Self Defense for Women
By Marlene Gundlach | July 11, 2008
Anyone can be attacked at anytime. This section is for the ladies, with some tips on avoiding trouble and how to get out of a bad situation. One tip that can be adapted to any situation is simply: don’t be afraid to be rude. If someone asks to help carry your groceries, don’t feel you have to say “yes” just to be nice. A firm, “No thank you, I have it under control” will suffice. Or, if a strange man tries to strike up a conversation with you, a quick “I’m in a hurry” should give him the hint. Sometimes, people are just trying to get you at ease to see how close they can get. Don’t give them the opportunity.
Clothing Can Make a Difference
Your clothing can have an affect on response time when attacked. If high heels and a skirt is your regular dress attire, you may want to consider trading those heels for a pair of running shoes on your way to and from work. High heels will make escaping an attack extremely difficult. Being better prepared for a potential attack is well worth lugging your shoes back and forth to work in a small backpack. If you have long hair, wearing it in a ponytail will only give an attacker something to grab onto. If you tuck your hair into the back of your shirt or put it up in a bun, it will be less likely that your hair will be used against you in an attack.
Transitions Can be Trouble
Attacks commonly take place when you are in transition from one place to another, such as going from your car to work, or from work to home. Visiting an ATM requires you to take extra precautions. Awareness is the key. Always be aware of your surroundings and be on the lookout for a possible escape route. At the mall, look for emergency phones, and only park in areas that are well-lit. Take a friend along whenever possible and don’t go out at night alone. When you are heading to your car, keep your car keys handy so you are not fumbling for them once you get to the car. Carry an umbrella or place one of your keys under your index finger. These will both make good self defense weapons should you need them.
I have been jumped twice in my life. Once while walking to work and once walking to class in college. Both times it happened in broad daylight. I was alone in both instances, and had nothing on hand to defend myself. What I did do both times was yell and scream for help, which scared off my assailant. Yelling and screaming is something we all can do!
You can’t avoid these daily transitions, but you must be aware that these are times when you may be vulnerable. Now that it has been pointed out to you, that is no longer the case. You are prepared!
Staying Safe While Jogging
Many women avoid jogging or walking as a form of exercise due to fear of safety. As with any self defense situation, preparation is key.
The first thing to do is run or walk with a partner whenever possible. This will make you less of a target. If you enjoy running at 5 AM and find it difficult to find a partner to run with that early in the morning, consider getting a treadmill so you can run at home. However, if you must be out jogging alone, there are some things to do to help ensure your safety:
- Change your route regularly so that no one can predict where you will be at any given hour. If you get up and run at 5 AM every day and take the same route, it will not be difficult for someone to follow you. If you enjoy listening to music while you run, it isn’t the safest idea. If you have headphones in both ears, it is impossible to be totally aware of your surroundings and alert to someone approaching you from behind. If you must have motivational music while you run, keep the volume down. This will at least allow you to listen more closely to what is happening around you.
- Look for houses or locations along your routes that can be used as potential safety stops. For example, maybe you know a family or elderly couple who lives in one of the houses, or maybe there is a fire station nearby. These locations will make good safe havens should you come across trouble during your run.
- Most importantly, always be alert and do not become complacent. Just because you have run a route for years with no trouble doesn’t mean it will always be safe. Stay on your toes and be prepared.
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