These are must know tips that will keep you drastically safer, and that you should be aware of and subconsciously doing in everyday tasks. They are simple, but effective, and knowing how you’re going to defend yourself or utilising preventative measures like these, allows you to feel and be SO MUCH SAFER. Please take these on into your everyday life.
Stay as aware, as rude and as ready to run as possible, don’t leave it chance!
Anything is weapon. And your keys are the perfect go to in an emergency. You'll always have them, they're small and easy to grab and locate. Simply hold as many keys as is comfortable between your fingers like Wolverine, making your punches a lot more effective. This will ever stop the attacker, or give you enough time to escape.
This allows for a quick escape, rather than rushing to find the right key and finding the ignition. This helps especially in the dark if you’re feeling threatened. A common scenario for danger is when late night workers are walking to their car in car parks at the end of their shift.
It’s easy to do - I’m always doing quick head checks behind me. Lots of perpetrators pretend to ignore you and start executing their plan the second you think they’re out of sight. This is great especially when someone gives you the “I’m about to look your booty” vibes. Staring them right in the eye is always met by a quick scurry away.
It’s all that’s every going through my head when someone approaches me. No matter how big or strong or scary or fast you are, a kick in the dick is debilitating. Give it everything you’ve got and run. The kick keeps you distant enough so you can’t be grabbed, as well as eliminating your perpetrator immediately.
Don’t forget about your legs. It's common sense that they’re usually going to be more powerful than your hands and will always be longer than your perpetrators arms. Kicks can be used to push someone away whilst also being very effective at hurting and halting an attacker.
If you get a feeling that someone’s not worthy of your trust, or you hear a sound as your walking etc. listen. Your body subconsciously notices millions of factors before you consciously do. It’s taken into consideration more than you could’ve, so listen to your gut feeling. If someone or some place doesn’t feel right, leave ASAP.
Anything you have in your hand adds weight to your punch. Grip your phone, or some coins, and hold on tightly. Even a 10 cent coin dramatically increases the power and pain transferred from your hand to your attacker. Something that you can wrap all your fingers around easily is perfect. This tip allows someone who is much smaller than there attacker, to insure a lot of harm.
All humans are still humans, so their weak spots are the same. Aim anything - a punch, an object - at your attackers go to weak points. Basic martial arts teaches consecutive striking of the;
Targeting these spots one after the other is most effective. However just striking one will most likely be debilitating, which is why remembering these 5 spots is so helpful. This attack still works if they’re in close proximity. Even if a perpetrator is holding your arms still... their groin is still very much an open target.
This goes without saying but stay in a group, and you won't get targeted. Whether it's one other person or ten, any is better than you on your own. Attackers are looking for the easiest opening, and you being with another person is an immediate deterrent.
THROW IT AWAY, SHOVE IT SOMEWHERE WHERE THE SUN DOESN'T SHINE I DON'T CARE. THIS IS THE MOST. IMPORTANT. TIP.
Attackers bathe in the niceties of their victims. It's their opportunity to take advantage of you and get you doing something you don't want to do, before you realise it's too late.
You know the feeling when you'll just kiss that guy because he wont leave you alone, or you keep quiet if someone says something rude to you, or you don't say anything if someones hand grabs your butt. - That's the feeling attackers thrive in. They know what your reaction is going to be so they know what they can get away with. You being 'not rude' is your social button turning on when it shouldn't be. Let me tell you this - abusers, attackers, rapists, sleeze-bags, pedophiles etc. any possible attacker that you could interact with DOES NOT DESERVE YOUR POLITENESS.
BE ABRUPT and EXPLAIN LATER.
They know the majorities reaction to the wrong things they do, so they know exactly how navigate your uncomfortable feeling to get what they want from you.
Stop giving the benefit of the doubt. Be abrupt and angry, so you can assess the situation, and then maybe make amends if necessary. But social politeness does not apply when someone is in danger.
What i'm saying is YELL, ACCUSE, CALL OVER YOUR FRIENDS, LEAVE. Do the safest most unnecessary option first to guarantee your safety. Then once you've made the assessment that your safe, you can return to your cool nice self.
This is for whether or not you KNOW you're in danger. ESPECIALLY if you just think you might be, make noise and bring attention to where you are, subtly or obviously - whatever is safest. This is proven to drastically reduce victim rate. Studies involving interviews from incarcerated rapists, acknowledge that loud volume or calls to attention are a significant deterrent and reduces the crimes pursued. This is due to;
Rapists attack when they’ve developed;
TRUST (not always) - of you or someone you know, to get you into
ISOLATION
By making loud noises you threaten to remove the element of isolation. The same study shows in countless undocumented cases, yelling and screaming was reason for the rapist to stop attacking and leave.
The same reasoning for any other attacker applies when it comes to the fact that loud noise brings attention to you and what’s happening - the last place the attacker/s want people going to.
Now you'll be a thousand steps ahead of your attacker, and they won't stand a chance.
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