Someone told me that the women on here would appreciate a self defense forum.

I have a long background in Thai kickboxing, Aikido and Shotokan Karate. Studied Street fighting too.

Men have three weaknesses... but only one of them is truly effective.

eyes, balls and adams apple.

eyes - it is doubtful that you can gouge both eyes. maybe one, but a man can still fight with one eye. his adrenaline will be surging and allow him to continue fighting.

balls - same thing. he can fight through the pain.

adams apple. this is the key. it takes very little pressure on the adams apple for a man of any size to choke when hit there.

if you are about to be attacked, and you can't run away, the worst thing you can do is reach out with any part of your body, say, to throw a punch. he will grab your arm or leg and immobilize you.

Pull your arms close to your body and turn sideways to the man. He will view this as a sign of helplessness. but really, this gives you room to act if and when he grabs you. he will grab by either the waist, shoulders or head.

let him close the gap. let him get right up on you. at this point, your adrenaline will be surging and you have to act. you want to twist your body towards him and use your ELBOW to get him right in the adams apple. this will take away his ability to breath for long enough for you to walk away lol. as a second line of defense, knees to the groin... but ALWAYS go for the adams apple first.

I really hope that no one needs to use this advice. but it will keep you safe in a rape situation or one that you will otherwise have bodily harm.

this can potentially be lethal, so use it wisely!

[Trippin2.0]

Thank you Dan where were you 4 yrs ago???
My ex would've had quite the surprize if you were on the other side of the screen then
No matter, he's gone and I'm safe, but your advice is still valuable

any man who attacks a female deserves what's coming to him!

[faerie_moon_x]

What about the SING technique? Solar Plexus, Instep, Nose, Groin?

I was a green belt in Tae Kwon Do but a long time ago, like 8 years ago.... I still remember some of it. The one thing I could never find was that damn pressure point in the hand that hurts like hell to make someone let go. Even with the really awesome instructor I had, I just could never get it....

[Anika.]

I needed this with my ex. You know what I did, I went for the eyes like you said it wouldn't work and it didn't, dont know if I really had much chance in that situation. Meth seems to make people much much stronger.

A week before that incident we were driving in his van, he was going all nuts ..driving high speed in and out of lanes where he said he was taking me out to the highway to finish me. Just about to reach the highway and I did manage to open the door and do a drop and roll and not get to banged up. Ran like mad to my work which was nearby and low and behold he was already there waiting outside. Luckily they let me in the building since they just closed for the night.

Omg I am so relieved that is over.

[faerie_moon_x]

In Tae Kwon Do what they teach us is first you have 'shock' and partially imobalize them, stay out of range of a grab, and run.

So for example, if they have you by the hair you're supposed to grab their hand, twist yourself to pull them toward your level, then get them right in the groin or a kneed to the nose. But, it takes practice, you know?

We used to practice a lot, like out of an hour class 30-45 minutes was all self-defense depending on the techniques. I can still see them in my head. But out of practice.

[Anika.]

I should take some classes, I have had my share of this crap, like the guy from mu therapy group. Yeah I bet it takes practice.

In that situation he literally pounced on me and had me on my back on the floor and was strangeling me before I knew what was happening. You get really weak quickly when oxygen is cut off. I remember trying.to move my arms and they were too heavy. Guess that is why the adams apple thing works.

[faerie_moon_x]

Yikes! What a freak!

What you do when someone is strangling you is you have to move fast. You put your hands together like a prayer. You move them up (like yoga up to the sky) between their arms, and as you move up you burst your arms open, so it's your forearm pushing against their forearm, in a fast, powerful burst. Everything is about speed/fluid motion = power.... I wish I could have my old instructor teach us all. He was taught in Korea and everything during the war.

[Anika.]

No that was my ex not therapy guy.. I think I just confused you. Both were freaks true.

[TheDragon]

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.

[Anika.]

I noticed since I have been working on my confidence and self esteem, body language.. I have not had any scary men. Maybe they don't pick up the helpless vibe I gave off anymore.I can't see my toe stand from yoga being helpful but I have some pretty descent leg strength now.

Thanks Dragon for adding to this.

[TheDragon]

Would you rather pick on a girl with her head down staring at the ground, shoulders hunched over, walking timidly, or a girl with her head up with a confident look, who seems aware of their surroundings who strides easily across the street. Never come off as helpless.

[Anika.]

I'd rather not pick on anyone.. :0 But yes and I talked about this a lot in therapy, it becomes something you don't even realize you are doing. And yes gives off all the wrong signals. There was a point in my life not long ago where I had gained the confidence, and I would not say I am helpless at all, but my body language did not reflect that still. It actually took me a long time to get the two to match up.

[faerie_moon_x]

One of the rules I learned a long, long time ago is no matter where you are, act like you belong there. Always know where you're going and what you're doing (even when you don't) and people are less likely to mess with you. If you act lost or confused, you set off a signal that you're vulnerable. So yeah, I think confidance is a big key.

[Gaijin]

Imho, unless a person trains a lot in these self-defense moves, they're not going to be something you can rely on when fear turns your mind to mush and your body to concrete. You must train body and mind to the point where you don't have to think about what to do.

I doubt many women would have much chance against a male attacker with bare hands and feet. Most street fights that last more than a second or two wind up as grappling matches and go to the ground. Throwing an elbow or punch from six inches away can be a challenge. If you can get an arm free, it may be more effective to put your hand alongside his head and stick your thumb in his eye. Don't be gentle about it; try as hard as you can to gouge that eyeball right out of its socket.

When I was young and strong, and would go out drinking with a rowdy crowd, we'd sometimes get in barfights just for the sport of it -- one of the things that wild, untreated hypomania can lead you to. I practiced boxing and karate too.

Now that I'm middle-aged and getting decrepit, and treated with meds, I don't feel so invincible. I don't kid myself that I'd have a good chance against a big, young male attacker. Especially since they usually seem to come in twos or threes when they jump you on the street.

I now carry a handgun for self-protection. If you're comfortable with guns, know how to shoot and handle them safely, and are always aware of your gun so you don't leave it lying around where a kid might get it, that's what I'd strongly recommend to a woman who wants to be able to defend herself.

I don't care how good a woman is at martial arts, if she has to go up against a guy like a football player, who's used to ignoring pain and has a neck like an oak tree, she won't have much of a chance.

[TheDragon]

A harsh but pretty accurate assessment. There's a reason why for the most part, self defense doesn't teach much in the way of strikes. Real fights (not brawls) often come down to some kind kind of clinch or grappling, that's why knowing how to break free of that and running is the most useful tool.

The problem with being armed is that it's not a universally useful tool. Most countries don't allow for that luxury. Once again, the best tool at your disposal is your mind and your body in conjunction with it, and it's the whole idea of prevention rather than combative action. And as you pointed out, it's hard to know how to react properly, which is a huge part of what self defense training is suppose to teach you. A real self defense course will teach you how to react under stress, pressure and sometimes pain. A useless self defense class will try to teach you gimmicky but useless moves.

I'll disagree on your last point. If someone is well trained enough, male or female, the size and toughness of the opposition won't matter much. Someone who's properly trained at a useful martial art or in combative form would have more than a chance, but such women are uncommon.

[manicminer]

If you go after the adam's apple you could crush the larnyx or trachea, rendering him defenseless, and very dead

[manicminer]

[manicminer]

part 2

[TheDragon]

Talks about the most important part of self defense - awareness.

I'm back now. I usually only get on in the mornings so i haven't been able to respond to any of the posts since yesterday.

I should give a breakdown of the method I developed. It takes ABSOLUTELY NO special training at all. It is based on natural instinct and human psychology. I designed it for the ladies on this sight, and I'm sad that people are tearing it down. So here is why I believe in it so much.

It plays on the natural fear response of the female and the psych of the attacker.

this scenario is for an immenant attack. he is there and she knows it is coming. this could be boyfriend, stranger, whatever. but it is for the time that it is imminent and he is right there and she is searching for anything to get herself out of the situation safe.

I only ask two things in my method. There are a lot of controlling results of these two things, but the female using them does not have to even be aware of them to do it.

first - pull in your arms close to your body. turn sideways to the attacker. It doesnt' matter if she cowers down, gets up against a wall, or anything. as long as she looks scared as hell and her arms are close to her body it is fine. Even if she does not turn sideways... it is fine. GET THOSE ARMS CLOSE TO YOUR BODY. period.

Benifits on her part - it is a normal fear response. it shows her as weak. helpless. NOT SOMEONE WHO IS GOING TO FIGHT BACK! that is the most important part of it. the attack is imminent! this may save her from being punched, as a form of being subdued. this may save her from being thrown across the room. at this point for the attacker, there is no reason to knock her into place. she is already there.

Benifits on his part - If it is someone that she already knows, a domestic violence situation, it will slow him down and put his defenses at ease. He will feel that he has already won and he should approach more slowly. He will be taking it all in, for that is the reason he is beating up his girlfriend or wife. CONTROL. DOMINANCE. CONTROL. The only thing that matters here is that he views her as helpless and puts his defenses down. thinking that he ALREADY HAS HER WHERE HE WANTS HER. That is what matters.
If it's someone that they don't know, he will be on a mission to get it done quickly, whatever it is they plan to do. probably rape. once he feels she is where he wants her, his brain will naturally move on to the next step.

THE IMPORTANT THING, IF ANYTHING HERE, IS THAT HE FEELS SHE IS WHERE HE WANTS HER!!!! this can save a woman from being thrown and punched to subdue them! It puts the attackers defenses at ease!!

This also forces him to come close and take the next step, to make the next move. He can't grab her arms to pull her in! he has nothing to grab onto and he has no move to counter on her part. it brings him in!!! Now he could punch her. I know that. But if he does and she falls, then he will probably get on top of her. this technique works lying down too!!

he will come in close, and he will want to turn her to face him. he can grab hair, head, shoulders or even carelessly grab for the torso. whatever, it doesn't matter. step two is to hit the bastard in the throat with whatever part of the body you can. Try for the elbows, but it can be fist, forearm, whatever. THIS DOES NOT TAKE SPECIAL TRAINING OR EVEN PRACTICE!

If she misses, he will view it as struggling, not going for the throat! he will do the natural thing of grabbing for the arms to subdue her. KEEP STRUGGLING and try again. it's a natural response to struggle, and I am giving the lady ONE THING and one thing only to focus on.

I made this technique because I really care about the lady's on this site. Not because I want to show off or any of that crap. So... instead of telling them they don't have much of a chance... lets give them a fighting chance! My advice is solid. In works on so many levels and it's so easy to do. Pull your arms in, when he comes close punch the bastard in the throat. nothing special there. but it just might save a life one day.

Plus, unless a female has a gun or a taser, having a weapon is not the ideal situation to be in either! having a blade or a blunt force weapon is not the ideal situation for her to be in. she may cut him or bash him with it once, but then he will probably get it and he will take it out on her with the weapon or his fists.

what I am suggesting is using her NATURAL defenses of acting helpless and then striking out effectively. there is no RIGHT WAY of hitting someone in the throat. no special technique to do it. he won't be expecting it.

[TheDragon]

Many schools of combat have different approaches, but based on my experience and knowledge, displaying any form of passivity, in order to try to set up for a successful strike is wrong move, and the dangerous one. Every school of combat and self defense teaches one to seize initiative, act fast, and act hard as soon as the chance arises. We are not bunny rabbits, or antelopes, whose defensive strategy involves putting the predator in a "Gotcha" mindset, in order to surprise them.

You're assuming the mindset of the attacker, and making a classic mistake when teaching self defense - giving a technique that is not multidimensional.

hey I know this thread is in good spirit!...and we must protect our women....

from male animals! and they are in abundance...and also are the victims in abundance.

it's not a game...the violence..there are no "special moves" for all the unpredictable situations that occur.

we should not underestimate our wonderful female associates in this life!

they have a vastly superior survival instinct to our own...and ours is quite good!

the problem with violence against violence?...is that men are too stupid to not let it go...

I reckon this has gone beyond bipolar
but it's in a very noble spirit

[Gaijin]

landskaperdan, I see some potential flaws in your self-defense method:

1. The throat is a small target, in a body crevice between the jaw and collar bone. Even if the strike is accurate, an elbow may be too wide to get through to the target.

2. In a conflict situation, there's a natural tendency to tilt the head down to protect the neck. Even more so it the attacker is taller than the victim and looking down at her.

Still, your method has possibilities in the right situation. I'd like to hear of any studies or even anecdotes about how well it works in real life.

My method is quicker, easier, and surer:

BANG! BANG! BANG!

Repeat until attacker is no longer a threat.