Best self defense techniques

Even if you are the most peaceful and loving person on the planet, you need to know that others have less pleasant intentions and when one day (hopefully never) you run into one of these bad guys, you need to be able to defend yourself as a last resort.

From my martial arts training, I have learned that physical fighting is the last resort.

There are 4 different levels of defending yourself, each one a step higher than the next.

1.) Avoid areas and situations that you know can get you into trouble in the first place! (Obvious isn't it).

2.) Remain calm but stern in a confrontation, whatever you feel, the agressor tends to take over. If you respond with hostility usually they will respond with more agression although if you are confident in the situation and your ability showing more agression than your attacker might cause them to back down.

3.) If the first two points haven't worked, it's time to run and get away from the attacker as fast as possible. Even if you think you can fight them, it's better to walk away. A fight can be won, but it might cause far greater repercussions in the future.

4.) As a last resort, fight your attacker physically. Do it in such a way that you immobilise them as fast as possible with no regard to them whatsoever, it is self defense and they deserve what they get. Do not hesitate to maim or even kill them if your life is in danger.

Martial arts are not about being able to beat someone up, although some people do use it for these purposes.



Martial arts train the body, mind and spirit to deal with situations when they occur. The reason for training for years is simple...

There are many black belt martial art students who do excellently when they are training or in simulated fights. A real fight is much different. It mostly always happens when you don't expect it and are daydreaming, happy, relaxed and unprepared. The adrenaline and shock of the occurrence mostly paralyzes people into not being able to move even if they are skilled martial artists. The point of the repetitive training is that movements become automatic. When you see a fist coming at your face you block it and react with a counter move without thinking about it.

I don't know if you have seen the movie "The Last Samurai", where Tom cruise is learning the art of sword-fighting in the Samurai style. The Samurai tell him that he is too much in his mind, thinking about his moves, and that is why he gets defeated. He takes the lesson to heart, and at one stage is ambushed by three thugs with swords. He lets go of his thoughts and just moves the way he was taught, and reacts to whatever comes his way, and defeats all three thugs without being hurt.

There are many people who don't want to fight in their lives at all, and hopefully will never have to, but at some point it may be neccessary, especially if you have to protect someone you love.

Aikido is my personal favourite martial art.
It comes from japanese origins and was used by the Samurai.

It is not an offense art form, mostly defensive, ie. it doesn't focus on kicks or punches, but on evasive movements and using the opponents force against him with throws and grapples and locks.

It can be learnt by anyone of any age, and you do not have to be physically big or strong to use it effectively.

People up to the age of 80 years old are still able to practice their Aikido skills against young students and don't die of heart attacks:)

It allows you to take on multiple attackers at once, and the choice if you just want to pin someone down or do worse and break joints.Aikido is great for spiritual elightenment and very enjoyable to practice.

The korean martial art focusing mainly on kicking and strikes and blocking.

It is an offensive art, but also teaches great discipline and spiritual training.

It is a good martial art, but you have to be physically fit to use it effectively, and people of 80 years old will not be able to practice this, and I don't recommend it for women as a practical self-defence either.

Nevertheless very good to train at:)

A Brazillian martial art developed by the slaves in their time of capture.

It was designed to look like a dance so that the slave owners couldn't suspect the slaves of training for combat.

Capoeira consists of many dummy movements, a lots of flips and turns like a gymnast, and lots of kicks.

If you have ever seen someone who is good at Capoeira do a demonstration you will not believe what you see and you won't want to be up against someone like that:)

A great martial art, but you have to be very fit and agile.

This is Thai kickboxing.

Very agressive, very effective.

There are lots of kicks, punches, elbows and knees and this martial art trains to maim and kill if neccessary.

Most practitioners are not very big, but have built up strength through high intensity training.

It is an effective martial art for self-defense and can take on multiple attackers, both for men and women, who are in a physically fit condition, or wanting to get fit. Some people take Muay Thai just for the fitness aspect because there is a lot of training involved: situps, pushups, running, skipping.

One of the best movies displaying Mauy Thai is called "Ong Back"

I recommend to rent it at your local video store or order a copy below:

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You are also able to buy Al Steele's book on street self-defense, which he claims works better than any martial art. He does not advocate physical violence, but describes a specific way to disengage any attacker, no matter how agressive.

Books are one thing and great for the theory and understanding of a martial art, but nothing compares like visual material that you can study and copy when you are learning or want to practice techniques. Here are some fantastic instructional DVD's where you can learn some very effective self-defense techniques from.

The sneaky and cowardly thing of attackers is that they have intentions and know what they are going to do long before you even have an idea, and that gives them a big advantage over you.

However, there are a few things you can do, habits you can learn, and items you can buy to give yourself that edge back.

In my car I have applied a smash and grab tint to my windows, that if I am in my car and someone throws a rock at me while driving, or tries to smash my window, it won't affect me and I can drive away.

I like to have a bat or stun gun in my car too, in case something happens and I have the chance to get to it, it can help me in a big way.

Always keep car doors locked and look around you when getting in your car if you are parked in a lone location.

Avoid showing off expensive things and walking alone, and avoid bad areas.

Keep your house doors locked and windows closed unless you have burglar bars. It will make it a little harder for a criminal to get in.

Try not to get under the influence of drugs or alcohol in public, because it means you have no control to react to a possible situation of danger.

When you go out, make it a habit to let someone know where you are going and when you will be back.

When you go jogging, take a cell phone and some pepperspray with you...you never know.

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The seven most effective defense techniques
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