Learn How to Best Defend Yourself
There are too many self-defence myths
The act of fighting is too often romanticized in our entertainment. After watching so many movies about ninjas or martial arts masters, one might come to believe that is how real life works. Sadly, it doesn’t. Real-life is messy and unpredictable, but there are ways to effectively keep yourself safe that actually work.
Run, Don’t Fight
The point is to survive, not to win. There is a difference between consensual fights and ones that aren’t. The former can be avoided entirely by understanding the cause of the disagreement and then working to solve the problem through deliberation.
However, self-defense usually refers to when fights are not consensual. Understandably, one might not want to be seen as a coward but consider that it’s the best way to come out of this kind of situation unscathed. Swallow your ego and run at the earliest possibility. There is a chance your opponent could be carrying a concealed weapon, or just dragging out the fight increases the chance of injury or death. There is a common quote among those who learn knife-defense techniques:
“The loser of a knife fight dies on the street. The winner of a knife fight dies in the ambulance.”
Adding to the idea of fleeing from confrontation, make it a habit of constantly being aware of your surroundings when alone. If someone trails too close for a suspicious amount of time, you can get away from them with a good enough head start, or by moving into a more populated area. It’s a good idea to look behind you every so often. A predator often chooses their targets because they think they have the advantage. A target who understands there is something wrong, or acknowledges their stalker takes that advantage away.
For both points, the main purpose is to avoid confrontation because even if you somehow win, you more than likely will not remain unharmed.
Lose Your Dignity
In the unfortunate scenario where escape is not an option, the next best tactic is to become “unappetizing” to fight. This means acting strangely, losing your sense of self. This tip is the easiest to master, and is highly effective. You devalue yourself as a target.
Common tactics are drooling, taking your pants off, or speaking strange gibberish. There’s no end to the creativity on this one.
Desensitize the Brain
If in the end, you find yourself in a fight you can’t get out of, the best way to come out on top is to have experience. This isn’t about learning specific techniques like martial arts but gaining the neuroplasticity required. Real fighting is not like controlled fighting environments. Specific techniques often break down into on the fly bunches and kicks.
Techniques won’t help, but the brain will be able to react and think properly during scenarios it is used to. You’ll also gain muscle memory and conditioning, two bonuses of experience. Those who are more level headed have a lesser chance of making a mistake and also have a higher probability of making a run for it.
It also helps with the psychological factors of fighting. Panicking is common for beginners, but not for experienced fighters. This step may seem difficult, but in all honesty, you don’t have to become a master at fighting. You just have to be able to think clearly during fights, so that you can escape when possible.
Size Does Matter
At the end of the day, a larger person can deliver more force per strike. Psychologically, people pick on smaller people for their targets. Height isn’t able to be changed but weight is.
Gain size, either through muscle gain, fat gain, or both. This is highly beneficial for women particularly because they are targeted more often. Having more force behind their strikes would give anyone a higher chance of fending off danger and finding an opportunity to escape.
Focusing on conditioning also helps immensely with being able to outrun those chasing them. Improve heart health through cardio and other means.
In the end, most fights are avoidable, but if you can’t avoid throwing punches, these tips will help you out. Keep a clear mind with experience. Remember that the real world isn’t as artful as the movies, and you will keep yourself out of trouble.
