I realize this title may have prompted you to open this link.

It’s not a gimmick to get you to click and then I write about negotiating a contract.
Reaching Your Resolutions.
Not this time.

Lately, I’ve been posting about the similarity between a martial arts philosophy and negotiations. Negotiate like a Martial Artist

Today, I’m taking another step beyond.

Sometimes, even if we try to reach a life resolution, life may somehow put us in a position needing to defend ourselves. Not talking about the verbal assault here. Defending myself
No.

My hometown was just named the 11th most dangerous city in the US.
We all need to be better prepared.

Someday one or another of our fellow humans may invade our personal space with the intent of inflicting harm on us. Or a loved one.
And we may find ourselves needing to become defensive.
To strike back or maybe even, strike first.

This post allows me to stretch a bit and offer up some advice I’ve learned over the years in the part of my life spent as a martial arts instructor/practitioner.

In my classes, we always stressed the very first response to implement is to always BE AWARE!

We’ve become a society where we walk down the street and never look up. Our faces are buried into our phones. We are a distracted people, never seeing danger until it comes upon us.

My advice?
Look up. Look around.
Attackers look for easy targets. Easy targets are distracted and unaware of what is happening around them.

Here are my tips.

Tip #1
This is the easiest one. RUN. AWAY!
Avoiding conflict, if your life is in danger, is the smart move.
Simply remove yourself as fast as you can from the impending danger.

Ok, but say #1 is not an option. Maybe you were surprised, caught unaware, or you’re confronted in a room, or someplace where escape is not available.

Continue reading.
(But let me also mention, in order to successfully implement these tips, you need to act as if your life depends on it.)

Too Brutal?
Let me further qualify. These are not the appropriate responses because someone cut you off in traffic or looked at you the wrong way. It’s only when your physical safety or a loved one’s, is at stake.

You have no other option, and you aren’t able to escape.

You’ll notice the intent is to strike at a sensitive point. And strike very hard. To inflict pain.
The tips that follow attack extremely vulnerable physical areas of the human body where one can inflict severe pain very quickly.

Tip #2 Eyes.
Yes, the eyes are a very vulnerable point. You attack the eyes. Gouge them! Poke them!
The intent is to temporarily blind your attacker to provide you the opportunity you to use #1. Run. Away.

Tip #3 Throat.
A sharp punch, elbow, finger poke or chop to the throat box can immediately cause choking and a loss of breath. It will force the assailant to react to his painful situation.
Done once or repeatedly, this tool can provide the opportunity to either escape the situation (#1) or let you establish control of the situation.

Tip #4 Groin. The “Jewels.”
Punch them. Kick them. Grab and pull them.
Ask anyone male how a groin kick feels and watch how instinctively he will lower his hands in a protective posture! Oh and yes, this works on female assailants as well.

Tip #5 is actually a 2fer! The Head.
If you’re grabbed from behind and held, #5A is to throw back your head into the assailant’s head. You want to destabilize the attacker. And then, yes run away!

Or #5B The Stomp/Kick
Use your leg/foot to either stomp the attacker’s foot or kick back at his shin.
Break his hold and run away.

There, you have 5 ways to defend yourself.
These tools work.

Even after using them, you won’t be a trained martial artist. And you will need to practice.
And practice. Often in a time of crisis, it’s easy to forget complex “moves” and often hard to think clearly. That’s why you practice.

I have taught these responses to be used when we have no other option. We can’t run away. Lives are in danger. Last resort.

Of course, there are other self defense responses as well. Other sensitive areas of the body to attack. But I’ve found these 5 are easy to remember and implement.

Is this too simplistic a response to our increasing dangerous society. Depending on the situation, it may be. Oftentimes, assailants are bigger, stronger than we are. They may have a weapon, the attacker may be on drugs?

So, what are our options? There are two.
We don’t have to respond to threats against us. We can acquiesce as much as we’re able.

Or,
We do.
These tips can help you, if you decide to act.

Sometimes reaching this resolution, protecting loved ones, calls for defensive actions.

JT

If you’re interested in further conversation or even learning more about defensive tactics, leave a comment at the top of this post and I’ll respond.