Unarmed Self Defense

With mugging now almost commonplace, and crime spiraling out of control, knowing some unarmed self defense techniques can help you if you land yourself in a sticky situation. Knowing how to disable your assailant, even temporarily, can make a difference between life and death, and escape can mean a greater chance of getting away unhurt. Unarmed self defense teaches you how to use your limbs and muscles in the best possible way to disarm your attacker long enough to call for help or get away. While many of us may not be acquainted with martial arts, and typically traditional modes of defense and fighting, a few well versed moves can protect you from harm. It's also imperative to instill some unarmed self defense techniques in your children to arm them against a possible attack. The following are some techniques to get you started.

Unarmed Self Defense Techniques

Although most of us are smart enough to follow basic safety measures, sometimes even the most cautious can find themselves at the business end of a knife or gun. Most often, an attacker will come up from behind, to catch you unawares, and pin your arms, wrists and limbs to your sides, to keep your most effective limbs out of commission. An assailant has the advantage of surprise, and the ability to instill fear, and both these will work against you. The following are some unarmed self defense moves that may help you in such a situation.

Kicking and Leg Techniques
There's no doubt that punching is the most effective form of defense, and the primary technique used in fighting. However, when using self defense techniques, if your arms are out of commission, this mode is no longer open to you. In most cases, you will find yourself back to front with an attacker who comes up from behind, arms pinned to your sides, or your wrists twisted behind your back. While this may mean you can't use your hands immediately, your legs and feet are still free. The heel, or the base of your foot, is one of the toughest bones in your body, while the toes and the front of the feet are considerably more prone to damage. You can break the smaller bones in the front of your assailant's feet and inflict considerable pain, regardless of the position you're in. In fact, this is the best technique to use when your back is pinned to the attacker's front. Bring the knee up, flex the ankle backwards, and use as much force as you can to slam your foot down on the front of the attacker's foot, but ensure that it's your heel that is first making contact. You can also use the same movement to strike your assailant's knee or shin, which may make him lose balance, and give you a split second advantage. If you're a woman, and are wearing heels, this is an added help, when you kick back or stamp on the foot. Once your kick has landed, don't stop there - use a head butt to the attackers face or chest, and if he's behind you, push back hard with your back, while trying to shake the grip on your arms. If you can, reach behind to pinch the thigh, as close to the groin as you can manage.

Punching and Hand Techniques
If you find that your hands are free, or if you manage to free yourself from your attacker's grip, there are a number of ways that you can use this to your advantage. In many situations your assailant will be bigger and stronger than you, but knowledge of a few unarmed self defense moves, and a calm head can help you here. The fingers, particularly the ring finger and the pinkie, are the weakest in the hand - if you find that the assailant has his hand wrapped around your wrist or lower arm, use your free arm to reach over and grab either of these two fingers. Working quickly and exerting as much pressure as possible, bend the fingers backward, till they touch the back of the wrist, breaking the bones in the process. This should immobilize your opponent temporarily. In unarmed self defense, you must make use of any tools at your disposal. Keys, pens, anything with a sharp edge can be poked into the eyes, to your advantage.

Unarmed self defense needs most of all, a cool head. Although this may be next to impossible when you are being victimized, and fear for your safety is clouding your brain, remember that it is possible to get out of this situation. Follow basic safety at all times, and keep yourself armed with pepper spray or mace, you never know when you may be able to use it. The goal of self defense is survival - and with these moves under your belt the odds just may tilt in your favor.