You don’t know if you will ever face a physical altercation at some point in your life.  I have never had to physically defend myself, but I feel fairly certain that I would give a good fight back.  At least with my martial arts training I’m confident in that I can punch or kick and yell and defend because of having had to practice all of these skills over the course of many years.  There are a few tricks that I’ve learned along the way; things that make sense and don’t require extensive training.  You can tuck them in the back of your mind in case you ever need to pull out the punches.  Here’s what you need to know:

1.  Block It

A martial artist is  trained not just on striking  back if he needs to defend himself, but also how to block a strike coming his way.  Blocking is an important part of martial arts defense.  It is not aggressive and it’s not the first move, but it can be as effective in saving your life as striking back.  If someone throws a punch at your face what are you going to do?  If you just look at it, then watch out! Bam!  Your nose is broken, your face is bruised, or your eyes are crossed.  When an  attack comes your way, you don’t necessarily need to put your dukes up to defend.  At times, a simple posture change can deliver a powerful escape by throwing the attacker off balance, redirecting his energy, or just putting a stop to his violent manifest.

Martial artists have names for their blocks- upblock, outside-in block, inside-out block, cross block, fugal sudo block.  None of that is important for the non-martial artist.  All you need to know is that you can and should use your arm or any body part to deflect a blow headed your way, if possible.  It will give you a little extra time to actually fight back and muster up your physical energy through adrenaline.

Will a block be enough?  Maybe, but likely not.  An attacker does not generally expect a block, a deflection, or a redirection of his energy, though, so it can give you a defensive strategy.  Stepping in another direction with just one foot help you avoid an impending punch.  Add on a few distractions, pepper in a few yells, and the opponent may find the struggle with you is not worth pursuing.

2.  Fight It

In the ring some students wear “kicks” and “punches” which are basically padded mitts for the hands and feet.  To gain points in a sparring match they are expected to use control, stamina, and good form and technique.  This is great in the ring where the student can try different techniques to see what works for him, and learn as he goes.  The more sparring, the better the fighter he becomes.  He can learn to deflect or block while sparring, too.

This is great to know but if you are not a martial artist, you have no opportunity to practice sparring or fighting.  The only time you may see a  fight is when you are already being punched or grabbed against your will or physically assaulted. Without training, you do not know anything about proper form or technique.  If you are using a distraction or blocking  and it does nothing to help you, then exactly what should you do?

Fight back!

Fight with all your might.  No one has the right to attack you.  If you are suddenly in a situation where you are being physically assaulted and there’s no way out, then use hands and feet, bite and spit, gouge and poke to break free.  If someone tries to pull you into a car, give every inch of fight that you have to stay outside the vehicle.  Chances of survival minimize once you are trapped in a car.  You don’t need technique to save your life, but you need need fierce determination.  You have to transform fear into power and intimidation into will.

If someone grabs you and physically starts to pull you, just haul off and punch him.  Attackers like to prey on weaklings so if you show you’re not going to back down, he may find it not worth the effort.

3. Hide It

A martial artist, like you, has fear.  Fear of what to expect next.  Fear about his performance.  Fear about what his instructor might say.  Fear about never achieving his next belt. Fear when he steps in the fighting ring. Even fear about what would happen if he really was attacked.  Whatever his anxiety, he must quench that fear with confidence and strength in order to master the technique.  He must use a positive mindset to push aside all other obstacles and thoughts and push straight through with little hesitation.

If you are walking down the street alone, through a parking garage, or in a deserted area,  you are at higher risk of being attacked than if you were walking with someone else in a well-lit, highly populated area.  This is where the creeps lurk, just looking for the right victim.  For whom do they look?  Someone alone, someone who looks a little nervous, someone with recognizable fear.

Hmmm. What does fear look like?  It masks itself as lack of confidence.  It is seen in an individual who looks down or never looks at a stranger in the eye; who appears to be nervous or fearful; who is outwardly nervous; and who is not paying attention to surroundings.  As the martial artist in any circumstance must push fear aside, the non- martial artist in this vulnerable type situation must do the same.  My first word of advice, though, is to not be in a vulnerable situation in the first place, if at all possible.

Walk confidently, head up.  Just as the fighter in the ring must show his confidence through strength and posture, you need to keep the body strong and upright and walk with a confident pace. Make eye contact.  It’s difficult, I admit, to look a complete stranger in the eye.  If I told you that it could save your life, would you make the effort?  The attacker does not want to be identified or argued with.  If you look him in the eye he will question if you will be an easy victim or not.  The martial artist practices eye contact all the time.  Especially when sparring, he must keep eyes locked with his opponent so as to not give away his next move.  You must do the same.

Be aware.  Your surroundings change every minute depending on your movement and those around you.  Walking? Running? Do you know what is happening around you?  People come and go, it’s an ever-changing world.  Don’t plug up your ears with ear phones and expect to know what’s going on.  Don’t walk with your head down or you’ll never see what’s going to happen next.  The sparring student in the ring focuses on his opponent, yes, but is always aware of what is swirling around himself.  He is constantly deciding what to do next all while the other person is trying to intimidate him with kicks and punches.

Remember It

If I show you a bunch of escapes or even how to punch effectively right now, it will do no good if a week, month, or year from now you do not remember it.  That’s why I’ve made it simple.  You have three things to remember.  Three things that you can jot down on a piece of paper, save in your calendar, or add to your reminders.

Block It- block incoming strikes and distract your opponent

Fight It-fight back with all your might.  Transform adrenaline into willful power.

Hide It-if you are scared, hide it.  Walk and move confidently even if you are fearful.

Attend a Self-Defense Class

These are the basics but if you really want to understand what defending yourself is all about, attend a self-defense class that teaches awareness, how to kick, punch, and yell, and simple escapes.

If in the local area of Manatee County, Florida, I am offering such a class on February 21, 2015 at 1:30 p.m. until 4:30 p.m. at the Parrish YMCA.  Call:  (941) 981-5323 to register.  $35.00.

If you are not local to Manatee County,FL, then find something close to home and go to the class. The more you know, the more empowered you will be to keep yourself safe in any situation.

Learn self-defense and Win at Life!

Andrea