Unarmed Self Defense Techniques

If you find yourself in a position where your safety is in jeopardy, it is important that you know ways to defend yourself. Since most people do not walk around carrying defense weapons, knowing various self-defense techniques could save your life. Even if you are not trained in martial arts, there are simple self-defense techniques that require little skill that almost anybody can do.

Prevention

• According to surveillanceforsecurity.com, prevention is the best self-defense technique. Staying away from danger is the easiest way to stay safe. Avoid walking outside at night by yourself and neighborhoods that you are not familiar with or suspect to be unsafe. You should also always be aware of your surroundings and the people around you. If given the opportunity, you should always run away from your attacker, do not engage in a fight if you have a chance to run away safely.

Head Butts

• Head butts do not require any martial arts training. They involve using the head, which is made of strong bones, to hit an attacker, according to iammydefender.com. Use the back section of your head or your forehead to sharply hit your attacker in the nose or around the ears.

Punching

• Punching is an instinctive reaction that many people have when faced with an attacker. However, you can use punching more effectively if you know how to punch and where exactly to aim. Self-defender.net advises punching the solar plexus, genitals, and lower abdomen and not the forehead or back of the head, which will likely result in more damage to your hand than your attacker. Open-handed strikes are recommended over closed fists strikes in an unarmed attack because it requires your body to use more energy to make a fist. When making a fist, your biceps and triceps muscles tighten and extend in different directions, thus you are fighting yourself and slowing down your strike.

Kicking

• Kicking is a technique that will keep your attacker away from you. However, there are a few things to remember to avoid doing more harm than damage. Self-defender.net claims you should not kick higher than waist level to lessen the risk of losing your balance. When kicking, aim for the shins and kneecaps. A quick kick to the groin is an effective tool but since it is usually expected in a counter-attack, the element of surprise is necessary.

Eye Gauge

• Self-defender.net recommends using the eye gouge technique as way to distract your attacker. The eye gauge does not require any power or training, you simply use your pointer and middle finger to dig into someone’s eye. When your fingers make contact with your attackers eye, his natural reaction will be to pull your fingers away. The attackers reaction will cause him to release his hold on you, giving you time to escape or fight back. It is imperative that you have the element of surprise when utilizing the eye gauge against your attacker.

Finger Whips

• Finger whips to an attacker's eyes is the best surprise self-defense technique, according to crime-safety-security.com. Finger whips require whipping your wrist and hand as if you are flicking water off your fingers, at your attackers eyes. The technique only requires speed, not power, and can be rapidly repeated causing pain and distraction.

Clinch Attack

• A clinch attack is useful to those who may not be strong enough to use punching and kicking effectively. A clinch attack involves ducking around your attacker's punches and grabbing his hands, similar to a boxer clinching or hugging his opponent, noted on crime-safety-security.com. Once you have latched onto you attacker, strike him in anyway possible such as biting the face, gauging the eyes or kicking with your knees.