SAEDNEWS: As a newly independent adult, you’re responsible for supporting yourself and your family—but what about your own safety? Here are simple, essential personal defense tips to protect yourself.
According to the Sports World Service of SaedNews, learning a few self‑defense techniques should be one of the first lessons in preparing for adult life. You may never need to use these techniques in reality, but having that knowledge gives you greater confidence in your own strength. You will always interact with many people unless you live on top of a mountain. You never know when a violent person might cross your path or when a short‑sighted thief sets their sights on your bag. Although we like to believe we live in a civilized world, dangers lurk in the shadows and at any moment you could face an unpleasant situation. This preparation allows you to manage your situation without needing help from others.
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It’s true that we have law‑enforcement agencies doing their jobs, but when you confront an attacker, do you really want to rely on someone who’s several miles away? This is where self‑defense techniques empower you. You can defeat someone trying to intimidate and overpower you — and even hand them over to the police.
Another situation you might face is coming up against thugs or uncivilized people in the wilderness. Hard as it is to believe, there are bandits who move through forests lying in wait for a lone traveler or a group that looks vulnerable. They exploit the fact that no one is nearby to help, and they can steal your gear (which may be priceless to you) and all the cash you’re carrying.
If you don’t know how to defend yourself, you’ll be in a difficult position. Beyond how frightened you may be and how ragged your breathing becomes, the reality is that you must manage a crisis of lacking equipment, water, and food in the wilderness — and see how an outdoor adventure that started well can turn into a real nightmare.
So, contrary to what you might imagine, you could find yourself face to face with an attacker. Regardless of your size, prior training, or whether you are a man or a woman, there are several basic self‑defense methods that can help when an attacker strikes.
Prevention — the best self‑defense
As we said earlier, it’s good to know how to defend yourself, but the best use of self‑defense techniques is not to use them at all. You can avoid a direct confrontation if you don’t appear to an attacker as an easy victim. Most low‑life attackers seek easy targets who can’t or won’t fight back, so be aware of your surroundings and take basic security precautions. Here are some fundamental safety measures:
— Before approaching your door or car, look confidently around and check that no one is nearby.
— When traveling alone, avoid wearing expensive jewelry or carrying luxury bags.
— Park in well‑lit areas and keep your keys in your hand while walking to the car. If you stand by your car and fumble for keys in your bag, your attention is distracted and you may not notice someone quietly approach from behind. If you keep the keys in your hand, you can unlock and quickly lock the door.
— Don’t walk alone late at night down a dark alley. Darkness is the best cover for these people.
— Be unpredictable. Try different routes home or to the store — this disrupts an attacker’s plan.
Still, sometimes even all the precautions in the world won’t prevent an attacker from confronting you. If that happens, and if you can, neutralize the situation. Even if you’re terrified, your brain can still quickly assess the scene. The most important thing is not to give up.
Try to see whether you can dissuade the attacker by talking. An attacker who seems uncertain, faltering, or open to discussion may be diverted. If they only want valuables, it’s better to hand them over rather than fight. If the attacker has a weapon, don’t even consider resisting — hand over a scarf or wallet. Your life is worth far more than those items. If there’s a chance to escape without physical contact (the attacker hasn’t touched you or you’re confident you can get away), take it. If you cannot escape, it’s time to apply a few basic self‑defense techniques. Don’t be intimidated by the attacker’s size.
Even a very large person (male or female) has vulnerabilities. The main tactic is not to react in surprise; instead, try to surprise them. The first defensive move is to stand your ground, step back, shout, and push the attacker away. Keep as much distance as you can and try to strike the face. That alerts other people nearby that you are under attack and shows the attacker they’re not dealing with a helpless victim.
You can also carry an emergency whistle — its loud sound may startle an attacker, especially if used near their ear. It won’t work every time, but in more than half of cases it can disorient an attacker. If you can’t push them back, you’ll have only a few seconds to react and turn the situation to your advantage. Don’t hesitate — strike hard and aim for weak points.
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The best targets on the body are: the head (eyes, nose, ears), the neck and throat, the midsection (solar plexus), the groin, the knees, and the feet. When under attack, quickly assess the situation and choose the options that will give you the best result. Read below to see how to attack each of these targets.
The core self‑defense techniques everyone should know are simple. Imagine you’re alone and a large person with clear intent to harm approaches. We imagine one attacker because it’s easier, but in reality multiple people could attack you — and they might all be women. Don’t let what your mother taught you about never hitting a woman stop you. If you’re under attack, it doesn’t matter who’s in front of you.
Primary body targets to strike
— Eyes: An attack here causes severe pain and can allow you to escape. Scratch or gouge the eyes with your fingers. Don’t hesitate — strike hard.
— Nose: If you can reach the nose, use the bone. Strike upward with the heel of your hand using your body’s force. If the attacker is behind you, use your elbow for a powerful blow.
— Ear: Ears are vulnerable and often overlooked. If you can, slap the ear with a fast, strong motion to make the head snap and unbalance the attacker.
— Neck and throat: The side of the neck contains major vessels (jugular and carotid) that supply blood to the brain. Targeting this area can stop blood flow. Strike with the inside of your hand as if breaking a brick — fingers straight and tight, thumb tucked, delivering a short, powerful blow.
If you can reach the attacker’s throat, use your elbow or forearm to deliver a forceful blow that can momentarily take their breath away and make them step back.
— Midsection (upper abdomen): Just above the stomach and below the ribs is another effective target. If your attacker is tall, it’s easier to reach. Use an elbow or a punch driven by your whole body.
— Groin: A known weak spot in males — if you have the chance, deliver a strong kick and then run. A solid strike here can incapacitate the attacker and give you time to find safety or get help.
— Knees and legs: Disable the attacker with a strong strike to the knee or chest. Kick these points even if the attacker tries to grab your hands.
You can combine these techniques to force a full surrender. Make sure you use all parts of your body that can act as weapons: head, elbows, and knees. Using them with proper force can turn them into effective defensive weapons. Your goal is to disable the attacker enough to get away.
We know the situation is stressful when you’re under attack, but with calm and control you can think about how to strike. Grip anything you can use as an improvised weapon — even keys can increase pain. Of course, you may carry an actual weapon like a knife; we have several excellent articles on that subject and invite you to read our reviews of the best self‑defense knives and other defensive tools.
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Self‑defense techniques to protect yourself
Several common holds may be used by an attacker trying to restrain you. There are established self‑defense moves that free you from these grips and put you in a position to counterattack.
Self‑defense
Type 1 — Wrist grab
If an attacker grabs your wrist and holds you, the primary defense is to find the weak point between the thumb and the four fingers. Rotate your hand (you’ll be able to, no matter how tight the grip) so that a small part of your forearm is exposed at that weak spot, then push your hand in that direction to free yourself.
Don’t try to wrench or punch wildly — you’ll lose balance and control. Once free, apply any of the main self‑defense techniques discussed earlier. To learn the move properly, watch a video on how to free a wrist hold.
When an attacker chokes you, the first move is to control their hands and try to push them away from your neck — but often you can’t. Their arms clamp around your neck, so you must solve the problem from a different angle. Place one hand on the attacker’s windpipe (the throat) and press hard while widening your arm and trying to slip your neck out of the hold. Make sure your fingers press firmly into their throat and push with all your strength.
Type 2 — Bear hug
This hold is when the attacker comes from behind and grabs your body tightly. If possible, turn your feet (this is especially relevant if you’re a woman wearing high heels); if you can’t, try to strike the attacker’s head with your elbows. Another good method is to force their fingers backward to loosen the grip so you can free yourself. There are many useful self‑defense techniques for this situation, and we explain how to escape a bear‑hug in two demonstration videos above.
Type 3 — Mount position
This is one of the hardest positions to escape. You don’t want to be on the ground with a large person towering over you. This situation opens the door to sexual assault, so you must know how to deal with it and get free. Here are some primary techniques to help you escape one of the worst positions you might find yourself in — but we recommend learning these moves visually. Watch and practice, because you never know what tomorrow might bring.
These are only a few scenarios you might face when confronting an attacker, but the techniques used to escape them can help in other situations. Make sure you learn the theory and then practice the moves. Ask a life partner or friend to help you practice to ensure you understand the technique properly.
Remember: after you’ve subdued and disabled the attacker, don’t keep punching and kicking — that escalates the assault and you will be accountable under the law. Knock them aside with a few solid strikes to ensure they won’t chase you, then immediately get to safety. Don’t continue punching once you are safe.
Basic self‑defense techniques are very useful for adults and children alike. Attackers view kids as easy targets and will be surprised when a child resists. Make sure you teach your whole family some self‑defense techniques and practice them as much as possible. Repetition will help you respond correctly in a real situation.
