Ladies Self Defence Tips
5 TIPS FOR SELF DEFENCE
Missed Imogen's Women's Self Defence workshop last weekend?
Not to worry - we've got a few tips from the experts! If you've only got a few minutes to spare, just read through the following 5 quick tips:
- Target the attacker's nose with an upwards palm strike to break it
- Press your teeth above the attacker's upper lip as hard as possible
- A hit to the solar plexus (found in the pit of the stomach in front of the aorta) is a move often taught in self-defence classes - USE IT!
- Another powerful one is an eye strike - drive your fingers towards the assailant's eyes.
- Lastly, an elbow strike to the assailant's temple can cause immediate unconsciousness.
THREAT ASSESSMENT & SITUATIONAL AWARENESS
What is situational awareness? Situational awareness trains the observer to explore the environment for points of advantage or threat. This increases self-confidence in the decision-making process which enables women to set boundaries earlier and therefore limit harassment and abuse as much as possible.
Going along with situational awareness, developing a toolkit of threat assessment techniques and de-escalation tactics is also important. This assists in establishing healthy boundaries and reframing victimisation through greater recognition that responsibility for conflict and abuse is never the victim's.
Imogen Thomas, our resident martial arts expert, has been involved in self-defence and martial practice for over 24 years now, both as a martial arts teacher, as well as a Personal Safety Trainer for the British Police for 11 years. If you'd like to continue reading more about her personal journey and opinions on why all women should practice self defence, check out this guest post she did for the Bristol Zero Tolerance group!