(Photo credit: Alatryste)
Self defense is the act of defending oneself from any physical harm. It is certain that at least once in your lifetime you will have to defend yourself. Many people have this idea that self defense involves complex fighting techniques, but it is not so. Defending yourself from any assault can be as simple as running away. Maintaining presence of mind in a difficult situation is very important as it can be the key to your defensive approach. Learning self defense at home is a great way to start off before you go on for advanced courses in self defense.
Simple Self Defense at Home
Before you think about taking down an assailant, you will need to have some form of action plan. In situations like this, there is hardly time for you to think things through so be mindful of some of the points that will be mentioned below to increase your chances of defending yourself.
Keep your cool
If you keep a cool head and be aware of your surroundings then you are already halfway to defending yourself. Many people panic easily when confronted by an assailant and this can be a fatal error in your approach. Analyze the situation well before you take any steps, it will help you gain control over the situation and your own self. Remain calm and try to talk yourself out of a confrontation if you have to.
Use the environment
If you happen to be attacked at home or in a place where there are things lying around, then use what you have as a weapon. You can easily pick up objects like an umbrella, a baseball bat or even a knife if required. Apart from that you can also use the environment to make a quick getaway.
Key areas to strike
There are some areas that you can specifically target if all else fails and physical confrontation is unavoidable. The face is always a great place to strike anyone at. Use your palm or a tight fist and deliver a quick hit. You don’t need to know any martial arts to poke somebody in the eyes. The legs, the groin and even the stomach can be areas that you can deliver quick strikes to while you make your getaway.
Buy some basic training equipment
You can buy some basic training equipment like a sandbag and hang it in your garage. Practice hitting the sandbag with your fists and your kicks. It is a great way to increase the power in your hands and your legs. Doing some physical workouts to increase your strength is also a good way to keep yourself fit which can go a long way if you are indeed in a physical confrontation with anyone. Buy things like pepper spray and keep them around in case you ever need them.
Don’t go looking for a fight
Many people get involved in a physical confrontation when they could have simply avoided it. Don’t be a hero unless there is no other choice. Even after you’ve managed to injure your assailant, always try and run away so you can avoid further confrontation. Keeping yourself safe is the first lesson in self defense anywhere, so try and remember that especially in difficult situations. Remember that a good defense is always the best offense.
