When confronted by an attacker, you will probably only have a split second to make the decision as whether to run for help or stay and fight. Contrary to your instincts, running away isn’t always the best solution. If there is no where to get help nearby there is a good chance your attacker will catch up with you, at which point it’s futile to try to intimidate him or tell him to “back off” because he already knows you’re afraid. Only run away if there is a way to get help within sprinting distance or if you’ve physically disabled your attacker enough to get away. Otherwise, your best option is to convince your attacker to leave you alone through what you say or through physical force.
Using Your Body as a Weapon
To successfully fight your way out of a dangerous situation you need to know which parts of your body make the best weapons and how to use them. Here are six natural weapons every woman possesses:
Hands – Despite what Hollywood tells us, a punch is not the most effective way to take a person down. For most women, a punch will be ineffective in stopping an attacker and may hurt the victim as much as the perpetrator. Instead, use hands for grabbing and tearing at soft flesh to inflict maximum pain. The underside of the arm and the inner thigh are two good areas to aim for.
Elbows – The elbow and forearm make for great weapons against an assailant. The key is to twist at the waist and throw all the weight and power of both your upper and lower body into the hit. When used correctly, the elbow can cause a lot of pain in the ribs, sternum, diaphragm, throat, and groin.
Knees – A woman’s legs are the strongest part of her body. The area around the kneecap can do unthinkable damage when brought up between an attacker’s legs.
Head – The skull is made of very hard bone that can do a lot of damage when brought in contact with the fragile parts of an assailant’s face, particularly the nose. Whether you’ve been grabbed from the front or from behind, slamming your head into an attacker’s face can cause a lot of pain.
Feet – Use the ball of your foot to kick an attacker’s ankle, calf, or Achilles’ tendon or use your heel to stomp down on their instep.
Teeth – It takes no training to know how to bite, and a bite will hurt no matter where it’s placed. One thing to consider: when biting, it’s possible to end up with the attacker’s blood in your mouth, which may carry any of a number of infectious diseases. Use your own judgment to decide whether or not a situation requires you to bite.