Buzz
The best way to protect yourself is by striking or scratching the vulnerable areas of your attacker, such as the eyes, nose, or groin. Additionally, you should know how to shield your head, stomach, and groin using your hands or any nearby objects. If possible, avoid confrontation by displaying confidence, asking them to back off, or running away.
Steps
Dealing with an Attacker
Resolve conflicts with words to avoid violent confrontation. If the attacker starts speaking aggressively, try to calm the situation with soft words. Ideally, you should help them regain composure or at least buy time to escape.
- You might say something like, 'I know you're upset, but I don’t want to escalate. We should leave here!' or 'You’re scaring me, stay away! I’m calling the police now,' or 'Let’s calm down. We don’t need to fight. I’m leaving now.'
- Even if they raise their voice or use insults, don’t compete in shouting. Stay calm and de-escalate the situation so you can walk away.
Leave the area if you have the opportunity. When someone displays aggressive behavior toward you, quickly get on a vehicle, enter a nearby company, or blend into a crowd. If you have the chance to escape or avoid a fight, take it. Try throwing your wallet or watch in one direction and run in the opposite direction to escape.
- If the attacker demands your wallet, credit card, clothes, or shoes, comply. It's not worth risking your life for a small amount of money.
Scream at the attacker to make them fear confronting you. In most cases, attackers seek out victims they perceive as easy targets. They tend to avoid situations that could attract attention (or police). If someone is approaching you with the intent to attack, shout loudly, 'Back off!'
- If they continue advancing, keep shouting. Use loud phrases like, 'Stay away from me!' or 'Don't come near me!'
- If you have a phone, pull it out and shout, 'I’m calling 113 right now if you don’t back off!'
Dany Zelig
Self-defense coach
Self-defense coach
Our expert advises: Be confident and believe in your ability to defend yourself. You must think that the attacker won't defeat you. This mindset will motivate you and help overcome your fear, allowing you to protect yourself to the best of your ability.
Adopt a defensive stance if the attacker approaches you. If you cannot escape or de-escalate the situation, prepare for a confrontation. Stand with your feet shoulder-width apart, with your non-dominant foot forward. Keep your body weight balanced on both feet. Slightly bend your knees so your center of gravity is low, and raise both hands to protect your face.
- This posture makes it harder for someone to attack you and helps you maintain control when defending yourself. Positioning your body this way makes it more difficult for an assailant to knock you down and easier to stay balanced while countering.
Display confidence and awareness to show you're not an easy target. Robbers and other criminals often target easy victims, such as those who are unaware of their surroundings and can be easily ambushed. Instead of walking while glued to your phone, stand tall, walk briskly, with your shoulders pulled back and head held high. Avoid making direct eye contact with anyone who seems to be following you, but glance around to remain aware of your environment.
- If the attacker perceives you as a difficult target, they will likely abandon their attempt.
Defend yourself against the attacker
Poke or scratch the attacker's eyes. Form a fist with your dominant hand and strike the attacker's eyes. If you have keys, use them to jab into their eyes, or use your fingernails to scratch them. This will temporarily blind the attacker and scare them, giving you a chance to escape.
Remember that you don’t intend to blind the attacker, but only to cause enough harm to make a quick getaway.
Strike or slap the attacker's nose. Clench your fist and punch their nose, or slap it with your palm. Alternatively, you can use your elbow to strike their nose if they're within about half a meter. Make sure to build momentum for a stronger blow.
- The nose is a sensitive and vulnerable area. A strike to the nose will cause significant pain and almost certainly give you the time to escape quickly.
Punch the Adam's apple or the base of the attacker's throat. Form a fist with your dominant hand or turn your hand sideways. Aim for the soft area between the collarbone and the base of their throat. Strike with full force to temporarily stop their breathing.
- Be aware that a strong punch to the Adam's apple can damage their windpipe and potentially kill them. Unless you're fighting for your life, avoid using full force on the Adam's apple.
Spray pepper powder into their face if you have a pepper spray canister. Open the canister and aim directly at the attacker's face. Try to aim for their eyes. As soon as they experience the burning sensation, run away immediately.
- The effect of pepper powder usually lasts between 15-45 minutes.
- Some people have a high tolerance to pain, so the attacker may continue pursuing you. If they do, strike them in the eyes or nose.
Kick the attacker in the groin if the attacker is male. Aim for the center of the groin or between their legs. Then, pull your leg back and kick with maximum force into their groin. The attacker will be temporarily incapacitated, giving you time to escape.
- Keep in mind that they may anticipate your move and quickly dodge or block the kick.
- If you’re being attacked by a woman, kicking her in the groin isn't a bad idea, but it may not be as effective as it would be with a man.
Variation of the kicking move: If you're very close to the attacker, use your knee to strike their groin.
Use your foot or elbow to strike the attacker's knee to limit their mobility. Kick the front of their knee to cause serious injury, or hit the side of their knee to bring them down. Continue kicking until they fall or retreat. Striking the knee will cause intense pain and limit their ability to chase after you.
- If the attacker knocks you down, don’t give up! Use your elbow to strike the side of their knee.
- The attacker will find it difficult to grab your leg if you kick their knee, as the knee is closer to the ground.
Escape while the attacker is incapacitated. Run immediately once the attacker falls or stops their assault. Head to a safe location and call the police for assistance. Provide a detailed explanation of what occurred and file a report.
- Never attempt to 'finish off' or capture the attacker. If you notice them in pain (from strikes to the throat, eyes, or groin), don't linger to check on their condition. Instead, escape to safety: your car, a building, or a crowd where they won't find you.
Defend and protect yourself
Headbutt if they grab you from behind. If someone grabs you from behind, forcefully slam the back of your head into their nose. The pain from the impact will make them release their grip.
- If this doesn't work, bend your knees to lower your body. This movement will loosen their hold. Once their arms loosen, escape and elbow them in the face. Use your elbow to strike their nose to make them let go of you.
Headbutt their nose if they charge you from the front. If they're charging at you from the front, stay calm and headbutt them straight in the face. Aim for their nose with your forehead to cause pain and force them to release you.
- Avoid hitting their forehead as it will hurt you more. The nose is softer, so you'll be less likely to injure yourself using your head to strike.
- If a headbutt isn't an option, punch one of their armpits. Hitting their armpit will cause them to release you.
Use your hands and arms to protect your groin, throat, abdomen, and eyes. A strong strike to any of these sensitive areas could incapacitate you, so it's vital to defend them while attacking. Keep your hands and arms in front of these areas to shield them from strikes. You will need to move your arms and hands during the defense to block blows. Additionally, try to rotate your shoulders or raise your legs to deflect punches or slaps.
- If you get knocked down and the attacker is kicking you, curl into a ball and protect your head.
- The attacker will likely target sensitive areas first.
Return to a defensive stance after delivering an attack. Don't allow the attacker to grab your hand or cause you to lose balance after striking. Once you've hit them, immediately move back into a defensive posture with your legs slightly bent and your hands raised to protect yourself. Keep your dominant hand in front of your cheek and the other hand at your temple. A blow to the cheek or temple can knock you unconscious, so protecting your face is crucial.
- While fighting, make as much noise as possible. This may deter the attacker or attract the attention of others. Yell phrases like 'Stay away from me!' or 'Leave me alone!'
You can use anything around you as a weapon to defend yourself. Use keys to jab at their eyes or swing your handbag or wallet at their face. If there are sticks or metal poles nearby, grab them as makeshift weapons. You could even throw sand in their eyes to temporarily blind them.
- Of course, these aren't ideal weapons for fighting, but they'll leave you with fewer injuries than a direct confrontation, and you’ll only need a few stitches instead of a hospital stay.
- Many people carry pepper spray, which is an excellent tool for self-defense in case of an attack.
Seek medical attention if you are injured during the attack. Once you’ve reached safety—whether it’s a crowded public space or your home—check your body for injuries. If you’re hurt, see a doctor or head to the hospital. For minor cuts or bruises, simply apply first aid and use adhesive bandages.
- The hospital will have security to deal with the attacker if they try to pursue you for further assault.
Advice
- Never turn your back on the attacker, as this provides an opportunity for them to strike. Instead, take a step back or sideways to get to a safe place while keeping your eyes on them.
- If the attacker grabs you, stomp on their foot. This won't cause severe pain but will distract them, giving you the chance to break free.
Warning
- If you are kidnapped or robbed, fight back with all your strength. Don’t worry about injuring the attacker.
- Some of the defensive actions described above can cause severe harm. For example, jabbing your fingers into someone’s eyes could result in serious eye injuries, and a strike to the throat might even be fatal. However, if you're just engaging in a playful fight with a friend at school, you definitely should avoid causing them any significant harm.
