Dont Be A Victim

According to the Bureau of Justice Statistics, U.S. Department of Justice, Americans have a greater chance of being a violent crime victim than of being injured in a motor vehicle accident.  Learning self defense is not just about learning to kick and punch an attacker.  Self defense begins with not thinking of yourself as a victim.  Attackers choose their victims the way predators choose their prey.  They always go after the sick, isolated, young or old because they are an easy kill.  If you look strong, alert and healthy, you have a much better chance of being left alone. 

Body Language

Body language communicates how comfortable you feel about yourself.  In self defense, effective body language conveys a relaxed sense of confidence.  The first phase of an attack is often called the “targeting” stage; the attacker is searching for a victim.  During this phase, confident and relaxed body language is critical.  There are ways to discourage an attack, just by walking more safely.  Keep your head up, look ahead, and drop your shoulders (do not hunch them).  Walk with a relaxed step (not too long or short) and keep your hands out of your pockets.  Compare these two images in your mind:  the women looking down at the ground and the one just described.  Who is an easier target?  Who appears vulnerable?  These changes are small, but they make an enormous difference. 

Verbal Self Defense

The second stage, or testing phase, of an attack usually involves some kind of verbal communication.  There are two different kinds of verbal self defense in response to a threat from an attacker.  The first, and most common, is assertive self defense.  Assertive self defense is used when the attacker is unarmed or does not have physical control of you to the extent that fighting back would cause you greater injury.  It is simply an extension of your body language:  you are verbally communicating that you refuse to be seen as a victim.  The second, cooperative verbal self defense is used when the attacker has a weapon or is holding you in a way that makes it useless to fight back at the moment.  Hopefully, it will make the attacker relax so that he will feel in control.  Or you may want to use it to trick the attacker.  When he lets up, you may have the opportunity to escape or physically fight back.  Confident body language and verbal self defense can be used in every situation.  Stop thinking of yourself as a victim and you are less likely to be targeted as one.

There are other skills you can develop to avoid being a victim:

KNOW YOUR AREA:  Know as much as possible ahead of time about the area you will be visiting.  If you are forewarned about dangerous areas, you will be less likely to traverse them.  It is much safer to go around a potential hot spot than to walk into a hornet’s nest. 

BE AWARE:  Keep alert to spot danger.  Pay attention to your surroundings.

DEVELOP YOUR INTUITION:  Listening to your sixth sense can be one of your most important self defense skills.  If you sense that something is wrong, it is.  That gut feeling you get when something is not exactly right is telling you something and you should learn to listen to that alarm, however vague it may be.

FIGHTING SPIRIT:  Knowing you have the desire, ability, confidence and strength to fight back might be all you need to discourage a potential attacker.  Develop an attitude that allows you to not be intimidated.

Respectfully Yours,

Master Shin