This thread could be useful outside of the bipolar forum.

I have a background in martial arts, as well as combat and self defense. I have also gotten out of scrapes before and can partially speak from first hand experience.

Generally speaking the first rule in self defense is that you (mind and body) are the most important thing when threatened, and you are also your own most valuable asset in such a situation.

The second rule, which is as important as the first (or sometimes the first rule) is that awareness, and prevention is the best self defense ever. You don't need to be paranoid, but be aware of your surroundings, who you're with, and be mindful of any setting. Prevention means avoiding dangerous situation whenever possible, and making lots of noise to scare people off before they get the chance to start something. Statistically speaking, when men attack women, they want an easier target. They could easily be as startled as you. Your voice is your best tool whether to shout at someone to daze them for a moment, talk yourself out of a situation, or to attract attention for help.

I'm going to have to disagree with landskaperdan's suggestion of elbowing someone in the throat. This is indeed an effective technique, but it's not something you can teach someone to perfect in 5 minutes. Generally speaking, if someone doesn't have training, they're not going to remember how to elbow someone in the throat when faced with a situation.

Krav maga and most combat experts will also tell you to avoid getting grabbed if possible, and act as soon as possible rather than wait. If you can hit someone, then do so fast as you please in the previously mentioned areas (throat, eyes, groin) and run. Unless the attacker is trained, they probably won't react well to that, and in the event they are trained, you're in trouble regardless of your basic self defense knowledge and training.

But to get to the bare bones of it, if you are in a situation where you are grabbed, drop your body weight, and shove forward, or drop your body weight and twist INTO the person and run. Your natural instinct is to twist away from someone, but you get more leverage when you twist into. Dropping your weight and pushing is the general movement to get out of almost any hold. Just remember that - drop your weight, push forward or turn into, and run.

The real key to self defense comes from a saying they use in krav maga - GLF. Go like f*-ck. Act fast, put strength behind whatever you're doing, then run. That is the only absolute guarantee when it comes to self defense beyond any technique you can learn. Your mind paired with your body is your best tool, and in any situation you have to be alert and when you respond, GLF. All you need to do is to react enough with your voice or body to get yourself that little bit of leeway to run.

And trust me, if it takes you longer than 5 minutes to learn it, you're not going to remember it in a self defense scenario. Martial artists and combat experts are the exceptions to this rule.