of a chokehold. These are vitally important for your survival and are as follows:
A] Clear The Airway.
The first objective is to actually stop yourself from choking and only then can you work at escaping or fighting back. This is vitally important. If you don’t relieve the pressure on your carotid artery, you may lose consciousness and then you have lost the fight. To clear the airway you must get your hands or your forearms onto the point of contact and then make yourself heavy on that point. It will make the attacker loosen his grip. Drop as much of your weight as possible on the attacker’s grip and as soon as he releases pressure, it’s time to move to the next step.
B] Reposition Your Body To Center.
Once you are able to breathe freely, it is important to get your body back into a center position. A choke hold typically pushes your head out of alignment with your body, so you need to return your hips, back, and neck to a correct alignment. Step in toward your opponent and push your hips towards them. Make sure you get up as close as possible and then rise upward hard. Now that your body is in alignment, your attacker’s is off-center and provides you with more leverage to trip their lower body.
C] Opt for the path of least resistance.
No, following the path of least resistance does not mean that you need to simply give up. It means that you should choose the least resistant option to get out of the choke hold. Ascertain where the pressure or strength of grip your attacker has on you is weakest and push out or pull down at that point. Don’t try to get too aggressive or you might end up causing more injury for yourself.
7. How to Defend Yourself When You’re Small
If you are petite and light, chances are that your attacker already has the upper hand. However, by knowing some basic self-defense techniques, you can protect yourself against an attacker quite effectively. Below are a few tips to try.
- Getaway from a possibly dangerous situation if you see someone approaching. Pop into a store, knock on a stranger’s door, or text someone as quickly as possible. Of course, this isn’t always an option, but it’s good to have this as a strategy on your mind.
- Get noisy. If you are in danger, scream, shout and make a complete scene. It will draw attention to you and hopefully spook your attacker who obviously doesn’t want to get caught.
- If you are backed into a corner, be prepared to strike first. Make sure that when you strike the attacker, you strike hard and fast.
- Aim for the sensitive areas. Good areas to strike are the groin (use your knee), the eyes, nose, face, ears, throat, and kidneys.
- Don’t throw a punch if you don’t know how to punch, you will just injure yourself. Use your body’s hard parts to strike your attacker, such as your forehead, knees, elbows, and heel of the hand.
- Gouge at the attacker’s eyes. This is a great way to temporarily blind your attacker and get him to drop his guard so that you can escape.
- Bite your attacker. You don’t want a mouth full of blood, but it’s better than being raped or killed. Bite on soft areas and be prepared to run as the pain might just enrage your attacker.
Last Word
Of course, these are just the tip of the iceberg of awkward and unexpected situations where you might be attacked. If you want to properly protect yourself, book a few self-defense classes so that you can at least learn the basics. There are also plenty of YouTube videos to watch online, but nothing beats guided and professional lessons. Good luck out there.
