From Weapons to Wit The Best Self Defense for Women

From Weapons to Wit The Best Self Defense for Women Its estimated that around 230,000 women are sexually assaulted each year in the US. Thats more than 600 women being sexually assaulted each day. And, thats just sexual assault. If you add in murder, domestic violence, and physical assault, those numbers would skyrocket. The fact that women have to worry about being assaulted on a daily basis is a huge problem in and of itself. And obviously, the ideal solution would be for those committing the attacks to learn that what theyre doing is not okay and to stop. But, that, unfortunately, isnt the world we live in, which is why its important for women to always be aware of their surroundings and to do what they can to avoid being attacked. But, what exactly can a woman do to avoid being attacked? Check out this self defense for women guide to learn about the best options. 1. Take Preventative Steps First things first, before you go out there and buy every self-defense weapon on the market, its very important that youre aware of the preventative steps you can take to avoid being attacked. This goes beyond obvious things like walking alone at night or locking your doors when you get home. To avoid an unexpected attack, try to make the following regular habits: Dont listen to music when walking home alone: This can be very distracting, and you want to make sure your eyes and ears are always alert Tell people where you are going and when you should be back: We dont mean you need to alert someone every time you go to the grocery store, but if youre going on a long hike, a date with a new guy, or engaging in some other out-of-the-ordinary activity, let people know. This way, itll be much easier to track you down in the event that something bad happens If you leave work late, ask a trusted coworker to walk you to your car Share your location with your friends on your smartphone Dont leave your drinks unattended when out at bars/restaurants And above all, always remember to trust your gut. If someone is making you feel uncomfortable, dont feel guilty about disengaging with them. Many women let themselves stay in situations because they dont want to come across as impolite. But the truth is, your own safety should always be your number one priority. If someone or something is making you feel uncomfortable, you have every right to remove yourself from the situation without making any excuses. 2. Yell for Help It may sound obvious, but yelling for help is perhaps one of the best ways to stop an attack from happening. Not only does this alert those around you that you are in danger, but it can also sometimes throw off the attacker and cause them to run away. Now, there is a lot of debate out there when it comes to what word you should yell in the event of an attack. Some say you should yell help, others say you should always yell fire. But the truth is, you never really know what word people are going to respond to. And in the situation, youre likely not going to think to yourself this magazine told me to yell this word, so I better do that! The best thing to remember is that yelling something is better than yelling nothing. 3. Take a Self-Defense Course A lot of women are under the impression that if a man attacks them, there isnt really anything they can do, as the majority of men are physically stronger than women. But, the truth is that defending yourself really doesnt have anything to do with your size or your fighting abilities. There are actually a number of self-defense moves out there that can help you get out of a dangerous situation, even if the person attacking you is twice your size. This is why we recommend taking a self-defense class. During these classes, you can learn the right moves that will help you defend yourself during an attack. And remember, defending yourself doesnt mean beating your attacker senseless. It means getting away from your attacker and getting to safety. When you look at it like that, it makes fighting off a 230-lb man seem a lot more realistic. And dont worry, you dont need to spend years and years learning self-defense moves to know what to do during an attack. In fact, there are many day-long self-defense workshops out there that will teach you some basics things you can do in the event of an attack. And, if you really like the workshop, you may even want to consider martial arts classes to really hone your skills. 4. Run As we just said, defending yourself doesnt mean beating up your attacker. It means removing yourself from the dangerous situation you are in and getting to safety. Therefore, its very important to keep in mind that running away from your attacker (or potential attacker) is always an option. Even if you dont think you can outrun the person, its always worth a shot. Sometimes, running is enough to deter the attacker, as they know that chasing after you will cause a commotion. And, as we said earlier, go with your gut. Someone doesnt need to pull out a knife to justify you running away. If youre walking to your car and you feel like someone is following you but youre not sure, you still have every reason to run the rest of the way to your car. 5. Self Defense Weapons Lastly, lets talk about self-defense weapons. Self-defense weapons should be treated as an if all else fails solution. In other words, you should focus first on doing what you can to avoid an attack, yelling, and running away. If these efforts fail, then you may need to resort to a self-defense weapon. Some self-defense weapons worth considering are: Guns Perhaps the most lethal self-defense weapon worth considering is a gun. Of course, if you choose to purchase a gun for self-defense, youll want to take a course on gun safety and shooting beforehand. Otherwise, you could accidentally end up hurting yourself or other innocent bystanders. Also, if you choose to purchase a gun, youll want to make sure you buy one that is meant for self-defense. You can learn about the different kinds of guns out there and do some browsing at Seekins Precision. Lastly, remember to look up your states/countrys laws on carrying weapons. Even if you dont plan to use the weapon (besides in the event of an attack) there are still regulations you need to follow when owning a firearm. Pepper Spray If you are looking for a self-defense weapon that is easy to use and convenient to take with you wherever you go, then pepper spray is your answer. If youre not familiar, pepper spray comes in a little tube/spray can that has a nozzle. When an attacker approaches you, all you need to do is open the can and press down on the nozzle as you point it towards the attackers face. If done right, the pepper spray will temporarily blind the attacker and give you an opportunity to run. Most pepper spray devices give you a range of 10 to 12 feet, and some even go as far as 18 feet, so dont worry about having perfect aim. But, remember that pepper spray will only debilitate your attacker for a short period of time, so youll have to move quickly after using it. Tactical Knife Whats the difference between a tactical knife and a standard kitchen knife? For starters, tactical knives dont really look like knives. Only at the last second will the attacker realize that the hairbrush or pen you are pulling out is actually a knife. While getting away from an attacker with a tactical knife may sound a little unrealistic, tactical knives are actually more effective than bullets, as stabbing at close range means you have more control over the placement. Flashlight The benefits of flashlights as self-defense weapons are actually threefold: 1. Flashlights can help you spot an attacker before they even get to you 2. Turning on a flashlight can temporarily blind your attacker, giving you an opportunity to run away 3. You can hit an attacker over the head with a flashlight, which at the very least can throw them off balance and give you a chance to escape Of course, make sure you buy a flashlight thats actually meant for self-defense situations. Chances are, the flashlight you have shoved in the back of your junk drawer wont be sufficient. Alarm Of course, not all self-defense weapons involve the use of physical force. For those looking for a simple yet effective self-defense weapon that doesnt require any physical prowess, an alarm is the perfect device. And were not just talking about the fancy alarms that you can have installed in your home. There are many personal alarms available that you can attach to your keychain that can be as loud as 130 decibels. Thatll be loud enough to get everyones attention in the surrounding area! With personal alarms, all you have to do is press a button for the sound to go off. Self Defense for Women: Do You Feel Prepared to Defend Yourself? We hope that after reading this article, you feel more confident and prepared to defend yourself in the event of an attack. As we said earlier, always trust your gut when it comes to defending yourself. If a situation feels unsafe, you have every right to get out of there, and you dont owe anyone an apology or an excuse. If you have any questions about this self defense for women guide, let us know in the comments below. And, be sure to check out this guide about the best self-defense tips for women.