How to Avoid an Attack or Fight Back Against an Aggressor

Difficulty: Challenging

Instructions

Step 1

If you are in a car, keep your windows up and doors locked, especially when in unfamiliar territory.
Step 2

If at a stoplight someone attempts to terrorize you, drive away, even if you have to run the light.
Step 3

Never open your doors or windows to a stranger, and keep your eyes open and aware of your general vicinity at all times.
Step 4

If someone tries to stop you claiming to be the police, do not stop if you are uncomfortable. Either call 911 to verify, or drive to a well-lit area or nearby police station.
Step 5

If someone bumps you from behind in an isolated area, do not get out of your car. This could be a ploy. Again, drive to a well-lit area and call the police.
Step 6

Beware of people telling you that your lights are not working or a tire is going flat. Although this is true in many cases, it is also a ploy to get you to pull over.
Step 7

If someone gets you out of the car and wants to hijack it, let them have it. It is not worth your life.
Step 8

When walking in an area that is unfamiliar to you, do not draw attention to yourself by overtly asking for directions or looking around to find your bearings. Be very subtle in your movements.
Step 9

Most people who drive know that peripheral vision is very important. We use mirrors to look behind us and to our sides. This same visual perception should be used in a situation where you may not be entirely safe. Be aware of what is around you, but do not make it obvious that you are not in your element.
Step 10

Walk as if you have somewhere to go. Keep your head up and shoulders back. Use purposeful strides and an assertive manner.
Step 11

Trust your instincts. If you feel someone is watching you or get a sense of unease, there is probably good reason. Animals have this instinct and use it to save their lives on a daily basis. We have the same latent ability. Do not think you are being paranoid. It is better to be safe than sorry.
Step 12

If you feel you are being followed, go immediately into the closest occupied facility you can find. That may be a store, a hotel, a gas station or anywhere else there are people.
Step 13

If you have a cell phone, pull it out and call 911 if you feel unsafe. Do not be afraid to appear stupid. Again, trust your instincts. It may be a false alarm, or then again you may thwart an attack. If you sincerely feel you are about to be attacked, it is important to know there is help on the way. Taking out a phone may also be enough to scare off the assailant.
Step 14

Do not put yourself in the mode of a victim. Even if you need to make that phone call, make yourself as big as you can. Stand tall, shoulders back, head held high. Attackers want the easiest possible victim. They often back down if they feel there may be a battle.
Step 15

Do not look the possible assailant in the eyes, but do not take your eyes off them. They should know that you are aware of them, but if you have any fear, they may sense this and use it against you. They may also be more likely to attack if they sense overt aggression, so keep your eyes averted, but be aware.
Step 16

If they only want your money or purse, let them have it. It is not worth dying over.
Step 17

If you are attacked and the person runs at you at a fast pace, one of the best things you can do is to drop to a squat when they are about 5 feet from you, and cover your head with your hands as if you are in a school tornado drill. If they are running they will not be able to stop and possibly trip and fly over you. Hopefully they will break something, but if not, it will at least give you a little time to get away. This works especially well if they are running at you from behind. This has to be timed well, and the attacker has to be running quickly and not expecting this, but it is a quick move that can be very effective.
Step 18

Use your palm to strike an assailant that is attacking you from the front. This is particularly useful in the face, especially the nose. Use the heel area of your palm to strike in an upward motion.
Step 19

One very effective move is a throat poke. You take two fingers, your index and middle, and as they are coming towards you, you can use their own forward momentum to give them a quick hard jab in the throat, right near the Adam's apple. This will also work if you prefer to use the knuckles. The same move applies: bend your index and middle fingers, and jam them into the throat below or around the Adam's apple. This will take a grown man down quickly. Use this chance to run.
Step 20

The eyes are a good soft spot, and if given the chance, the same technique can be used there.
Step 21

If they have piercings, you can use them to your advantage. Ripping out a piercing is a good way to slow someone down. Generally they will follow the pull of the piercing. If they have a piercing in their face or ear, pull on it down towards your knee, and bring your knee up into their face or head. If you do this hard enough, they will go down.
Step 22

Do not try to hit with your fist, ladies. Use your elbows and the side of your fist. If you bend your elbow in and throw your fist out to the side, you will get a lot more force behind the hit. The elbow is sharp and has a lot of power. If they are medium-sized, you can bring the elbow straight up and into their nose. If they are taller you can use the elbow in a sideways motion to hit them almost anywhere (the chest is very effective). A hard shot with the elbow or side fist right in the area between the rib bones where the heart lies can be very effective.
Step 23

If you have a purse and it is especially heavy, that is a real weapon. Use both hands to grasp the purse and swing it full force like a bat. Generally the head is the best area to hit, but any body shot can be helpful.
Step 24

If you can get to the groin area, that is an optimal place to strike, but most attackers will protect that area to the fullest. A knee strike works very well. Bring your knee up and into an area of their body, especially the abdominal area, for ultimate effect.
Step 25

The kneecaps are a great area to use to take down an assailant; either kicking them in the kneecaps or kicking them behind the knee, which will cause them to lose their balance.
Step 26

A knuckle strike to the lower back will also bring someone the ground. The hand is in a fist, but with the knuckles out. Strike the attacker in the very low portion of the back, generally where the back meets the gluteus. (The indentation) This will cause them to fall backwards if done with enough pressure. This will also work if they have you in a bear hug. Use your knuckles and put pressure in that area. It causes the legs to weaken.
Step 27

If they have you in a bear hug, attempt to loosen their grip by putting your hands into a karate chop position, with palms facing up and fingers slightly bent. Strike them sharply (quick movement) and as hard as possible in the mid to lower rib area. This may loosen their grip and allow you a chance to escape.
Step 28

If they are behind you a move that many will not expect is to bring your heel up directly between their legs with as much force as possible.
Step 29

Another unexpected move, whether they have you from the front or behind, is to let your body drop to the ground with all your weight. This may give you a few seconds to fight or run.
Step 30

Anytime you can get at a finger, it can be used as a weapon. Bend the finger all the way back as if your are playing mercy. The pinky is the easiest to break, and again, this will take someone to their knees quickly.
Step 31

If they have their hands on your throat, use the finger break. You can also make a fist with knuckles out and strike them hard in the mid hand. This will sometimes loosen their grip.
Step 32

Biting can be very effective. If they are facing you, then go for the soft spots--the ears, nose and lip. Any area that is holding you is a good area to bite. This will usually make them let you go. However, be prepared to draw blood.
Step 33

If they are wearing glasses, smash them with a fist into their eyes. This is a brutal move, but it could save your life.
Step 34

If you can get to their private parts with a hand, grab and squeeze as hard as possible. This is a risky move, because they may punch you to try to get you off, but if you are close enough to them to get them by the testicles, they will not have enough momentum to give you a good hit.
Step 35

If you get them to the ground, give them a good heel strike or elbow strike to the back of the head to keep them down a little longer.

Comments

HardworkinJudy said

on 1/6/2009 Also throw your purse or money away from you and run the opposite direction. We can replace our funds. You have given some excellent tips here! Great job! Thanks & God bless.