If all preventive measures have failed and a confrontation has occurred, you don’t have to pull out the stun gun right away. There are a number of measures you can take to defuse the situation as safely as possible for both sides.
Similar to a rescue chain, there are tips for a sequence of your reactions in self-defense to get out of the situation with as little damage as possible. Here are the actions you should consider, in exactly this order:
The most important in 30 seconds
- Better safe than sorry: Try to avoid dangerous situations or areas, especially at night.
- Fitness is always good: Whether for escape or defense – fitness always helps you – maybe a martial art is something for you?
- In danger: It always makes sense to make passers-by, the police (emergency call 110) aware of your situation and location.
- Be loud: No attacker wants attention, call for help, shout as loud as you can.
- Defense: Whether using your fists or weapons for self-defense, when push comes to shove, act decisively and know what you are doing and how you are doing it. It is best to attend a self-defense course.
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Behavior in dangerous situations
Of course, not every action makes sense in every situation, and sometimes the speed of the assault may force you to skip a step or two, but if you have the time, follow the steps below.
Step 1: Escape
If it seems possible to you somehow, then get out of the situation. Especially from perpetrators under the influence of alcohol or drugs you can usually flee, because they often have a slowed reaction and motor skills. The escape does not have to end at home, a busy area is usually sufficient for the offender to retreat.
As soon as the danger of being caught is greater than the promised success, you are usually rid of the pursuer. Should this not happen, it will make step 2 easier for you.
Step 2: Get help
If you have no escape route, you can call for help. A simple, anonymous cry for “Help!”, according to experience, is almost never enough to alert someone, but only wastes your air. Most of the time people see it, don’t know what to do and move on. It has also been observed that potential helpers do not want to expose themselves to danger and steer clear of the altercation.
Rather, specifically address passersby, “Hey, you with the hat! Call the police!”. This works much better because not only is the communication on a more personal level and the person feels addressed, but the passerby also understands that this situation is serious. How often have you seen young people in a park who are fighting with each other for fun and insulting each other loudly? However, if several passers-by intervene, the situation is quickly defused.
Step 3 Deception
If you are completely on your own, there are tricks in self-defense to deceive one or even more perpetrators. Few will be deterred by the mere statement that you are expected – unless a bouncer happens to be coming around the corner at that moment – but there are ways you can use to reinforce this impression.
The best example is smartphone apps that allow you to set them to call you after a predetermined time. Examples of the application are:
- You are obviously being followed, go to your phone and tell the app that you will be right there and exactly where you are. The pursuer could then already row back.
- You’ve already been backed into a corner, go to your phone and shout into it where you are and that you need the police as soon as possible. Even in this situation, the possibility of your soon being supported can still scare off your attackers.
Step 4. Show self-confidence
If all other measures have failed, you can assume that the perpetrator is serious and lash out with a verbal counter-attack. Self-defense for everyone through acting needs to be learned, but it is proven to help.
There are two main reasons for this:
- If you can present yourself loudly and confidently, you increase the chance that the perpetrators will leave in anticipation of further, active resistance, and you also increase their fear that someone will hear the noise after all and intervene in the event.
- The biggest mistake is not fighting back. So shout out that they have chosen the wrong victim in you.
Step 4.1 Talking
It can help to verbally dissuade the attacker from his intention, but it does not have to. Therefore, you should rely on this option only conditionally. It is better to try to flee and or get help. However, if your only option is to physically defend yourself, then it can’t hurt to try.
- Point out the consequences that an act can have for the perpetrator. But be careful: He should not get the idea to get rid of you as a witness. Therefore, name witnesses who saw the incident. Say that you chatted with a friend and gave your location.
- If you know the perpetrator, say that you do not want to and that you can talk about everything.
- And very important, try to stay calm if possible, because your hysteria is justified, but quickly transfers to the perpetrator.
Step 5 Counterattack
Striking is the last option and should be done only when all other options have been exhausted. Keep in mind that after a physical attack on your part, you can no longer expect leniency from the attacker.
So when you strike, you should hit well and if possible make your first strike the last.
It must also be quite clear that your opponent can be injured by your resistance. Therefore, this is really no longer about fun, but about self-defense. This may only be used if you are in need. Otherwise you are liable to prosecution.
- Genitals: For men, the genitals are of course a popular target, as a direct hit will end the fight instantly. The problem is that many men anticipate this attack and protect themselves against it, whether through posture or a groin protector.
- Abdomen & Chest: All-time favorite targets for great effects and pain are strikes to the short ribs below the armpit, the solar plexus, the temple or, depending on the footwear, a kick to the toes. These attacks cause great pain but are not life threatening.
- Face & Head: Furthermore, a grip on the septum (lower part of the nasal septum) is very painful, as well as pressure with the thumbs on the eye sockets, although these two variants are best used at close range in a melee.
There are other punches and kicks that are not so easy to execute and can also cause irreparable damage. These should be taught by an experienced trainer. Simply attend a self-defense course.
Through martial arts you will be better prepared for such a situation. To increase the effectiveness of your defense, you can also use self-defense weapons.
Self-defense: What is allowed?
In self-defense, there are legal requirements as to what is allowed and what is not. It is best to get an idea in advance, so that legal disputes do not arise later. The following videos can help you with this.
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Update: 2023-05-28 / Affiliate Links / Bilder von der Amazon Product Advertising API