June 10th, 2008 at 10:03pm
Women Self Defense - Statistics are alarming regarding crime against a person. Almost one in two people will be or have been assaulted, robbed or even antagonized and ridiculed by a bully. The one thing that usually goes through the victims’ minds is “If only I could do something about it or what can I do to stop it?” For quite a few women, they turn to kickboxing as a form of self defense.
When you think of self defense, you likely think of having to use some type of force to protect yourself. The problem is that sometimes, you are not well-matched with your attacker. For instance, what good would a knife do you if the assailant had a gun? The gun is a lot quicker than a knife so there must be some other way to diffuse the situation and get that gun (or any other weapon) away from the perpetrator. Kickboxing is one thing that seems to be a good fit for most women who are seeking a discipline which makes allowances for self defense.
Keep in mind that if an assailant has a weapon, you should not necessarily jump in feet first flashing any newfound kickboxing moves. When the sides are in the favor of the perpetrator, it is not a fair fight and you could lose big time. You have to choose the right time which may not occur if you are unarmed while your assailant has a weapon.
Read the rest of “Self Defense Can Be a “Kick” for Women” »
June 10th, 2008 at 10:00pm
Women Self Defense Classes - Traditionally, the martial arts in self-defense have retained a strong link. Some have always used martial arts in order to defend themselves in situations that call for self-defense. However, if you are just coming into the exciting and diverse world of martial arts, you should know that there are many purposes for these arts. Self-defense is just one of these purposes, although it remains one of the most popular reasons for martial arts training. Martial arts for self-defense is a specialized form of training. If you’re interested in learning martial arts for the specific purpose of defending yourself, you will need to enter the realm of martial arts with this idea in mind from the very start.
In general, most kinds of martial arts will teach you to defend yourself. At least, you will learn to defend yourself indirectly. Most forms of martial arts will teach you to gain better control of your body, become more flexible, stronger, and increase your body’s ability to endure in the face of punishment. These are all characteristics of martial arts that can help you in the realm of self-defense. But is there more that martial arts can do for you in order to teach self-defense? If you are interested in martial arts solely for the purpose of self-defense, there are a few fundamental things you have to consider.
Read the rest of “Commonalities of Self Defense and Martial Arts” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:59pm
Women Self Defense Techniques - Presentation is half the battle when it comes to fending off potential attackers interested in you. A criminal with their eye on you does not want a female willing to fight, make noise and generally cause trouble because that puts their nefarious acts in jeopardy which could lead straight to a jail cell. Do you know how to present yourself in public so as to avoid unwanted attention? Do you even realize that you may inadvertently be presenting a demeanor that invites trouble from criminals? Here are some things to watch out for or do in order to present the façade you need in order to avoid a criminal act committed against you:
Perk up that self-esteem and self-confidence. Nothing says “pick on me” more than a timid little mouse of a woman with slumped shoulders and head down with the air of someone who is carrying the weight of the world on her shoulders. If you do this, you are just begging for trouble. Focus on the positives or at least pretend to the outside world while you are out in it that you are confident and unworthy of criminal attention.
The best way to portray self-confidence is to walk tall. Hold your shoulders back and head held high. Look ahead; greet people by looking them in the eye. Don’t cross your arms but hold them loosely by your side. Women who take martial arts or some type of self defense class ends up walking tall with confidence because knowing you can defend yourself is empowering and this is what turns criminals off.
Read the rest of “#1 Women’s Self Defense Technique - Portray Confidence and Avoid an Attack” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:58pm
Women Self Defense - It’s a given that most attackers of women are of the opposite sex and most men will have more strength to subdue them. Therefore, it is in a woman’s best interests to learn self defense and really “hit them where it hurts” so that they can successfully defend themselves against an attack. However, part of the success of blocking an attack is the knowing exactly where to hit a man to make him the most vulnerable so that you can get away from harm’s way.
The groin is the area on a man that will provide the most intense pain but you have to know how to accurately apply a hit, kick or any other type of contact there in order to buy time to escape. The first thing that you do not want to do is to try and kick your attacker in the groin. It would be too easy for him to retaliate by grabbing your leg or foot, putting you off-balance and vulnerable to his nefarious attentions. Your hands, elbows and knees are your best bodily weapons against the groin.
With a groin attack, you will want to try and align your body to the side of his when you strike. This allows the attacker’s body to fall forward without falling into you and hindering your own escape. When possible, use your hand to grab the testicle area and squeeze hard as this is the most direct and successful of injuries. Often times though, you may not have this self defense luxury so an elbow or knee can be used to strike a blow to the groin.
Read the rest of “Three Vulnerable Places Women Can Attack to Subdue an Attacker” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:57pm
Women Self Defense - Are you street smart? Do you know enough to keep out of harm’s way when traveling the streets of your city or town? Many women think they have enough common sense to stay safe but life breeds complacency and you let your guard down after a while and then you just might find yourself in trouble. There is potential danger lurking everywhere from cities with millions of people to even your typical small hometown of 500 people. You simply do not know when or if you will ever be in the need to employ any self defense tactics to escape harm.
There are plenty of tactics you can employ to protect you from harm before the need to even physically defend yourself. While these tactics may seem simple, there is a reason why they are repeated time and time again – it is that complacency issue. Here are a few things you can do to maintain your safe existence:
1. Check all your locks on the doors and windows before leaving home, including ensuring your garage door actually closes and stays closed. Also make sure that you do not leave any windows open during your absence. You do not want an undesirable visitor waiting for you when you get home.
Read the rest of “Employing a Few Streets Smarts Can Save your Life” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:57pm
Women Self Defense Course - When it comes to self-defense, you should know that classes for it come in many forms. Perhaps you are trying to find you way to one in anticipation of future trouble. May be your victimized and choose not to become a victim again. Whatever your reason is for seeking a self-defense course, you must be thoroughly comfortable with its format or you will not get as much out of it as you should.
You will discover during your research for a self-defense course that it comes in a variety of forms. Your local police department or victims’ advocate office may sponsor classes through the local YMCA or parks and recreation department. Local martial arts studios may block off a night or two a week solely for teaching self-defense from a martial arts perspective. The curriculum may be all hands-on with demonstrations in between or there may be a defined written curriculum along with hands-on training. Go ahead and open up your telephone directory’s yellow pages and you will see quite a variety of options when it comes to self-defense classes. So how do you choose which class to take and in what format?
1. Decide what exactly you are looking for with your self-defense studies. Are you seeking moves solely for protecting yourself or do you aspire to compete professionally or want to keep in shape? There are a variety of self-defense classes and disciplines that focus on these different aspects. If you step into a martial arts studio that offers self-defense and you see a lot of trophies and awards, chances are the studio is involved in competition whereas a gym might focus on fitness as much as self-defense moves.
Read the rest of “Helpful Ideas for Choosing the Right Self-Defense Course” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:54pm
Women Self Defense Tips - Not every woman has “street smarts.” Street smarts means the ability to recognize potential trouble spots and being prepared for the unexpected, whether it is a fumbling pass by a drunk walking down the street or an attacker who wants your purse or worse, to rape you. Being on guard is what basically needs to happen to ensure your own safety when you are out and about. If you have problems identifying and remember trouble spots, you will have to retrain your brain to seek out these potential weak spots in order to take control of your own self defense.
Being innocent and sheltered is no excuse for not understanding the dangers for women. If you truly have a problem recognizing vulnerable areas of security in your life, talk with law enforcement officials and ask for some advice in identifying trouble areas or take a self defense class which will outline these areas. For many attacks on women, they are made in public places like parking garages, parks, shopping centers and grocery stores – areas where ladies are likely to be isolated, even if only temporarily.
Until you are able to get some professional advice from law enforcement or through a class, here are some areas to consider that will help you be less of a victim and more in charge of your own safety and security:
1. Just remember that you are more important than your vehicle. Just because you may have an expensive car or one that you do not wanted dinged, you should not put yourself at risk by parking far away from your destination. If at all possible, even if there are no front parking spots, drive around until one opens up. Your safety is more important than a scratch on your car. If you have a long walk from your car to a store, there is plenty of opportunity for an attacker to confront you.
Read the rest of “Retrain your Brain to Seek Out Potential Weak Spots for your own Self-Defense” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:54pm
Self Defense for Women - With gas prices being what they are, more and more people are going to be using public transportation to save on costs. If you are a woman, your chances of encountering a potential assailant rises with the use of public transportation, especially in the early morning and late evening hours. Normally, public transportation is very safe and taxi and other transportation companies do extensive background checks because they cannot afford any lawsuits stemming from employees attacking their passengers. Still, there is still an element of danger, especially for females, about using public transportation if you are a female traveling alone.
It is always better to be prepared for any contingencies and that means brushing up on self defense techniques and finding ways to avoid trouble in the first place. Here is some sage advice that should help notch up the comfort factor a bit when traveling via public transportation:
1. If you plan to ride the bus, always choose bus stops that are well-lit and busy. If the bus stop is in a questionable part of town, you should try and find a safer place to wait for a ride, such as a nearby café or shop where you can keep an eye out for the bus while staying safe.
Read the rest of “Staying Safe When Using Public Transportation” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:53pm
Women Self Defense Tips - Living alone in the comfort of your own house can be freeing, but it can also be frightening at times. Frequent news of home invasions and assaults can be frightening no matter how tough you feel. Your home security system lends a certain amount of security, but no matter how expensive your home security system is, you should still understand some basic safety tips for defending yourself and your home.
The safety system: The easiest and fastest way to defend your house against invasion is to install some kind of security system. No matter what kind of home security system you choose, chances are that your home will be considerably safer from home invasion. Make sure that your home security system is in working order and that you understand exactly how it works. Many people install fancy and expensive home security systems without even understanding the basic mechanics of how the system works. Make sure you get a good orientation on how to monitor and maintain your home security system. Make sure that only the people who absolutely require it have access to your security system password.
Avoid being alone when you can, and get to know the neighbors. One of the greatest joys is of owning one’s own home is the joy of being able to assert your independence and maintaining a strong sense of privacy. But don’t sacrifice home owner privacy for the sake of your security. If you are very concerned about your home safety, you may very well want to consider living with a roommate or enlisting company from friends and family members.
Read the rest of “Female Safety Tips for Defending Herself and Her Home” »
June 10th, 2008 at 9:52pm
Women Self Defense - Ladies, whether you are going on your first date with a man or your fifth, it is important to take the proper precautions against date rape. There are many statistics floating around regarding being raped by strangers and people you know, such as a date. A higher probability exists for women being raped by someone they know. Just remember, on the dating scene, trust should be built slowly as it has to be proven over time. The first line of self defense is protecting your backside, leaving yourself a way out should things get a bit sticky.
1. Inform someone you trust about where you will be and at what times. Provide your cell phone number, email or any other means of communication for you. Tell a close friend, parent, roommate or trusted individual where you will be on your date, who you are meeting and your estimated time of return. Proving this information means the police will have a starting point should something happen to you.
2. For the first few dates with a new guy, always meet in a public place and do not allow them to pick you up at your place of work or residence. Should things get dicey, you do not want them frequenting your work place and conducting drive-bys of your home. Also, by meeting in a public place, you are avoiding possible date rape, if that is the man’s ultimate intention. Rapists want isolated areas where they are less likely to get caught so do not consent to that “romantic stroll” through the park unless you are absolutely sure about the fellow you are dating.
Read the rest of “Lady Daters Beware – How to Avoid Being a Victim of Date Rape” »
