WOMEN¡¯S SELF DEFENSE CLASS

 

 

ATTACK AREAS:

 

1.     EYES:  Use fingers or thumbs to gouge.  Scratching might hurt, but it will not                          

                   disable the attacker.

 

2.     EARS:  Use the palm of your hands, cupped, to slap each ear.  This will cause  

              the eardrums to rupture.  The attacker will lose his balance, blood will

              leak out of each ear.  It you are being held by one arm use the free hand

             slap that side ear.  It will still cause an equilibrium problem because one

             eardrum will be ruptured.

 

3.     THROAT:  There are several ways to attack the throat area.  Striking the larynx 

                          area will cause a rupturing of the vessels in the throat, possibly

                          fracturing the bones and cartilage in the airway.  The attacker will

                          immediately grab for his throat, gasping for air.  If done correctly

                          this can cause serious damage, even death.

                          To attack the throat use:

a.     knife hand strike

b.     open ridge hand strike

c.      finger tip strike

d.     middle knuckle strike

e.     thumb strike

f.       choking

 

4.     NECK:  Attacking the side of the neck is accomplished with mainly knife hand

                     strikes.  However, if you have a stick, cane, umbrella, key chain etc. you      

                     can use these very effectively to the side of the neck.  These same

                     techniques apply to the temple area.

 

5.     GROIN:  Attack to the groin area can be accomplished in several ways, depend-

                      ing on how close you are to the attacker.  If there is enough distance

                      to kick you can use a groin kick or knee kick.  If you are facing the

                      attacker and he has you in his grasp, use your knee, fist, knife hand

                      strike, or grab.  If he is standing over you, punch, grab, bite, kick, etc.

                      If he has you from behind, knife hand strike, fist, or grab.

 

6.     KNEES:  The best way to attack the knee area is with a low roundhouse kick,

                       low side kick, or shin kick.  If you are down you can also knife hand

                       strike or punch the knee also.

 

7.     TOP OF FEET:  If you are held from behind, use your feet to scrape the shin

                                  bone, stomp on the top of the foot.  This maneuver may get

                                      get you free but you will need to follow up with another move-

                                ment to disable the attacker.

 

 

 

REMEMBER THAT YOU HAVE MANY WEAPONS AT YOUR DISPOSAL.  THE MOST IMPORTANT BEING ABLE TO THINK IN A CRISIS.  IN ORDER TO DO THIS YOU MUST GO OVER OPTIONS IN YOUR HEAD BEFORE ANYTHING EVER HAPPENS.  BY DOING THIS YOU WILL HAVE A BETTER CHANCE OF THINKING CLEARLY IF SOMETHING DOES HAPPEN.

 

THINK OF PRACTICING AS YOU WOULD AN INSURANCE POLICY.  YOU HOPE YOU NEVER NEED IT, BUT IF YOU DO YOU WILL BE GLAD YOU HAVE IT.

 

BECAUSE YOU HAVE TAKEN THIS CLASS DON¡¯T THINK YOU CAN GO OUT AND WHIP THE WORLD.  YOU CAN¡¯T!!!  THIS CLASS WAS MEANT TO GIVE YOU A FEW SURVIVAL TECHNIQUES BUT MOSTLY TO BRING YOU AWARENESS LEVEL TO A HIGHER PLANE.  IF YOU HAVE THE OPPORTUNITY AND DESIRE TO FURTHER YOUR PHYSICAL TRAINING I URGE YOU TO DO SO.  LONG TERM TRAINING CAN IMPROVE YOUR PHYSICAL CONDITIONING, MENTAL CONDITIONING, STRESS RELIEF AND SELF DEFENSE ABILITIES.

 

WOMEN¡¯S SELF DEFENSE CLASS

 

 

DEVELOPING A NEW MENTALITY

 

1.    Gain a new perspective on how to be safe.

 

2.       Develop a survival mindset.

 

3.       Understand that you have options.

 

4.       Understand that you can and will use these options.

a.       The criminal will use his options

b.       The criminal will be in an action mode, so you must be also.

 

5.       Rehearse your options in order to put your options and your mindset into action when needed.

a.       You are probably not the criminal¡¯s first victim.

b.       Since you aren¡¯t, he has had practice at his crimes.

c.       The criminal has rehearsed his plan and knows what he is doing.

d.       He is counting on you not being sure of how to handle the situation.

e.       It you don¡¯t do what he says his plan is no longer useful.  Get him confused.  He will try to intimidate you.  If he can¡¯t do this his plan is no longer useful.

f.        Plan and tell yourself that you will put your plan into action, no matter what!

g.       He has a plan, why not you?

 

6.       Step outside of your frame of reference.

a.       You have self imposed rules.

b.       You have limited yourself.

 

7.       Change your attitude.

a.       Get rid of your ¡°It will never happen to me¡± attitude.

b.       This attitude makes you unaware and consequently unsafe.

c.       Empower yourself and be mentally fit to help break your wall of fear in order to be able to do what you think you cannot do.

 

8.       Get control back.

a.       The criminal wants you to put your guard down.  At this point he knows he is in control.

b.       If you don¡¯t know how to react, your guard is down.  Change his plans by reacting as a survivor and not a victim.  This will make his guard go down.

 

9.       NEVER, NEVER, NEVER GIVE UP!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PHYSICAL DEFENSE

 

1.  KICKS:

a.       Shin Kick

b.       Groin Kick

c.       Low Side Kick

d.       Low Roundhouse Kick

e.       Knee Kick

f.        Heel Kick

g.       Foot Stomp

 

2.  STRIKES:

a.       Punches

b.       Pokes

c.       Knife Hand Strikes

d.       Fingertip Strikes

e.       Elbows

f.        Palm Strikes

g.       Middle Finger Knuckle Strike

 

3.       BREAKING HAND HOLDS

 

4.       BREAKING HUG HOLDS

 

5.       PRESSURE POINTS

 

6.       LEVERAGE, ANGLES AND GRAVITY VERSUS SIZE AND STRENGTH

 

 

YOUR ABILITIES AND STRENGTHS

 

1.       Adrenaline, Noradrenaline, Endorphins.  Reverse the energy being used as fear and make it into strength.

 

2.       Flight or fight response. 

 

3.       The criminal is a person, you are a person.

 

4.       The criminal will lie, you can lie.

 

5.       You have the knowledge that crimes happen.  You have the hindsight to not make the same mistakes as past victims have made.   You have the power to do it differently.

 

6.       You have the power to take risks with the criminal before it has gone too far.

 

7.       You can yell.

a.       This is a distraction

b.       Yelling empowers you

c.       Can scare them.

d.       Yell ¡°Fire¡±

 

8.       You can hit.

9.       You can be passive/aggressive.

10.   You can fool him, be compliant and then attack or run.

 

11.   Even if you get hurt you can still fight back.  Don¡¯t let the rear override your decision to live.

 

12.   The statistics are on your side.

 

 

 

CAR CRIMES AND SCHEMES

 

1.       Car Jackings:

a.       It only takes seconds

b.       Lock doors, be aware, be careful with convertibles.

c.       Floor it!

d.       Don¡¯t open window.

e.       If help is needed,  go and call.

f.        Gun issue.

g.       Wreck the car if they gain access, then get out and run.

 

2.       Car Bumping Schemes:

a.       Leave to safe place.

b.       Stay in the car.

c.       Control your kids, spouse or anyone else in the car.  They could put you in danger.

d.       Keep the car running.

e.       Non-criminals will not mind if you go to a safe place to exchange information.

f.        Put a pre-written card in your glove compartment with your insurance agent¡¯s and insurance company name and phone number (No personal Information).

g.       Think ¡°My safety first, their feelings second¡±.

 

3.       Stranded Vehicle:

a.       You are NOT safe in your car!

b.       Look for city lights or farm house lights.

c.       Stay off of the road and the shoulder.

d.       Prepare car:

1.       Appropriate clothing

2.       First Aid Kit

3.       Flashlights

4.       Jumper cables

5.       CELLULAR PHONE

6.       Full tank of gas

7.       Proper Maintenance

8.       Know your location and diretions

9.       Leave a space in front of you for a quick get away

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

PUBLIC SITUATIONS

 

1.       Shopping malls, walks, parks, buildings, etc.

 

2.       Assailant armed or not.

 

3.       Being approached.

 

4.       Security guards, it is their job.

 

5.       Don¡¯t park underground.  Use valet parking.

 

6.       When walking don¡¯t hug the corners.

 

7.       Be prepared.

 

8.       Property vs. Your safety (Throw and Run).

 

9.       Isolation = Violence (Like in your home).

 

10.   If he will harm you in a public place, he surely will harm you in a private place.

 

11.   NEVER, EVER  go to crime scene number 2, which is anywhere other than crime scene number 1.

 

12.   Walk with a purpose. 

 

13.   When possible carry something that looks like or could be used as a weapon.  (Stick, umbrella, cane, brief case, etc.)

 

14.   Remain in well lit and populated areas.

 

15.   When possible, be with others.

 

16.   Before approaching your car:

a.       Have your keys ready.

b.       Be aware of your surroundings.

c.       Look the situation over (under your car, in your back seat, etc.).

d.       Listen to your instincts.  If it feels wrong, go back and get someone to escort you to your car.

 

17.   Always have money accessible outside of major source.

a.       You won¡¯t have to take them to your ATM machine.

b.       It will diffuse the situation more rapidly.

c.       They will leave you alone as they get what they wanted.

d.       It can also be used for an emergency.

e.       You won¡¯t be giving them everything.

 

18.  Intuition.  Don¡¯t ignore warning signs when you feel uneasy.

 

 

 

 

 

HOME SETTING

 

1.       Family Plan with roles for each member.  (Practice!!)

 

2.       Yell ¡°Intruder, get out¡±.

 

3.       About 30% of all home intrusions result in violence.

 

4.       Sliding glass doors, blocked views, awareness of environment.

 

5.       Your home is a secondary crime scene.

 

6.       Cellular phone.

 

7.       911

 

8.       Panic button, familiarize yourself  and your family with your alarm system.

 

9.       Impostor crimes. 

 

 

HOME SAFETY THOUGHTS

 

1.       Keep doors locked at all times.

 

2.       Keep security system armed at all times.

 

3.       If you don¡¯t have an alarm system get a motion detector and display alarm company stickers on the windows anyway.

 

4.       Do not leave doors unlocked for children.  If you have to make sure the children watches that he is not followed.

 

5.       Display real or fake surveillance cameras in open view of house.

 

6.       Get a radar watchdog if you don¡¯t have a real dog. (Most criminals say they do not mess with a house that has a dog).  Put up BEWARE OF DOG signs around the perimeter of your house and yard.

 

7.       Make sure that ¡°We¡± is presented on answering machines, possibly with a man¡¯s voice.

 

8.       Get an expanded peephole if necessary.

 

9.       Cut back shrubbery around windows and entrances.  Beware of corners.

 

10.   Do you have a plan for home deliveries and workmen? (i.e., are baby-sitters, maids, etc. and even yourself aware of who really should have access to your house on any given day?).

 

11.   If you live alone, put a pair of used men¡¯s shoes on the porch and/or dog bowls outside regardless if you have a dog or not.

 

12.   Motion sensor lights.  Do your neighbors help keep areas lit at night?

 

13.   Is your life and your family members lives worth $30.00 per month?  Get a cellular phone and keep it on you. (On walks, at the mall, in your car, by your bed at night in case the phone line goes dead or is cut).

 

14.   Are your gates locked?

 

15.   Have a check list to review each night before going to bed.

 

 

 

ATTACK AREAS

 

1.       Eyes

 

2.       Ears

 

3.       Throat

 

4.       Neck

 

5.       Temples

 

6.       Groin

 

7.       Knees

 

8.       Top of Feet

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

VICTIM PROFILE

 

1.       A person who keeps their eyes on the ground, never making eye contact.

 

2.       A person who looks scared and lacking confidence.

 

3.       Someone who looks lost or searching for an address or place.

 

4.       Elderly people and anyone one who looks unable to defend themself.

 

5.       Someone carrying packages or bags.  Someone who looks too busy to know what is going on around them.

 

6.       A person with no visible protection.  (Would you attack someone who was carrying a stick or any other type of weapon, or was walking with a dog?)

 

7.       The criminal is looking for an target.  Don¡¯t be one.  DON¡¯T ADVERTISE.

a.       Beware of the kind of car you drive.

b.       Beware of the accessories on your car.

c.       Jewelry.

d.       Expensive clothing.

e.       Parking in non-populated areas.

f.        Parking in dark areas.

g.       Being in a position where there is limited escape routes. (Parking garages, against walls, etc.)

 

8.       Gangs, at times, look for a victim who will challenge (knowingly or unknowlingly) them back.

a.       Flashing bright lights.

b.       eye contact

c.       Games on the road (passing and slowing down).

d.       Any challenge to their egos.

 

9.       Are you alone?  Be in groups whenever possible.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

  CRIMINAL PROVILE

 

1.       They are counting on you not being focused.

a.       Develop, rehearse and implement your defense plan.

b.       Develop, rehearse and implement your coping plan.  (i.e., Deep breaths, counting to 10, imagery when in a situation, picture yourself at the scene and responding, expect to get hurt).

 

2.       They are people with distorted thinking.  They are capable of escalating their criminal behaviors when they feel they got away with the previous crime.  Stop the crime pattern immediately.

 

3.       Once the criminal gets angry he loses sight of his plan.  This can work to your advantage if you act on it.  His anger will show through in many ways.  The threats may get stronger in an attempt to regain control.  Recognize this as a loss of control.

 

4.       He is looking for control.  Don¡¯t give it to him.  Make him the victim instead.

 

5.       Typically, robbers commit random violence.

 

6.       They try to paralyze you with fear.  Know your adrenaline, endorphins, etc. are preparing you for flight or fight.  Don¡¯t just sit there and be paralyzed.

 

7.       The criminal will always lie to you.  Don¡¯t believe him.  ¡°I won¡¯t hurt you if you do what I say¡± is a prime example.  Especially if it is meant to hold you against your will and take you to a secondary crime scene.  This is also to instill a false feeling of hope if you don¡¯t act.  He wants you to give no resistance or try and flee.

 

8.       He is looking for opportunity, don¡¯t give it to him.  He is looking for the easy target and will              bypass the difficult situation.

 

9.       The criminal is typically not persuaded when you try and talk them out of doing it.  Pleading will not work, it will only empower him and make him think that he is in control.  (This ploy can be used to throw him off guard by pleading and then at the right time attack or flee).

 

 

 

 

      

 

 

            

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