Once an elderly person completes their PSDA (Protection Self Defense Assessment), you can determine the best way to help them learn to protect themselves. Here’s the first step I recommend:

Awareness

Self defense at any age begins with being aware of your surroundings. It’s a combination of self-awareness and environmental-awareness – sometimes referred to as Situational or 360 Awareness. This is the mental aspect of protecting yourself from a physical attack.

The best way not to get hurt in an attack is not be there. If older people think defensively and train to survive, they won’t purposely put themselves in places where attacks are likely to happen. That’s smart and will probably keep them from being hurt most of the time. However, more and more attacks are happening in places we cannot avoid, unless we want to cower behind locked doors and never venture outside to live our lives. That is no way to live. So, instead of cowering behind locked doors, we open our doors and go outside and live our lives – having trained in the 3 A’s of Attack Awareness:

“Be Aware that an Attack can happen Anywhere, at Anytime, by Anyone.”

I’m in my late-70s, but I don’t walk around afraid of people. I like people and enjoy being around them. Most older people I know also like to be around friends, family, and even strangers they meet along the way. However, I am aware that I could be attacked anywhere: inside my apartment, walking to visit a neighbor, shopping at the store, anywhere. So, what do I do? I stay mentally aware.

Situational Awareness

It’s important that we be aware of our situation and surroundings every moment we are awake. An easy way to remember the idea of situational awareness is TLD. I call it the Three Awares –

1. Time

2. Location

3. Distance

One way to help older people understand this is for them to ask several questions before leaving their home. Keep in mind that we don’t want to frighten people during training. We want to help build their confidence at the same time they’re learning how to be safe. Knowledge is power.

• What time of day is it when I leave?

• Will it become night before I return home?

• If so, what lights do I need to leave on inside and outside my home to make my return safer?

• Will I be with someone or alone when I return home?

• If I’m with someone, would they know how to help me if I’m attacked?

• Where am I going?

• Is it a long way from home?

• Is the location safe at this time of day?

• Will the location be safe if it becomes dark while I’m there?

• Do I have any concerns about finding my way there or back if I’m alone?

You can also ask the elderly person you’re training if they have any other awareness concerns. They often do and it’s helpful for them to be confident that they get the opportunity to ask anything that’s on their mind. If you will be training older people on a regular basis, remind them each time you see them that you welcome their questions and concerns. As instructors, we’re there to help them be safe.

Next Time

In the next part of our special series we’ll begin looking at some physical training we can share with older people to help them protect against personal attacks.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Self Defense and invite family and friends to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you’re a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you’ll receive all sections by default.

If you’re already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you’ll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense for any one of any age.

The first thing I recommend in protecting the elderly is to conduct a Personal Self Defense Assessment (PSDA). As for who are the “elderly,” please read the first part of this series.

PSDA

A Personal Self Defense Assessment is a process of examining a person’s physical and emotional ability to defend themselves against an attack in five areas:

1. Inside their home

2. Outside their home

3. In their neighborhood

4. In their car

5. In public places

Conducting a PSDA is something I recommend for everyone, but especially for those who are vulnerable. I began this series looking at self defense for women and children. Anyone who teaches them would do well to conduct a PSDA. The vulnerable ‘elderly’ are next.

Some older people might want to do their own PSDA, but others might appreciate the help of family or friends. Here are some examples of questions that will help you determine an older person’s “emotional safety” (ES Score).

1. Do you feel safe inside your home? (e.g. living room, bedrooms, bathrooms, kitchen, etc)

2. Do you feel safe outside your home? (e.g. front yard, back yard, side yard, front porch, patio, breezeway, garage, etc)

3. Do you feel safe in your neighborhood? (e.g. walking next door to a neighbor’s house, walking down your street, walking a few blocks away from your home, etc)

4. Do you feel safe in your car? (e.g. driving or riding in your neighborhood, driving or riding in a familiar part of your town, driving or riding in an unfamiliar part of your town, driving or riding to another city, etc)

5. Do you feel safe in public? (e.g. grocery store, drug store, gasoline station, post office, shopping center, airport, etc)

If you are a friend or family member conducting this PSDA with an older person, their answers will give you a great insight to their “feeling” of safety – also known as “emotional safety.” Older people often feel unsafe, which can cause them not to leave their homes for fear of being attacked.

This next set of questions will help you determine an older person’s “awareness safety” (AS Score).

1. Are you aware of your surroundings at home?

2. Are you aware of your surroundings in public?

3. Do you know what decreases your awareness of personal danger?

4. Do you know what increases your awareness of personal danger?

If you are a friend or family member conducting this PSDA with an older person, their answers will give you a great insight to how aware they are of situations that could cause them physical injury. Their answers will also help you determine how to help them increase their awareness. Older people are often unaware of situations that could lead to a physical attack.

This next set of questions will help you determine an older person’s “physical safety” (PS Score).

1. How well do you see? (e.g. good eyesight, poor eyesight, need glasses to see well, etc)

2. How well do you see at night? (e.g. see well at night, don’t see well at night, need a light on to find their way through their home, etc)

3. How well do you hear? (e.g. good hearing, poor hearing, need hearing aid to hear well, etc)

4. How well do you speak? (e.g. strong voice, weak voice)

5. How well could you use your speech to de-escalate a verbal altercation before it becomes physically violent? (e.g. well, not well, etc)

6. How strong are your lungs? (e.g. strong, not strong, etc)

7. How loudly can you yell? (e.g. loudly, not loudly)

8. How strong are you physically? How much weight can you lift? (e.g. strong, weak, etc)

9. How far can you throw an object? (e.g. far, not far, etc)

10. How strong is your heart? (e.g. strong, not strong, etc)

11. How flexible and agile are you? (e.g. flexible, not flexible, agile, not agile, etc)

12. How quickly can you move? (e.g. quickly, not quickly, etc)

13. What is your stamina for withstanding an attack that might last 20 to 30 seconds? (e.g. good, not good, etc)

14. How well do you walk? (e.g. walk well without assistance, need assistance to walk, use cane, use walker, in a wheel chair, etc)

15. How well do you run? (e.g. run well for long distances, run well for short distance, don’t run well, don’t run at all, etc)

16. How well can you move your body forward, backward, and to the sides to avoid an attack? (e.g. move quickly with balance, leap or jump out of the way of an attack)

17. How well could you defend yourself if someone grabbed you? (e.g. arm grab, shoulder grab .. from front, back, or side)

18. How well could you defend yourself if someone held your entire body? (e.g. from front, back, or side)

19. How well could you defend yourself from a mugger’s hold? (e.g. attack from back, arm around neck, pulling backwards)

20. How well could you defend yourself if someone pushed you? (e.g. from front, back, or side)

21. How well could you defend yourself if someone pulled you? (e.g. from front, back, or side)

22. How well can you protect yourself from serious injury if you fall while being pushed or pulled? (e.g. forward fall, backward fall, side fall, rolling fall, etc)

23. How well could you defend yourself if someone choked you? (e.g. from front, back, or side)

24. How well could you defend yourself if someone tried to hit you? (e.g. from front, back, or side)

25. How well could you defend yourself if someone approached you with a weapon? (e.g. stick, knife, gun … from front, back, or side)

26. Have you ever taken self-defense lessons? If so, for how long? What do you remember from what you learned? Would you be willing to take more lessons now that you’re older?

27. If you never took self-defense lessons, would you be willing to that if you saw how it could help you become more confident and skilled in defending yourself effectively and efficiently?

28. Are you willing to use physical force to protect yourself against an attack, if necessary? (e.g. using hands, elbows, knees, and feet, etc)

29. Do you know where to strike an attacker to end an attack quickly? (e.g. targeting eyes, throat, groin, top of foot, top of hand, etc. will end an attack more quickly than targeting larger parts of the body) Are you willing to target those areas of an attacker’s body in order to protect yourself?

30. Are you willing to use a weapon to protect yourself against an attack? (e.g. striking an attacker with a cane or other object .. causing the attacker pain and possible injury)

If you are a friend or family member conducting this PSDA with an older person, their answers will give you great insight to their ability to defend themselves against a physical attack – also known as ‘physical safety’ – and their willingness to learn self defense and use a forceful response when necessary. Older people often lack physical skills necessary to defend themselves against a physical attack, so self-defense classes focusing on their special needs can help them. Most older people don’t want to hurt other people, so self-defense training can help them understand the need for using force to protect themselves.

Once you know the emotional, awareness, and physical safety scores of a friend or loved one, you will be able to help them develop the skills necessary to be safe at home and in public.

Next Time

In the next part of my series I’ll look at some of the types of emotional, awareness, and physical training you can share with older people to help them protect themselves against personal attacks.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

I hope you will subscribe to Self Defense and invite people you care about in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you’re a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you’ll receive all sections by default.

If you’re already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you’ll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense.

I am very concerned about people being able to defend themselves against a physical attack. That’s why I’ve taught self defense and martial arts since the early 1960’s.

I’ve focused on Women’s Self Defense in this Substack section during the past 2 1/2 years. What I’d like to do beginning this month is to focus on protecting another group of vulnerable people.

Protecting the Elderly

What does it mean to be ‘elderly?’

Here are some interesting definitions:

• Rather old — Merriam-Webster

• Being past middle age and approaching old age — The American Heritage Dictionary

• Of advanced age — Dictionary.com

Someone has said that “age is just a number,” but there is something about aging that we need to notice. Some people in their 60’s are in great physical condition, but some are not. Some people in their 70’s are in great physical condition, but some are not. The same is true for people in their 80’s and 90’s.

Moses lived to be 120 years old, yet the Bible says that when he died – “His eyes were not dim nor his natural vigor diminished” (Deuteronomy 34:7). Moses lived an unusual life and was physically blessed through his many personal meetings with God. So, it’s interesting that Moses wrote these words:

The days of our lives are seventy years; And if by reason of strength they are eighty years, Yet their boast is only labor and sorrow; For it is soon cut off, and we fly away. Psalm 90:10

King David died at 70 years of age and the Bible records that he was “old, advanced in years” (1 Kings 1:1). David was not physically well at the end of his life. He was a vigorous warrior king in his younger life, but fighting and ruling took a toll on him. He didn’t have the strength to continue after 70.

The Apostle Paul told churches to take care of widows after they turned 60, ‘if’ they didn’t have children and grandchildren to take care of them, and if they had led an exemplary life. (1 Timothy 5)

So, who should we consider “elderly” and in need of protection? The Free Medical Dictionary has an interesting definition that may help.

• Individuals over 65 years old who have functional impairments

The aging process affects people differently at various stages in their lives. One of the benefits of martial arts training is that it is a healthy physical system of exercise, in addition to preparing someone to defend themselves in a variety of situations. However, people begin to lose muscle strength as they age. Some also lose flexibility and speed, so running from an attacker may not be a feasible option.

I will celebrate my 78th birthday this year. I also have some physical limitations because of a chronic illness, so running from an attacker without first disabling that attacker is not an option for me. That’s how it is for many people my age (and even younger).

One of the reasons I like teaching Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts and Hwa Yu T’ai Chi Ch’uan self defense to older people is because they learn how to use minimum physical force for maximum efficiency. They may not be able to run from an attacker, but they can redirect an attacker to the ground or into an object that allows them (the older person) to escape unharmed. If the older person uses a cane, walker, or wheelchair, they can learn how to use them for personal self defense as well.

Next Time

In the next part of our series I’ll look at what older people can do to assess their physical ability to defend themselves against personal attacks.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Self Defense and invite friends and family to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you’re a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you’ll receive all sections by default.

If you’re already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you’ll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense.

As I mentioned in the first part of this special self-defense series for women and girls —

Thousands are murdered — often by someone they know. Intimate partners are usually the most common killers. That’s according to the FBI and many other law enforcement agencies.

“Intimate partner—includes Victim Was Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Victim Was Common-Law Spouse, Victim Was Spouse, Victim Was Ex-Relationship (Ex-Boyfriend/Girlfriend), and Victim Was Ex-Spouse” The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice

I’ve been teaching women and girls self defense for almost 65 years and consider both situations as I train: the women are attacked by intimate partners — or strangers. The system I use is centuries old in the world of martial arts — known as the Three C’s of Self Defense:

1. Contact

2. Control

3. Counter

Contact

The idea of ‘Contact’ is when an attacker makes some type of contact with your body or something you are carrying on your body (e.g. purse, wallet, groceries, etc). It could be a grab, push, pull, strike, or a touch that includes an implied or direct threat to your safety or the safety of your friends or loved ones. Even though I teach students to keep their distance from potential attackers (Zone 3) as often as possible, someone who targets a girl or woman can ‘close the gap’ (bridge the distance) quickly through a variety of means to ‘make contact’ with a potential victim.

Another danger for women and girls is when a man gets close enough to them to be within ‘reachable space’ (Zone 2). I recommend that women and girls take two or three big steps away from a man they don’t know to return to a safer distance (Zone 3) that allows them to take in the larger picture of what the man may be intending to do. It also allows them to raise their hands and arms out in from of them. That places them in a better position to use a series of ‘control and counter’ techniques that I’ll detail later in this newsletter.

One of the reasons I teach ‘situational awareness’ is because attacks can come from any direction; often without any warning from the attacker (Zone 1). I talk about ‘keep your head on a swivel,’ which means continually move your head and eyes from one side to the other to see if something changes that might lead to an attack. That includes looking behind you from time to time just to make sure someone is not sneaking up on you. Another important aspect of looking out for an attack is trusting your gut (intuition). If you ‘feel’ like something is not right, don’t ignore that feeling.

Control

Attackers usually want something from a woman or girl. That means they have a ‘bad intention’ in mind. We call that ‘mind intent’ in martial arts. The attacker uses some type of ‘control technique’ (e.g. grab, push, pull) to dominate a woman and get what they want. I teach students to ‘steal’ their attacker’s strength by taking ‘control’ through a variety of martial arts’ techniques that include:

• escapes

• blocks

• throws

• projections

• strikes and kicks

• traps

I invite you to look back through this Self Defense Substack section or Grace Martial Arts ‘Women’s Self Defense - From A to Z’ for ways women and girls can take control away from attackers. One thing that these ‘strength-stealing’ techniques do is ‘surprise’ attackers. We call that ‘putting out the spark;’ meaning that the attacker’s ‘mind intent’ is like a ‘spark’ that ignites and sends him into action. We train students to ‘put out’ that spark through fast and effective responses, which surprise the attacker and cause him to think about his own ‘self preservation’ rather than trying to complete his attack on his target.

Most of the techniques I teach in Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts are completed in 2 seconds or less. Students learn several of these quick responses so, if one doesn’t work, another one might. Our goal is to escape in 5 seconds or less. That way the intended victim has less chance of being hurt. Any attack that lasts much longer than 5 seconds can turn into a ‘fight’ which is much harder to win, plus the potential for serious bodily harm to the victim becomes greater.

Again, look back at previous Women’s Self Defense articles to learn more about how to ‘steal’ an attacker’s strength and take ‘control’ away from them. You become strong and in control instead.

Counter

A ‘counter’ in self defense can include anything that is a ‘counter attack.’ Some examples are:

• Throw something toward the attacker’s eyes (use something you don’t mind not getting back).

• The attacker will usually blink for a moment because the eyes close to protect themselves from an object coming toward them.

• Use that moment to either scream and run away or launch a strong counter attack.

• A strong counter attack can include palm strikes, elbow strikes, knee strikes, and kicks to vulnerable areas of the attacker’s body.

• Hand strikes can include fingers into the attacker’s eyes, side-hand strike to the throat or side of the neck, an upward palm heel strike to the attacker’s chin or nose (the palm ‘heal’ is the hard bone between the hand and wrist), palm heel strike to the solar plexus, and double palm heel strikes to the ribs that cover the attacker’s lungs (knocks the breath out of both of the attacker’s lungs at the same time which means he can’t breathe for several seconds, giving you time to escape while screaming).

• Elbow strikes can include an elbow to the head, face, or side of the neck, or an elbow strike to the solar plexus or ribs — I teach students to throw multiple elbow strikes at the attacker’s face and chest (a ‘pummeling’ effect).

• Kicks can include a knee strike to the groin if you are close to the attacker, a front kick to the groin if you are a little farther from the attacker, a foot stomp to the top or side of the attacker’s knee, a heel stomp to the top of the attacker’s foot. I teach students to kick and stomp the attacker’s groin, knees, shins, and top of foot multiple times until the aggressor stops attacking (a ‘pummeling’ effect).

Strike your opponent fast and hard. It is possible with training to strike more than ten times in 2 seconds with your hands. You can kick or stomp multiple times in 2 seconds. If you practice aiming at specific targets of an attacker’s body with strong strikes and kicks, you will be ready to use them as effective counter attacks if needed. Use harder parts of your body against softer parts of the attacker’s body.

Do ‘Something’ and Don’t Stop

It’s important if attacked that you ‘do something.’ Screaming is good, but an attacker could put their hand over your mouth or punch you in the face to knock you out. Once you are unconscious, the attacker can do whatever he wants to do to you. It’s important that you move swiftly and continually in order to escape an attack. Do something and don’t stop until you have escaped to safety. Screaming is good, but don’t freeze up and do nothing.

I’m not going to write here about throwing and trapping because that entails some type of martial arts training. I highly recommend every woman and girl take at least six months of martial art training from a highly trained and skilled instructor. You may find you love martial arts and want to stay with it. I’ve had the privilege of advancing many women and girls to Black Belt through the years. They came to classes with the intention of learning self defense, but stayed longer because they enjoyed the ‘arts’ part of martial training. However, even if you only train for six months to a year you will have learned enough to protect yourself in many attack situations

Three B’s and C’s

Combining the ‘three B’s’ with the ‘three C’s’ is a wonderful way of preparing yourself to live safely in a world that is becoming more dangerous. If you haven’t read previous parts of this series or the other series I’ve shared on Substack and Grace Martial Arts, please check out the articles:

• Three’s B’s of Self Defense

• Self Defense Substack section

• ‘Women’s Self Defense - From A to Z’

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to the Self Defense Section and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your email inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you’re a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you’ll receive all sections by default.

If you’re already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you’ll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’ve been emphasizing “Women’s” self defense in this and previous articles, the principles and techniques I’ve shared are just as applicable for boys and men.

The United States is a fairly ‘open’ society. By that I mean people can easily travel from town to town, state to state, without being stopped by law enforcement to check ‘travel’ papers or ‘passports’ from one place to the other. Because of our emphasis on law and order and being open and welcoming toward others, we are a country filled with ‘soft targets.’ Unfortunately, our society has many people who are unhinged mentally or have a specific violent agenda against certain aspects of society. Those are the people we need to be ready to deal with quickly and effectively before more people are killed and injured.

A ‘soft target’ is a place with little or no hardened security (e.g. schools, churches, stores, malls, restaurants, community centers, neighborhoods, etc.). I first learned about how to ‘harden’ a soft target area during my years as a martial arts instructor. I based the ‘hardening’ process on the simple concept of ‘situational awareness.’ I addressed that briefly in a recent article titled, “Three B’s in Women’s Self Defense.” However, my emphasis in that and other articles about individual self defense did not address how to protect buildings where people gather.

I’d like to share some basics that I’ve taught to pastors, elders, deacons, business owners and managers, school principals and teachers, and others who are responsible for the safety of people in their buildings. If you’d like more detailed information about this process, please leave a note in the Comment section below and I’ll respond.

Hardening and Welcoming

I don’t recommend that we harden soft targets to the point that we appear to be military installations. I have trained officers and enlisted personnel, but that is not my purpose here. There are ways we can harden soft targets while keeping them ‘open and welcoming’ at the same time.

Recent deadly attacks in the United States at churches, synagogues, schools, college campuses, restaurants, stores, and other ‘open’ places remind us that we are not dealing with ‘theoretical’ situations. Scores of people have been killed or injured in the last several years in ‘soft target’ locations. This really is a life and death discussion.

Here’s an example of how I have trained church and school leaders to develop a safe environment for their members, students, and visitors.

1. Develop a ‘layered’ plan for hardening your soft target. When I train church leaders, we first look at a drawing of the church property. That includes every entrance from every street and alley that leads onto church property. The church parking lot is the first ‘layer’ of defense. Watch for any vehicle, or person getting out of a vehicle, that appears ‘suspicious.’ That doesn’t mean not letting them approach the church. It’s just the first step in identifying ‘potential threats.’ This includes training several people (depending on the size of the parking areas) in what to watch for and how to respond to any identified threats. Narrowing unlocked entrance points helps greatly in this situation. You can delay a ‘bad player’ from entering through a locked door, plus it also reduces the number of ‘watchers’ needed in the parking lot areas. Also, think about areas of the church building that may not have a parking area, but do have doors. Sidewalks often lead to those doors. Keep the doors locked. If an attacker can gain entry through a door or window in the back of a church, they can work their way into populated areas of the building. I recommend having a trained and ‘armed’ protectors walking around the building before, during, and after church or school meetings to look for broken windows, unlocked doors, or other ways a potential attacker might have access to the building. Many larger churches hire police officers to direct traffic and park their cars in prominent places in parking lots. That can acts as a deterrent to someone looking for a soft target to attack. Smaller churches may not be able to afford to hire an officer, but they may have a member of the church who serves in law enforcement and is allowed to drive their police vehicle to church services. Also think about night services or classes. Investing in good lighting around the building(s) can be a deterrence to an attacker and also help ‘watchers’ see people more clearly when it’s dark outside. Clear sight lines are also helpful for ‘watchers.’ Look around your building(s) and see if any bushes should be cleared or signs moved to better locations. Don’t help an attacker by giving them a place they can hide behind and not be seen by ‘watchers’ or other members of the protective team.

2. Develop a method of quick communication between ‘watchers’ in the parking lot to a ‘command center’ inside the church. I do not recommend that ‘watchers’ confront people in the parking lot unless they are well trained in defense tactics. The command center usually includes hired security guards, police officers, etc., who can respond with weapons if necessary. Again, we want to be welcoming but cautious in the current atmosphere. Many deacons and elders are law enforcement officers or current or former military. One of the first questions I ask in developing a layered strategy is what kind of training leaders have had and who have ‘concealed carry’ permits. I often recommend those people for entry areas of churches and schools so that an attacker cannot get into auditoriums, classrooms, or cafeterias. ‘Quick communication’ devices can include two-way radios, cell phones, ‘panic buttons’ (all-call alert system), group texts, and other technologies. Watchers can approach people in parking lots in a friendly and welcoming way (keeping situational awareness in mind). Getting close to people in that framework should not alert a potential attacker, but give the ‘watcher’ the opportunity to assess any threat possibilities. However, instead of confronting the person in the parking lot the watcher should radio the command center inside the church giving them a good description of the person and why they are suspicious.

3. If an attacker should get inside a church or school building, they have entered ‘layer #2.’ Leaders should have plans for securing rooms (large and small) from easy entrance. Having someone at unlocked entrances welcoming people and handing out information flyers can be a ‘friction’ point, meaning that process slows an attacker from getting into another room. Slowing an attacker by just a few seconds may give trained personnel in entry areas or hallways enough time to respond. If an attacker does get through these ‘friction’ points, trained staff members should have radios or panic-style communication devices that can lead to a building-wide lockdown.

4. Teachers should be trained how to ‘harden’ their classrooms. That includes training students how to respond to an attacker in the building. Teachers and students should know how to lock classroom doors, secure them with furniture, cabinets, or other heavy items, and then where to go in the classroom to stay away from windows and potential gunfire. Attackers usually want to kill as many people as quickly as they can, so they’re looking for ‘easy access’ points. Your job is to harden those points to make a mass shooting event at your church or school more difficult for the attacker (or attackers).

5. Staff members also need training in how to administer first aid and control of bleeding. Every inside area of a church or school should have first aid kits available. CPR and basic hemorrhage control is also good to know.

6. Practice a variety of attack scenarios. That’s an important aspect of leader and staff training. Experienced trainers should be able to guide participants through a wide variety of predictable and possible scenarios. Trainers should also be able to answer questions that participants have that may seem unusual, as in not previously asked before. The fact that a trainee thinks of something that could happen means it very well could happen, even if it’s never happened before. A good trainer will be able to think on their feet and develop a plan that makes sense and is workable.

7. I recommend that pastors and lay leaders let members of their congregations know what to do in the event of an ‘active shooter’ situation. They may want to do this at a special Sunday evening or weekday evening meeting rather than during the primary Sunday morning worship service. Once the members know that the church has taken steps to ‘harden’ the soft target of the church property and how to respond appropriately to an ‘attack,’ church leaders can determine if they want to let guests also know that they are under the ‘protection’ of a plan to minimize the potential for an attack.

For More Information

I want to keep this article short, so I’ll stop here. If you or your organization would like more information or have questions, please let me know in the Comment section below. If you would like some ideas about how to establish an ‘emergency response’ plan, I’ll be glad to share that with you as well.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you’re a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you’ll receive all sections by default.

If you’re already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you’ll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

Hundreds of thousands of girls and women are assaulted, robbed, beaten, or raped every year in the United States. Thousands are murdered — often by someone they know. Intimate partners are usually the most common killers. That’s according to the FBI and many other law enforcement agencies.

“Intimate partner—includes Victim Was Boyfriend/Girlfriend, Victim Was Common-Law Spouse, Victim Was Spouse, Victim Was Ex-Relationship (Ex-Boyfriend/Girlfriend), and Victim Was Ex-Spouse” The Bureau of Justice Statistics of the U.S. Department of Justice

I began teaching girls and women martial arts and self defense in September of 1964. Though the FBI Uniform Crime Reports didn’t break down assaults and robberies by gender in the 1960s, the rape and murder of Kitty Genovese in New York City on March 13, 1964 caught the attention of the entire country and eventually led to many changes in how crimes were reported. Genovese was on her way home from work as a bar manager in the early morning hours. Her brutal attack motivated many martial arts instructors to establish community self-defense clinics for women. My high school allowed me to start a self defense class for 11th and 12th grade girls. I am still training girls and women more than 60 years later.

Statistics vs. Video

It’s one thing to state statistics about thousands of women being murdered in the U.S. every year. It’s different to actually witness it in person or on video. Millions of people have watched the horrible murder of 23-year-old Iryna Zarutska on a train in Charlotte, NC. She was reportedly also on her way home from work. She was looking at her cell phone as she boarded the train and sat down in front of the man who would become her killer.

I’ve watched the video countless times looking for ways she could have seen the potential danger. What I have shared in the past [and will again today] is based on watching scores of attack videos in addition to training many women who have been attacked. What I saw with my own eyes and heard from victims has led me to develop the type of training I do.

Just days after Zarutska was brutally killed in Charlotte, retired Auburn University professor Julie Gard Schnuelle, 59, was brutally attacked and murdered while she was running with her dog on a popular walking trail. I’ve written extensively about how to run or jog safely and direct you to one of my recent Substack articles to consider. I wrote the article soon after the brutal murder of jogger Laken Riley, a nursing student in Georgia.

My hope and prayer is that you never have to face an attacker, but if you do please keep these safety tips in mind. They could save your life.

#1 - Be Aware

The best self defense is ‘don’t be there.’ Remember what Mr. Miyagi told Daniel LaRusso in The Karate Kid II movie from almost 40 years ago? That’s true. If you are not in a place or position where someone could hurt you, you won’t get hurt. Right? But how does that work?

It begins with our first B in women’s self defense: Be Aware. What do I mean by ‘awareness?’ It means you are aware of everything around you. It’s known as ‘situational’ or ‘360 awareness.’ You are aware of where you are, who’s around, the time of day, whether there are other people nearby who could help you if you get into trouble, where you would escape if attacked, etc. It means being aware when you leave and enter buildings and vehicles. It means being aware of places where someone might hide in order to attack you. In both martial arts and military training we call it ‘having your head on a swivel.’ You are aware of everything around you.

Have you noticed women and girls walking down the street while texting on their phones? Have you noticed women and girls getting in and out of cars talking on their phones? ‘360 awareness’ means you take advantage of your peripheral sight. If you are staring at your phone as you text or have your phone next to your ear, you have cut your ‘360 awareness’ in half, if not more. It means that an attacker can take advantage of your ‘blind spots’ and grab or hit you without you seeing him coming at you.

Always Be Aware of your surroundings. Here are some self-defense articles I’ve written in the past that you might find helpful on this topic:

The 3 A’s of Attack Awareness

Basic Self Defense – Awareness

Basic Self Defense – Three Awares

Basic Self Defense – For Children And Teens

Self Defense 90-10

Turning On The Lights In Self Defense

#2 - Beware

We have a saying in self defense that ‘you can be attacked anywhere, at anytime, by anyone.’ Because that’s true, you need to ‘beware.’ That doesn’t mean you’re afraid to go outside or move around. It simply means you are ‘aware’ of your situation and you ‘trade fear for faith.’ You remain ‘on guard’ against the potential for danger at all times. It means having faith in your self-defense training.

The combination of ‘Be Aware’ and ‘Beware’ places you a strong position for self defense. You will have a good sense of what’s around you and be ready to take necessary action to defend yourself if necessary.

Here are a couple of self-defense articles I’ve written in the past that you might find helpful on this topic:

Three Rules for Self Defense: Rule Ten

What’s Your Style?

#3 - Be Strong

Having faith in your self-defense training should lead you to a sense of ‘strength.’ It’s the way you carry yourself as you move about your neighborhood and city. You know that by being aware of your surroundings at all times (be aware) and being cautious about the possibility of danger to yourself or others (beware), you promote a sense of personal strength to people who see you. The way you ‘carry’ yourself can demonstrate strength or weakness. One key to personal safety is to demonstrate strength in both character and resolve.

Another key is to build your physical strength, stamina, and flexibility. That can include training with weights and running. Working with a personal trainer is a good idea if you can afford it. If not, you can search online for books and other training materials. You will also find that training in martial arts will strengthen your body and develop stamina and flexibility.

Here are a couple of self-defense articles you might find helpful on this topic:

Watch, Stand Fast, Be Brave, Be Strong

Three B’s of Self Defense

I will share the Three C’s in Women’s Self Defense in the next part of our special series.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

I hope you have read our previous four newsletters about Self Defense Weapons For Women. It will be a big help to any woman or child who wants to defend themselves. I emphasized the use of ‘environmental’ weapons in that series. You’ll also find many other previous self-defense newsletters in our Self Defense section.

I’d like to move on to help anyone who wants to take self defense to the ‘next level.’ What I mean by that is getting specialized training in martial arts which can lead to ranking in the martial system you choose to study.

Where to Begin

1. Select a good teacher

2. Select a good school

3. Select an effective self-defense style

The martial arts teacher you choose will have a big influence on your life, practice, and ability to defend yourself. Reputable martial arts instructors will usually allow you to watch one or two classes before deciding whether to study with him or her. Some even offer one or more free lessons. That’s another way to get a feel for how a teacher leads his or her classes.

The martial arts school includes the students who will influence your ability to learn. One of my instructors often said that the most important person in any martial arts class is ‘your partner.’ Watch how the students interact with each other. Do they respect each other? Do they respect their instructors? Are these people with whom you would like to influence your ability to defend yourself?

The martial arts style should be demonstrably effective as a system of self defense. Attending demonstrations at various martial arts schools should give you an idea of whether the techniques in each style would be effective in a real ‘street attack.’ My belief after teaching self defense for almost 65 years is that a student should be able to end a confrontation in two to five seconds. Any attack that lasts longer usually means the victim of the attack will be seriously injured — possibly overpowered and under the control of the attacker. Five seconds — max.

Self Defense Styles

I have studied more than a dozen martial arts styles since I began training in the Spring of 1961. Each of the styles had techniques that are effective in self defense. It’s important to know how to defend yourself from a variety of positions —

1. Standing

2. Sitting

3. Lying down (prone, supine positions, and on your side)

It’s important to know how to defend yourself from a variety of attack locations —

1. From the front

2. From the back

3. From the right side

4. From the left side

5. From above

6. From below

It’s important to know how to defend yourself from a variety of attack ‘types’ —

1. One attacker

2. Multiple attackers

3. Attacker(s) with weapons (e.g. stick, knife, gun)

A good martial arts style will focus on all of those potential positions, locations, and attack types. I’ve had the privilege of teaching and studying with many military personnel. One of the things I like about how they train and execute hand-to-hand techniques is that they want the confrontation finished in less than two seconds. They will use anything on or near them to win a fight. I’ve addressed that in previous parts of this series and invite you to read them again as reminders.

A real attack, whether in the street or a building, will not be fair. Your attacker will use every dirty tactic necessary to accomplish his purpose in attacking you. At some point in your self-defense training your instructor should make that clear. Respect is important in the martial arts school — but that’s a different situation than a real attack. An attacker doesn’t respect you and deserves no respect in return. Though compassion should guide you at some point (especially after subduing the attacker), you may have to use everything you have ever learned about self defense to stay alive.

Here are some of the martial arts to consider studying —

Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts

Jujutsu Self Defense (sometimes spelled Jiu Jitsu)

Judo Self Defense

Okinawa Karate Self Defense

Shaolin Kung Fu Self Defense

Krav Maga

There are hundreds of other martial arts styles you can study, but the important thing for you is to make sure the time, effort, and money you put into training will teach you how to defend yourself quickly and effectively during an attack.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

The number of women who own guns in the United States has grown in recent years. A Harvard University study in 2021 showed that 42% of gun owners are women. A 2024 report showed that 25% of all concealed carry permits are held by women. Why? Women mentioned ‘self-defense, personal security, and peace of mind’ as primary reasons.

My father was in the military before and during World War II, so he was proficient in using guns. He taught me how to use pistols and rifles safely and effectively in the 1950s, so I have a great respect for the power of guns. I also learned how to use weapons in the military in the 1960s and as part of a series of television news reports I did with a local police department in the early 1980s. I pass my respect for firearms along to my students.

Purchasing the ‘Right’ Gun

It’s important that women purchase a gun that’s just right for them. What I mean by ‘right’ is that the gun is the right size and weight — not too heavy to lift and aim, but large enough to stop an attacker in his tracks if necessary. The gun should also fit your hand well — not too big, not too small — just the right size.

Talk with professionals about what they think would be best for you based on your size and strength. Some gun stores have firing ranges where you can test shoot a variety of weapons — including revolvers and semi-automatic pistols in different sizes and calibers (e.g. .38 special, 9mm, etc.). That allows you to feel the weight, balance, and ‘kick’ of a gun when you pull the trigger. You can also see if the bullet goes where you aimed the gun.

Being in a position where you have to pull your gun because you’re being attacked is particularly stressful. You want to have a gun that works well when you’re under that kind of stress. Some women like having a handgun with a laser sight. Some like having a longer ‘trigger pull’ so the gun doesn’t fire too easily (increasing the possibility of accidental shootings).

Once you purchase the ‘right’ gun, it’s time to train how to use it for self defense.

Training

I highly recommend that a woman who purchases a gun to carry with her for personal protection should train well in how to carry the weapon and how to use it. Guns can be dangerous to both the woman and anyone she shoots with it. If a woman (or anyone for that matter) isn’t proficient in handling a gun, an attacker could take it away and use it against them.

Disarming and Using a Weapon

Taking a gun away from someone (at close range) is part of earning a Black Belt in many martial arts systems. We call it ‘disarming.’ We want our Black Belts to know how to disarm someone who attacks them with a stick, knife, gun, or other types of weapons. Black Belts in some martial arts systems also learn how to disarm someone attacking them with a sword.

Disarming is just the first step in weapons self defense. Once you’ve taken the weapon away from an attacker you need to know what to do with the weapon. Training in how to use a variety of weapons helps people in making those decisions. In the case of a gun, the best decision might be to take a few steps backward (if possible), point the gun at the attacker and tell him to drop to the ground face-down with his hands behind his head. If the attacker does drop to the ground with his body fully on the ground, you may be able to escape to safety (be sure to take the gun with you so the attacker can’t retrieve it and shoot you as you run away). Also, keep in mind that they may have another gun with them hidden from your view. Look back at them several times as you escape to make sure they haven’t pulled another gun on you. If they do, quickly get behind something that could stop a bullet in case he fires at you. Don’t try to get into a ‘shootout’ with him, but try to stay out of his view. If he does come after you, you may have to shoot him from a distance. That takes special training, so ask a professional (e.g. police officer, shooting trainer) for their advice.

If before being able to escape the attacker decides to come at you to get your gun, you may have to shoot them. My training in the military and with police was to aim the gun at ‘center mass’ (middle of attacker’s chest) and fire the weapon until the attacker fell to the ground and stopped attacking. Trying to shoot someone in the hand or shoulder often doesn’t work because the target is smaller and you are under a lot of stress that makes hitting a smaller target more difficult.

Carrying and Using

Many women who decide to arm themselves with a handgun talk with professionals about what kind of gun to purchase and how to use it. I highly recommend that. Gun ‘professionals’ include law enforcement officers, people in the military, experienced hunters, gun shop owners, and other people with extensive training in firearms.

If you decide to get a ‘carry’ permit, you will need to decide whether to carry it ‘on’ your body or ‘off’ your body. Many women who are new to firearms choose to carry ‘off’ their body — meaning not in a holster or other ‘external’ carry location.

Many women purchase special ‘concealed carry purses.’ The purses include a special external pocket that makes retrieving the gun faster and safer. However, as I mentioned earlier, a gun that is ‘off’ your body can also be retrieved by an attacker and used against you. If you prefer a purse, just remember that it may place you at a higher risk. Talk with your professional trainer to get their thoughts about the best way for you to ‘carry’ your weapon, then train using that method until you and your trainer believe you understand how to carry and use the gun safely and efficiently.

Rules for Safety

The rules for safety with guns are similar to other self-defense rules I’ve shared with you in this Substack series and in previous series on GraceMartialArts.com.

• You can be attacked anywhere, at anytime, by anyone, so be ready.

• Beware and Be Aware at all times.

• Don’t allow an attacker to get too close to you. Use the Three Zone Defense method to maximize your safety.

• Stance — Take a strong ‘command’ stance as you grip your gun and point it at the attacker from a safe distance (too far for him to lunge toward you and grab the gun or knock it out of your hand). Strong and effective stances are among the first things I teach new students in martial arts. The same is true in learning how to use firearms. Keep in mind that your attacker may have ‘friends’ with him, so slowly turn your head or body to the right and left while keeping your eyes on the attacker. If you see one of his ‘friends’ coming at you, you will have to decide whether to shoot. The general rule in Martial Arts is to defend against the attacker who appears to be the most dangerous to your safety. Talk with your ‘professional trainer’ to see what they recommend in that situation.

• Grip — I recommend you hold your gun with a two-handed grip. It’s more sure than a one-handed grip and usually more accurate when firing the gun.

• Command — You should command your attacker to get facedown on the ground and place his hands above his head while interlocking his fingers. STOP! GET ON THE GROUND - NOW! If they don’t respond, shout your command a second time. If they don’t respond after two commands, you can either continue backing away or fire your weapon at them. Talk with your ‘professional trainer’ for their ideas about what to do. Also keep in mind how the laws of your state would impact your decision. Your trainer should know how to guide you in that area as well.

• Escape — If you believe it’s safe to do so, escape from the situation. Continue to look over your shoulder as you leave to make sure the attacker did not get up and run after you. If you have children with you, the way you leave the scene may change since you are protecting yourself and others. Ask your trainer how to handle a situation where you are protecting other people in addition to yourself. Also, be careful when firing your weapon at an attacker that you don’t accidentally shoot an innocent person behind or near the attacker.

• YELL! — If you aren’t able to escape the scene for some reason but the attacker is following you, yell as loud as you can for someone to help you or to call police. I don’t recommend you call police since your attention would be divided between holding the gun and holding your phone to dial 9-1-1. Taking your eyes off the attacker could end badly for you.

• Shoot — If the attacker will not follow your commands and continues to come at you in a threatening manner, shoot at them in the same way you were trained. Don’t try to do something with the gun that is unfamiliar to you. Always follow your training.

Here are a few more recommendations to consider —

As you move through your firearm education, make sure you and your trainer aren't placing too much emphasis on pure marksmanship to the exclusion of the other skills you'll need to get you through a crisis. Your trainer should spend time working on gun manipulation. Also called gun handling, this encompasses everything from being able to reload quickly when you run the gun empty to clearing stoppages, figuring out where and how you're going to carry and how to get the gun out from where it is stored.

Do not expect to "get it" in one session. Be realistic. If defensive deployment of a firearm is something new to you, it's going to take some commitment and practice to feel confident. But that's true with any new thing. If you take your responsibility seriously, it'll come faster than you expect. This is not only possible, it's probable.

Just like with your firearm, don't skimp on other equipment, lessons or range time. Invest in making the training experience as high quality as you can, especially in the beginning. This will pay off through quicker learning, more confidence and a strong base from which you can grow and get stronger.

Last, but absolutely not least, always remember your mind is your primary weapon. A good defensive firearm course will teach you things above and beyond what you can do with a handgun. Just in the act of taking a class, you're on your way to gaining the most important protective asset of all—the foundation of a strong defensive mindset. Shooting Illustrated

Women’s Self Defense Resources

Self Defense 90-10

Young Women and Sexual Assault

Safe Jogging

Stop and Drop

Evade to Enter

Evade to Escape

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

Some things women have ‘on them’ are their hands, arms, legs, and feet. Learning how to use them effectively is a good idea — one I highly recommend. However, the learning process involves training and that takes time. If you are so inclined to learn how to defend yourself by boxing, kick boxing, or martial arts, keep in mind that fighting against a larger, stronger opponent can be a difficult challenge — one you don’t want to fail. You need to learn well and train often.

I’m certainly not against women earning a Black Belt in martial arts. I’ve trained and promoted many women to that rank through the years. However, even martial arts training can be a challenge if you are surprised by a larger, stronger opponent who is passionate about harming you or getting something from you.

Environmental Weapons

That’s why I also add ‘environmental weapons’ training to give women an edge in what would otherwise be an unfair situation — a surprise attack by a stronger person. I call it ‘environmental weapons’ because it’s learning how to use anything in your ‘environment’ as a defensive weapon. The first two parts of this Women’s Self Defense series started with using a purse and what’s inside the purse. You can read Part One here and Part Two here.

What if you are attacked inside your home or place of work and don’t have access to your purse? What if you are attacked while walking or jogging in your neighborhood and don’t have your purse with you? What if someone sneaks up behind you, grabs you, and attempts to carry you away — or push you to the ground? What would you do then?

Staying aware of your surroundings will help you in many ways —

• You’ll be aware if someone is watching or following you

• You’ll be aware of your location and whether there are ‘safe people’ nearby who could come to your assistance if you’re attacked

• You’ll be aware of what ‘environmental weapons’ are near you and how quickly you could get to them if someone attacks you

• You’ll be aware of your ‘exits’ (escape routes) in case someone attacks you

Taking Stock of Your Available Weapons

Think about your life for a moment. What is your normal routine from day to day? Next, segment your routine. Think about each place you go during a normal day. Take an inventory of what you see in each place. Remember that everything you can see can be used as a weapon for self defense. Become familiar with everything that is usually available in your environment. Think about how you could use each item to defend yourself. If you’re not sure, ask a self defense instructor and they’ll be glad to show you. Once you learn how — practice often so that using any environmental weapon becomes ‘naturalized’ (you can use it without having to think about it).

Here are some examples to consider based on where many of my female students were attacked before coming to classes to train in self defense —

• Kitchen — knives, forks, spoons, cooking pans, glasses, plates, food, broom

• Bedroom — wall pictures, lamps, furniture, clothing, books, bottles, bedding, pillows

• Bathroom — lotions, soap, shampoo bottles, razors, mirrors, makeup stool

• Parking garage — stairs, purse, contents of purse, pepper spray, car keys, car doors, car windows, car mirrors (outside mirrors), tire iron

• Bus stop — purse, contents of purse, pepper spray, bench at bus stop (push or pull attacker so they fall over bench), sides of bus stop (push or pull attacker into side as you use your arms and legs to strike)

• Restaurant — knife, fork, spoon, glass, plate, food, table, chair

• Office — laptop computer, chair, desk, desk drawers, stapler, pens, pencils, paper, scissors, notebook, purse, purse contents, pepper spray

• Running trail — stick, tree limb, rock, stone or rock (use to hit him in head or soft parts of his body), dirt (throw or rub into his eyes), purse or wallet, contents of purse or wallet, pepper spray

• Public park — purse, pepper spray, contents of purse, dirt, stone, rocks, stick, tree limb

And in all of these and other environmental situations — SCREAM!!

Escaping The Attack

As you take an inventory of ‘environmental weapons’ available to you — also think about how to ‘escape’ once you have freed yourself from the attacker. Look around for exits. Where would you run? How would you escape to a ‘safe place?’ What is a safe place in each environment? Why do you think it’s safe? If you think about your escape routes before needing to use them, you’ll make better choices in case you actually have to use them.

Also think about what you would do once you escaped and reached a ‘safe place.’ What would you do next? Call police? Call a relative or friend? Go on with your day as if nothing had happened? Talk over your options with someone you trust and see what they think you should do. Keep in mind that though you were able to escape an attack, attackers tend to keep attacking. The person who attacked you will probably attack someone else. Is there something you could do to help catch the attacker and put them in a place where they can’t do that to anyone else?

The First Five Seconds

The first five seconds of an attack are often the most consequential. If you can successfully defend yourself within those five seconds, the chances of your escaping without serious harm are fairly good. However, if the attacker is able to extend his attack time beyond five seconds the chances of your escaping safely are not as good.

I also teach my students that every attack is preceded by 60 seconds. Those precious 60 seconds before an attack begins is the prime time for you to be ready to deal with the attack. If you are ‘aware’ that you could be attacked anywhere, at anytime, by anyone, you will be better prepared than people who are not aware of that possibility.

Use every minute of your life to prepare for something you hope and pray never happens to you. If you are attacked, use the first five seconds to end the conflict by whatever means possible. Think about it — prepare for it — train for it.

Women’s Self Defense Resources

Self Defense 90-10

Young Women and Sexual Assault

Safe Jogging

Stop and Drop

Evade to Enter

Evade to Escape

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox as soon as it’s published. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

In the first part of this new series about Women’s Self Defense I shared about how women can use their purses or wallets as self-defense weapons. In this second part I’d like to look inside a purse to see what items a woman might have available to use as a defensive weapon.

The reason I started with using the purse itself is because attacks against women often happen in less than two seconds. That means the woman doesn’t have time to open her purse, reach inside, grab something, and use it defensively. That makes the purse itself a first line of self defense. If a woman is carrying pepper spray in her hand, she can also use that. You’ll find an article about how to use pepper spray here.

I’ve also taught women to carry their car keys in their dominant hand (if they don’t carry pepper spray) with one of the larger keys protruding from between the index and middle finger. They can use the key to scrape, strike, or otherwise cause injury to an attacker’s eyes, face, throat, neck, solar plexus, etc., along with kicking, elbowing, and screaming until they’re able to escape from the attacker.

Keep in mind, that while using pepper spray is usually a ‘distance’ self-defense weapon, using your purse, car keys, or something from inside the purse is usually a ‘close’ self-defense weapon. I recommend that women make as much distance from their attacker as possible without turning their back on him until it’s safe to run away. However, if an attacker gets close to you then use your purse, pepper spray, keys, or anything else you can grab to distract and disable him.

Inside the Purse

I mentioned last time that I taught women’s self-defense clinics for many years and would often ask a woman before class if they would help me with a demonstration. When asked they would open their purse and place all of the items inside their purse on a table. I remember one woman who had 47 items in her purse. Whether the number was 47, 17 or just 7 items, I would then show the women how each item could be used for defense.

I learned through the years of conducting self-defense clinics for women that almost every purse contained a hair brush. This is an excellent weapon for self defense. The handle of the brush can be used to strike an attacker in the face (e.g. eyes, nose), neck, or throat. Hair brushes that have a handle that comes to a sharp point are really good self-defense weapons. The brushes (soft or hard) are great for scraping an attacker in the face or other parts of his body. The brush-end is also good for striking, as is the back of the brush. Slapping an attacker in the face with the back of a brush will ‘distract’ him long enough for you to ‘disable’ him with your elbows and knees.

An important thing to remember when using a hair brush or other item to ‘strike’ or ‘scrape’ an attacker is not to let them see your intent to use the brush. Don’t hold the brush above your head or out in front of you before attempting to use it. That lets the attacker see what you intend to do with it, which means he can grab your arm, block your strike, or otherwise avoid being hit. Hold the hairbrush by your side until you’re ready to use it. The ascending motion of your strike is not as much of a signal to your attacker as a descending motion.

Another self-defense tactic is to grab your lipstick holder. If the attacker comes at you quickly, you can use the lipstick holder (usually metal or hard plastic) to either throw at his face (Throw and Go) while you escape, or use to poke him in the eye or throat. You can also take off the lid as if you’re going to put the lipstick on your lips, then push the lipstick into the attacker’s eye while you knee them in the groin. Lipstick is a substance that sticks and makes it difficult for someone to see clearly — plus it stings. If the attacker opens his mouth after you poke him in the eye with the lipstick, throw the lipstick container in his mouth and knee him in the groin. He will choke on the lipstick while dealing with the pain of being kneed in the groin. Scream and escape to safety. It’s difficult for someone who can’t see and can’t breathe to continue attacking you.

Purse Items You Can Use

Other items you may have in your purse that you can use for self-defense purposes include —

• Nail File (use to strike eyes, throat .. also use to scrape face to distract while you knee him in groin)

• Nail clipper (clip attacker’s skin almost anywhere and it will hurt .. knee the groin, scream, and escape)

• Pen (use to strike eyes, throat)

• Mirror (smash into attacker’s face and it can cut him)

• Compact (smash into attacker’s face or throat)

• Loose change or candy (for throwing into attacker’s face to distract)

• Creams/Moisturizers/Lotions (aim for attacker’s eyes)

• Sunglasses (smash into attacker’s eyes and the glass can cut them)

• Prescription bottle (smash into attacker’s face)

• Hand Sanitizer (spray or pour into his eyes or pour on your hand and rub into his face)

• Perfume (spray at his eyes)

Take a look inside the purse you are carrying today. What items could you use for self defense? Keep the items you think would be best for self defense at the top of the inside of your purse. If you are attacked and have time to reach inside your purse, grab one of those items and use it with all the strength God’s given you. Remember to knee the attacker in the groin, elbow to his face or chest (if needed), scream, and escape. Your personal safety is of utmost importance to me and others who care about you

Women’s Self Defense Resources

Self Defense 90-10

Young Women and Sexual Assault

Safe Jogging

Stop and Drop

Evade to Enter

Evade to Escape

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

I’ve taught martial arts and self defense since 1964. One of the first groups I taught was a group of young women at a high school. As you teach people how to defend themselves against an attack, you should see each student as a unique and special person — not just a member of a class. Each person has a ‘personal’ story to tell about why they want to learn self defense.

Loni Cleve worked with of one our sons and told him about being attacked. He recommended that she talk with me about it. I’m so glad she did. Our conversation led to classes in self defense that included some of her close friends. Loni later joined me, my son, and one of my Black Belt students to develop a special self-defense training team. We taught women and others how to defend themselves in a variety of situations. Loni graciously shared her personal story, as difficult as it was to do, each time we led a group in learning self defense. I invited Loni to put her story in writing so that I could share it with you — as both an encouragement and a challenge.

Something happened to me that was not my fault. It’s been seven years, and while it is still difficult to talk about, I feel the need to share my story, not just for myself, but in the hopes of helping prevent it from happening to others. It’s a hard topic.  I struggle often with what to say when asked questions, but I want to be open. Some days my answers remain - I don’t know. Even after years, I’m still learning.

As you read my story, I want you to know something that God has already revealed to me: He chose me for this. He placed me there, He was with me, and He has a much bigger plan for me. He trusts me to get through this and to help others. With that said, here is what happened: I was sexually assaulted by a predator, in broad daylight, in the middle of the day, in a well-lit parking garage that I was very familiar with.

The Day of the Assault

It was July 28, 2017, a Friday morning at 11:00 a.m., and it was pouring rain—buckets of rain. I was en route to a lunch meeting with clients from Florida, but before that, I wanted to stop by a local store to pick up gifts for them. That stop put me running behind, in the Clinton Street Parking Garage, rushing up the stairwell to the third floor. I was balancing on three-inch heels, dressed in a sharp suit, dodging the downpour, carrying a large purse, an umbrella, and two gift bags. My mind was focused on all the wrong things.

Going up the first flight of three, a man passed me going down the staircase. There was an immediate bad feeling.  I ignored it. My lasting lesson—when you get a feeling, trust it. As Laurie Stevens, a survivor herself, states, “That intuition is your umbilical cord to God, and you honor it.” 

I was making good time.  Head down, focused, maintaining pace the remaining two flights. Emerging left into the open garage, I vividly remember clocking the difficulty of keeping a jog-level stride on the wet, gradual decline.  The insides of my heels were soaked, slippery. The haul was getting heavy.  In every memory, there’s a distinct intense feeling of everything being louder, darker, and more urgent.  The assumption at the time was from the storm, maybe the deadline. Approximately 30 feet from the stairwell to the car, in my head, on replay, keep going, almost there.  

Unlock the car, open the back driver's door, lean in to unload, a quick turn, and he is there. 

As I would later learn from surveillance footage, after passing on the stairwell, he turned, maintaining a calculated distance, and followed me to my car. I was not the first.  Stairwell surveillance footage recorded hours of public masturbation, following women of every age, and stalking prey. This wasn’t a spur-of-the-moment decision in an unfamiliar setting.  He was bold, calm, and confident. He was a predator. 

He didn’t rape me.  His sexual intent was clear. But he didn’t rape me. At the time, I wasn’t sure if it even qualified as an assault. I blacked out. On that day, I wasn’t sure of a lot.  Am I wrong? Did this happen? Is it believable? Who called the police? Should they even be here? Was he even here? And then……compartmentalize. I have a meeting.  I am fine. 

What I’ve Learned 

One of the biggest lessons I’ve learned is how to define sexual assault. At the time, I was in shock that the witnesses called the police. In my mind, “I wasn’t raped, so I’m fine.” But I’ve since learned how wrong that thinking was. That moment of doubt could have shut me down completely. Thankfully, it didn’t. I was blocked, unable to move, while he said and did sexual things to my body. I was assaulted. It was not my fault.

There is no place for shame. Immediately after the assault, I did everything in my power to “normalize” the situation. I dropped off the gifts at the meeting, went to the office to make sure my colleagues knew what happened in case they heard it on a police scanner. I decided not to call my husband under the thinking he was in a secure area with no phone access and I didn’t want to worry him. And what would that message say? I didn’t go home—I didn’t want to scare my kids, and my mom was driving into town that day.  I told myself to “hold it together.” 

As the afternoon unfolded, what I needed was my family and the team of resources provided by friends, work, and church. They could handle this. I also know it is an overwhelming privilege to have the resources to move forward. 

If I had trusted my instincts things may have turned out differently. I wasn’t the first person this man followed in the parking garage on that given day. He was there for hours. Camera footage was only available in the stairwell. 

Only one person that day went to security, a woman walking with her young daughter. She saw she was being followed and walked directly to the front for help.  

Her act of reporting changed my outcome. During my attack, she was already activating police, city officials, and citizen stewards. God had my rescue in motion before I even knew it was needed. 

If ever the thought enters my head that my gut could be wrong, I think I may not be saving just me, but someone’s mother, with her daughter. If not for yourself, do it for someone else. 

To Anyone Who Has Been Assaulted

If you’ve been the victim of an assault, my advice is simple: keep talking. Most people don’t. We need to strip away the shame and stigma surrounding sexual assault. Define these encounters as wrong. Rob the pain of its power.

This is not a secret. My work, my family, and my close friends are aware of what happened. I’ve been careful and deliberate in how I share this information, prioritizing my health and surrounding myself with a core team that supports me every step of the way.

I’ve also sought counseling. I’m affected by what happened, but I refuse to be afraid. My mental, physical, and spiritual health are priorities because I can’t help others if I don’t take care of myself first. 

Self-defense classes are a necessity, not a luxury. The goal isn’t to fight but to be aware of situations before they escalate.

Moving Forward

This has been a journey of learning, healing, and growing. I didn’t choose to be assaulted, but I believe that God has a plan for me, and that plan includes using my experience to help others. By sharing my story, I hope to encourage others to listen to their instincts, support survivors, and be vigilant for themselves and for others. Together, we can make the world a safer place, one conversation at a time.

Copyright © Loni Cleve, 2024

Thank you, Loni, for sharing your story with us. Your advice is spot on!

Women’s Self Defense Resources

Self Defense 90-10

Young Women and Sexual Assault

Safe Jogging

Stop and Drop

Evade to Enter

Evade to Escape

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

I was teaching a self-defense clinic to a large group of women many years ago and thought they might be interested in seeing how many self-defense ‘weapons’ each of them had available in their purse. I asked one of the women before the class if she would mind helping me with the demonstration. She agreed.

When the time came for the demo I asked her to pour the contents of her purse onto a table in the room where we were training. She had 47 items in her purse — everything from lipstick to hairspray to a hair brush to a wallet to sun glasses to a pen to a cell phone to a compact mirror to an address book — (etc).

I then told the ladies that they could use everything in their purse as a defensive weapon. I remember the look on their faces. Some were surprised. Others gave me the look that said, ‘No way.’ My answer? Way. And I began to show them how.

First, The Purse Itself

The first and most obvious self-defense weapon is the purse or bag itself. If a woman is attacked suddenly, without warning, she may not have time to open her purse or bag and grab an item inside that she could use to defend herself. That’s why it’s good to learn how to use the purse itself as a weapon of self defense.

In the photo above — if the woman was approached by an attacker from the front, she could take one step back and swing the purse/bag straight toward his groin. After hitting his groin, she could kick him in a shin (or knee him in the face if he’s bent over), and stomp on the top of his foot before turning to escape to safety. That combination will usually stop a man from chasing a woman. If he does chase you, scream and go into a store or other safe place (if you able). Screaming gets people’s attention, which is what an attacker doesn’t want.

The target of their attack is usually your purse or you. If your attempt to defend yourself doesn’t work for some reason, it’s better to let the attacker (robber) take your purse than take or hurt you. I’ve seen pictures of women who tried to hold on to their purse during a robbery and they usually were beaten or dragged before finally letting go of their purse. It’s your choice how to respond, but your health and safety are more important than ‘things.’

If a robber does take your purse, call your bank and credit card providers right away to put a stop on your cards. Robbers usually try to use bank and credit cards within the first 30 minutes after an attack. Credit cards come with some protection from the card company, but debit cards allow a robber direct access to your checking account.

Identity theft experts suggest that women minimize the number of cards they carry with them. Some of the cards they recommend you DON’T carry in your purse or wallet on a regular basis are —

• Debit cards

• Gift or prepaid debit cards

• ATM receipts (because of the account information printed on the receipt)

• Bank checks

• Account passwords’ list

• Large amount of cash

• Social Security card

• Birth certificate

• Passport

• Spare keys to house or car

• Health insurance card

I think this is a pretty good list, though I question not carrying your health insurance card. If you become ill or are in an accident, having your insurance card with you could facilitate a faster medical response. Some experts recommend a compromise of taking your health insurance card with you ‘only’ when you are headed to a doctor’s visit where showing the card will be required. Fortunately, many doctors require showing the card only during your initial visit.

Some experts also recommend women carry their cell phone in the pocket of a jacket or pants since so much private access information is now available on smart phones. Having your phone in another location will also give you the option of calling police and family members immediately following an attack. If your phone is in your purse or wallet and it’s stolen, you won’t have access to using it but the robber will. One cardinal rule for safety when out in public is DON’T be on your cell phone while you’re outside of your car or a safe building (e.g. store, home, friend’s house). It you’re paying attention to the phone (calling or texting), you won’t see an attacker approaching you until it’s too late to respond.

Before you leave your house each day consider what you really need to have with you and be prepared to lose all of it if attacked. My hope is that you will never be attacked or that if you are the self-defense recommendations I share with you in these newsletters will help keep you safe. However, consider the worst-case scenario and be prepared for it.

One other note about your driver’s license. You have to carry that if you drive, so that’s not something you can take out of your purse or wallet. Just remember that if a robber gets your driver’s license they know where you live. Report the robbery to the police immediately and ask them for guidance about how to protect your home from burglary. If your car keys and house keys are also in your purse, a robber can get into your house and also steal your car. Police may recommend you change locks on the outside doors of your house. You can also check with your car dealer about getting a new set of keys made for your vehicle (depending on make/model/age). Dealerships can often make a new set of keys with new chips that they ‘re-sequence’ to your car’s computer. Also contact your auto insurance company to let them know about the theft. They will probably have some good advice for you as well.

One other note — make copies of the front and back of all of the cards and other materials you carry in your wallet. Keep the ‘wallet copies’ at home. That will help you contact various companies to cancel cards because the information will be readily available for you give them.

Keep your wallet ‘thin’ — meaning take as few items with you as possible. The fewer items you have in your purse and/or wallet, the less you’ll have to deal with if a robber steals them.

If a woman is holding a smaller purse when an attacker approaches her, she can take one step back, grab the sides of her purse in both hands and use the edge of the purse to strike the attacker in his throat, nose, or an eye. She can follow that up with a knee to his groin, an elbow to his face, stomping the top of his foot, and escaping to safety. There’s truth to the old martial arts saying — ‘if someone can’t breathe and can’t see, they can’t fight.’

The size or shape of a woman’s purse doesn’t matter. There’s a way to use any purse or handbag for women’s self defense. Once a woman learns how to use their purse (or bag), then it’s just a matter of practicing the defensive techniques until it’s a natural response to attack. We call that ‘muscle memory’ in training. Your mind and body respond naturally to an attack based on your training.

One key to using a purse for self defense is to ‘swing’ or ‘strike’ with the purse from the same position you hold it. If you move the purse from one position to another position before using it to defend yourself, the attacker has time to see your intent and move his body in a way to avoid the strike.

One negative example is holding a purse by the handle by your side (as in the first photo above), then moving the purse away from your body for the purpose of swinging it into the attacker. Moving the purse from position A to position B to strike position C gives the attacker too much time to react and avoid the strike.

The positive example is to move the purse from position A (holding purse at side) to position B (striking his groin), the attacker doesn’t have time to avoid the strike. The bad guy doesn’t see it coming because all you’ve done is taken one step back, which is a natural response to an attack, followed by a strong swing of the purse into his groin. Follow that with kicks and stomps to shins and top of feet and you’re good to go (escape).

And, of course, remember to scream! If the attacker pulls you close to him, scream directly into one of his ears. That will usually confuse and distract them for a couple of seconds. Two seconds is enough time to kick, stomp, and elbow your way out of his hold. You may have to forget about his taking your purse, but don’t let him get you. And, by all means, don’t allow him to get you into his car or van. That usually does not end well for women (or children).

Pepper Spray

If you carry pepper spray in one hand and your purse in the other hand, you have doubled your self-defensive position. You can read about using pepper spray in this previous newsletter.

In the next newsletter, I’ll share about some of the items found inside a purse that can be used for self defense.

Women’s Self Defense Resources

Self Defense 90-10

Young Women and Sexual Assault

Safe Jogging

Stop and Drop

Evade to Enter

Evade to Escape

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

Women have many ‘natural’ defensive tools available to them — including knees, elbows, feet, and hands. Once they learn some basic self-defense techniques and practice them, they can ‘turn the tables’ on bad people who try to hurt them.

Slap ears .. Knee to groin

Out of all the self-defense techniques I’ve taught women during 60 years of teaching martial arts, this is one of their favorites. Why? Because it’s easy to learn and it works.

I use the terms ‘Masher Smasher’ or ‘Slap and Tap’ to help women remember it.

A man (masher) tries to ‘hit’ on a woman. He may become aggressive when the woman does not participate in his ‘flirting.’’ He may grab her shoulders, arms, or wrists. If the woman’s hands are free (he grabs her shoulders or upper arms), the woman responds by slapping his ears with the open palms of both of her hands at the same time. That causes the ‘masher’ to lose mental control for a few seconds — just enough time for the woman to use her knee to kick the man’s groin. That usually puts an end to the ‘masher’s’ attempt to control her.

Slapping someone’s ears with both of your open hands (palms) at the same time causes tremendous pressure and pain inside the attacker’s ears and head. A solid kick to the groin hurts as well and will often drop a large man to the ground. The combination of pain in the ears and groin usually means the woman can safely escape.

Reversing the Technique

If the man grabs a woman’s arms or wrists in a way that she cannot raise her hands to strike his ears, she can reverse the technique. I call it ‘Tap and Slap.’ The woman responds by using her knee to kick the man in the groin, then slaps both his ears with open hands. If the kick is strong enough, the ‘slap’ may not even be necessary.

Another combination is ‘Tap, Rap, Slap.’ That’s where the woman knees the man in the groin, which usually causes the man to bend forward. The woman then places her hands on top of the man’s head and knees him in the face. This usually causes the man’s body to fall backward. If needed, the woman can slap the man’s ears, kick him in the body with her foot, or strike him in the face with her palm if he’s still trying to hold on to her.

Practice

The key to being able to use any of these techniques without having to think about how to do them is to ‘practice, practice, practice.’ You can practice them with a partner, with a kicking bag, or even without a partner or bag. The idea is to build ‘muscle memory’ so that you can protect yourself quickly and effectively. Slapping and kicking a bag is helpful to understand the power of the technique.

I hope you NEVER need to use these self-defense techniques, but practice them as if you might have to some day. You’ll be glad you did.

Audio Version

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribed

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

Read more

Some of my women students have asked me to teach them how to use pepper spray against an attacker. I call the technique ‘Spray and Run Away.’

Defending With Pepper Spray

Pepper spray is a good defensive weapon ‘if’ —

1. You choose the right type of spray

2. You know how to use it

3. You can get to it before your attacker gets to you

4. You don’t let the attacker use your spray on you

Let’s begin with how to choose the right type of pepper spray.

Your Choices

I’ve worked with four types of pepper spray —

• foam

• gel

• stream

• fog/mist

Each one has its pros and cons, so I usually train women with the type of spray they already purchased. If they asked me which type I’d suggest, I go through the list of pros and cons. Here’s a Quick Look —

• Foam sprays work well at close range. The foam forms a ‘ball’ on contact and sticks to the attacker. It works inside and outside. While the attacker is trying to wipe it off their face, you can run away. The chance of the foam ball coming back on you when you spray is minimal.

• Gel spray also sticks to the attacker, making it difficult for them to wipe it off their face. Some people prefer using gel pepper spray indoors, but I’ve trained with it outside as well. It also works better at a closer range.

• Stream sprays are what people usually think of when they hear the words ‘pepper spray.’ It works well inside or outside and has a longer spray range — some of them up to 20 feet. This is often the type of pepper spray women buy and like to use.

• Fog spray (also known as cone-mist spray) does just what the name implies — it shoots out a ‘fog’ of spray that can cover a larger area in case you’re attacked by multiple attackers. One issue with fog spray is that the range is shorter and you may also come in contact with the ‘fog.’ That makes your running away a little more difficult if you’re also dealing with pepper spray in your eyes. Try to be ‘up-wind’ from the spray if possible.

Many women like to use the key chain pepper spray because it’s in their hands when they get out of their car or house or when they walk toward their car or house. They don’t have to fumble through their purse to find it when attacked.

Some women like to use the ‘hand-held’ spray that fits nicely in their hand. Many are made to deliver a powerful response to an attack that includes a ‘color dye’ that makes it easier for law enforcement to identify your attacker.

Some women like to wear pepper spray ‘wrist bands’ when they jog because of its ease of availability. One of the recent Women’s Self Defense articles I wrote was about ‘safe jogging,’ so you may want to review that and consider how pepper spray would fit into your ‘defense plan.’

You can find pepper sprays for runners online or at local stores (e.g. Dick’s Sporting Goods, Walmart, Lowes). Even if you end up purchasing online, you may want to visit a local store and get a feel for how the different types of pepper spray work before ordering. You might also contact your police or sheriff’s department to see if they hold clinics about using pepper spray as a defensive weapon.

Another issue is safety. You don’t want the pepper spray going off accidentally and hitting you or a friend. Check out the ‘safety’ features before buying. If you attend a clinic or training session taught by a professional, they’ll be able to help you with how to use pepper spray properly.

Is Pepper Spray Legal?

Great question! A ‘Pepper Spray Laws by State 2024’ graphic shows that pepper spray is legal in 35 states and ‘legal with restrictions’ in 16 states. Some states require that pepper spray must be ‘concealed.’ Some states won’t allow pepper spray brought into certain types of buildings. Most airlines won’t allow it either. Best thing you can do is check out state and federal laws before purchasing and carrying.

I don’t train young women under the age of 18 in how to use pepper spray because children are not allowed to possess it. Felons are also not allowed to be in possession of pepper spray. Keep in mind that pepper spray is a ‘weapon.’ It can be used for good or bad depending on who is using it and why.

Training to Use Pepper Spray

I don’t recommend that women purchase pepper spray, then practice with it alone in their backyard. That’s a good way to get spray in your eyes, on your clothes, or onto someone nearby who comes over to see what you’re doing.

I suggest you begin with a pepper spray ‘trainer’ to learn how to use it. That’s a pepper spray container similar to what you want to purchase, but filled with water instead of pepper spray. Especially with ‘stream sprays’ it gives you the feel of using the real thing without anyone getting hurt.

Using a ‘trainer’ spray with water also allows you to learn how to grip the container in your dominant hand while leaving your thumb free to press the button to ‘spray.’ It also allows you to practice two primary types of spraying —

1. Center line spraying

2. Side-to-side spraying

Center line spraying is where you extend the pepper spray container from your center toward the attacker’s center. It’s similar to how we train people to defend in martial arts. If your arms and hands extend from your center and you face your attacker’s center, it’s difficult for them to get around or past you. Another part of ‘center spraying’ is to spray high, then low, then high, then low. Again, another martial technique. Spraying someone in the face will often cause them to try and move away from you or go low to get under the spray. If you spray from the center in an ‘up-and-down’ motion, you will cover them with spray, foam, gel, or whatever type of spray you use. They will be covered with pepper spray, which gives you a great chance of running to safety.

Side-to-side spraying works when you have multiple attackers. You can spray all of them in the face, then change to center line spraying if one or more of them try to get to you. Cover them with spray as quickly as you can, turn, run and scream loudly while you run. Look to the side as you run and use your peripheral vision to see if any of the attackers are chasing you. You can use zig-zag running like we explained in the ‘safe jogging’ newsletter. If you have any pepper spray left and it’s necessary, you can step to the side so the attacker doesn’t tackle you while you spray them again in the face. Run away again and keep screaming.

What about your non-dominant hand? Use that hand to push your opponent away or keep them from grabbing and holding you. We teach a variety of hand and arm escape techniques in martial arts that can make it very difficult for an attacker to grab and hold on to you. If the attacker does try to grab your dominant hand with the sprayer, use your other hand to poke them in the eyes or strike their throat. Also use your feet to kick them in the shin, knee, or ‘where it hurts’ to move them farther from you. That should then allow you to use the pepper spray to finish the job of self defense.

Spray Range

Once you purchase the container of pepper spray you’re going to carry (and you’ve done some training with a water trainer), it’s time to try it outside (unless it’s a windy day). Practicing with your pepper spray will show you its ‘range’ capabilities. If you can afford to buy two containers, you can use one to train with and one to carry for real use. Know how far the spray will go. Use a solid wood fence, large board, or tree to see how it works. It’s good to have a spray container that has a range of at least ten feet. Some have 25 feet, which is even better. However, know that the longer range pepper sprays may run through spray faster than ones with less range. Just something to consider when purchasing.

Can’t See - Can’t Breathe - Can’t Fight

We have a saying in martial arts and self defense that ‘if your attacker can’t see and can’t breathe, they can’t fight.’ That’s why strikes to the eyes, throat, and groin are so effective in hand-to-hand defense. It’s the same thing using pepper spray. If you use the spray correctly, your attacker(s) will struggle to see and breathe. That means they can’t attack you for a few seconds. That’s usually enough time for you to run for your life — literally.

Where to Buy?

Here are ten examples of various types of pepper spray you can purchase and where to get them. You can search for the spray type you’re interested in online or visit one of many stores near you that sell pepper spray. [I do not receive compensation for mentioning any of these products.]

1. Sabre Pepper Gel

2. Mace Pepper Spray plus Water Trainer

3. Eliminator™ Blue Heat Keychain Pepper Spray w/Marking Dye

4. Sabre Runner's Pepper Gel Spray

5. UDAP Pepper Power Jogger Fogger OC Compact Self Defense Pepper Spray

6. Eliminator™ 3-In-1 Hard Case Jogger Pepper Spray

7. Mace Brand Pepper Mace Defense Spray- Jogger Model

8. POM Pepper Spray Flip Top Pocket Clip

9. Vexor Pepper Spray Full Axis with Belt Clip for Self Defense

10. Police Magnum Keychain Pepper Spray Flip Top Safety 3 Pack

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

When someone intends to ‘attack’ you, one of the best things you can do is ‘distract’ them. There are many ways to do that, but one of the easiest is something I call ‘Throw and Go!’

First, don’t be distracted yourself. Don't be texting or talking on your cell phone when you’re in public. Send texts and make calls ‘before’ you step outside. Put your phone in your purse or coat pocket and ‘be aware’ of everything around you.

Walk confidently to your destination, but be ready for the possibility that someone may approach you from the front, side, or back. If you are not distracted by your phone, looking at something inside a store from outside the store, etc., you will probably ‘sense’ that someone is coming towards you. Turning your head slightly from side to side as you walk will also help you see danger by way of your ‘peripheral’ vision. ‘Be aware’ and ‘beware’ are our mottos. Remember!

How Does ‘Throw and Go!’ Work?

First, hold something in one of your hands (dominant hand if possible) that you don’t mind throwing away. It could be a package of gum, a small box of mints, a rock, piece of wood, etc. Be sure that it has enough weight so it will travel in the direction you intend and cause your attacker to be both surprised and distracted. You can practice throwing various items in your yard to see how far they go and how accurately you can throw them.

When you see someone approaching you in a threatening or aggressive fashion, get ready to use your ‘throw-and-go’ defense. In the photo above, the aggressor is in what we call ‘Zone 3,’ which means they can’t reach you without taking steps toward you. If you think there’s enough distance between you and the aggressor and you believe you can out-run him, then run. Run in a zig-zag fashion and scream and shout loudly as you run to let people know someone is after you. That will often cause the aggressor to move away from you. However, if the aggressor moves toward you faster than you can run away from him, get ready to ‘Throw and Go.’

I teach people to practice throwing the item at a target in the same way they would throw a softball — underhand. If you raise your hand to throw something (like you’d throw a baseball), that tells the attacker you may be preparing to throw something at him. That gives them the opportunity to step to the side or ‘duck down’ so as not to be hit. You want the ‘element of surprise,’ so throw underhand. Attackers won’t notice that you’re going to throw something at them until it’s too late for them to do anything about it.

Aim for their face; usually between the nose and eyes. A good way to practice is to use a piece of chalk to draw a line on a fence or tree that’s about the same height as a man’s eyes. You can practice throwing ‘throw-and-go’ items at the chalk line from various distances to see how it works. Remember — practice throwing the object ‘underhand.’ The more you practice throwing, the more accurate you’ll be if you actually have to ‘throw and go.’

Anything you throw at someone’s eyes will cause them to blink, turn or lower their head so as not to be hit. They may also raise their hands toward their face to ‘block’ the oncoming object. While they’re blinking, turning their head, and trying to block the item you threw at them, that’s your chance to escape, run, and scream for help.

The distracted attacker will often run away themselves when they realize they can’t reach you and you are screaming for help. That’s the ‘attraction of distraction.’

My thanks to Quilla and Alex of our Grace Martial Arts school in Lutz, Florida for helping with the ‘Throw and Go’ demonstration. They are taught by Sensei Mark Fisher, Sensei Isaiah Fisher, Grand Master Robert Xavier, and myself. If you live in the Tampa, Florida area and are looking for a great place to train in martial arts and self defense, you can contact me for more information about our Lutz class. GM Xavier also teaches in the Bradenton, Florida area.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

The Department of Homeland Security (DHS) has confirmed to U.S. Senator Lindsey Graham (R-South Carolina), Ranking Member of the Senate Judiciary Committee, that the individual charged with the murder of Georgia student Laken Riley was paroled into the country illegally. According to DHS, Jose Antonio Ibarra was granted “parole due to detention capacity at the Central Processing Center in El Paso, Texas.” U.S. Senate Committee On The Judiciary

The reason I mention that in this article is because millions of ‘unknown’ people are being allowed into the United States through the southern border. While there’s always been a threat of violence toward women and children here, allowing millions more people into the country is increasing that threat.

I’ve taught self defense to women and young people since 1964. The reason I began teaching female high school and college-age women in the mid-60s was because of the increasing number of attacks on and off campuses. Here we are 60 years later and the problem has only gotten worse. That’s why I teach martial arts and self defense and why this Substack section on Women’s Self Defense exists.

Safe Jogging Tips

Young women have a right to jog safely, but that doesn’t mean their rights will be affirmed by the men who prey on women. Since there are men who prey on women, women must take control of their own safety — and they can. Here are ‘ten tips’ for a ‘safe run’ —

1. Run with a ‘buddy,’ a group of other women, or a guy friend. You might like the joys of running alone in the morning before or after class or work, but there are ‘evil’ men looking for you. I say ‘evil’ because of their ‘intent’ and how they ‘act’ upon their intent. One man on the prowl most likely will not bother a group of women running together. He might take on two women, but probably won’t because of the potential of being identified or fought off by two people. Men who want to sexually assault and/or harm women are usually looking for the one woman who runs alone. If they see you running with a friend, a guy, or a group of women, the bad guys will usually look for someone else to attack.

2. If you do decide to run alone, be smart about it. Don’t run when it’s dark or about to get dark. Run in the light of day. Don’t wear headsets with music blasting in your ears. Men who want to hurt women often pick those wearing earphones. They know they can sneak up on you because you won’t hear them. Once they’ve got hold of you, they’ll knock you down or drag you into nearby woods, behind a building, or into a vehicle. If you’re going to run alone, you will need all your senses activated (e.g. hearing, seeing, etc). Also, don’t run while talking on the phone. That also draws your attention away from your surroundings and possible danger. If you must answer the phone or make a call, move to an open location where you see everything and everyone around you. As you answer or make the call slowly turn around 360 degrees so you can see anyone who might be trying to sneak up on you. Tell the caller where you are in case someone approaches you. If someone does get too close, talk loudly at them while describing them so the person on the other end of the call hears that information. Don’t hang up the phone. Try not to let the attacker get the phone from you. If you can, keep at least ten feet between you and the attacker. If you carry pepper spray, be ready to use it but don’t let the attacker take it from you. They may use it against you. If you see a limb or stick on the ground, grab it and hold it next to your leg or in front of you. Don’t lift it over your head to strike at your opponent. That’s too easy for the attacker to block or evade. If you strike someone with a limb or stick from a lower position, it’s harder for the attacker to block or evade. You will find a few lessons in stick fighting (e.g. Escrima, Kali) helpful in knowing how to use a stick or limb against an attacker.

3. Mix up your running patterns. Don’t follow the same path at the same time every day. Bad guys who are interested in you will often spend some time checking out your pattern. They will use that knowledge to be in wait for you at some secluded point in your run. If someone runs after you, begin zig-zag running that makes you harder for an attacker to grab. That’s how I teach children to run from strangers and it also works for adults. An attacker usually runs in a straight line toward the intended victim. By changing your running pattern from straight to zig-zag, your attacker will have a hard time grabbing you. If they do grab you and your jacket, sweater or other piece of clothing comes off, don’t stop to get it. Keep running. You can replace a piece of clothing. You can’t replace you. If the attacker’s grab pulls you toward them, use their force against them. Your knee in their groin or elbow in their chest or face will be stronger because their strength in pulling you toward them adds to the power of your strike.

4. Walk the areas where you are thinking about running with a few friends before you choose your favorite spots. Look for areas where someone might be able to hide behind trees or a building, grab you and pull you back behind trees, brush, or building. Ask your fiends if they think the route is safe or not. If they don’t think it’s safe, find another place to run. You have nothing to prove by where you run. It’s about having a safe run.

5. Keep in mind that the man who wants to hurt you may pretend to be a fellow jogger. He may come up behind you or even jog toward you. Be on your guard at all times. I have a saying that I use in self-defense classes and firmly believe it to be true based on decades of teaching — ‘You can be attacked anywhere, at anytime, by anyone.’ Don’t assume that because someone is jogging on your same running path that you’re safe from them. Be suspicious. Keep your eyes open for anything that doesn’t look or feel right. I recommend runners (and walkers) look to their left corner and right corner a few times each minute. That allows you to take advantage of your ‘peripheral’ sight. You can also stop to take a short break from time to time and use that as an opportunity to do a 360-degree sweep of your running area. If you get a bad feeling about someone, quickly move away from them and toward a group of people you believe are safe. The bad guys will rarely follow you if you’re heading toward a group. They don’t want to be identified, so they’ll leave you alone and look for someone else that day.

6. If you have a ‘feeling’ that something is not right during a run, listen to that feeling. Many women who have come to my classes for training after being attacked told me they ‘had a feeling’ that something wasn’t right — but they went ahead anyway to their great regret. Some people call it a ‘gut’ feeling. Whatever you call it, if it doesn’t feel right — don’t do it. Trying to finish a jog or run when you have a bad feeling about something or someone near you is not worth it. Your life and safety are more important.

7. Okay, here’s the tough part. If you are attacked, you have to stay conscious. You have to fight like your life depends on it, because it may. Women are usually not as combative as men, so you may find it difficult to have to do something that may harm another person. Put that thinking out of your head if you’re attacked. Hurt the attacker before they knock you unconscious. When I say ‘hurt’ — I mean HURT. If a man attacks a women, a child, or an old person, they deserve whatever they get in return. Attack their eyes, their throat, and their groin with all the power you can muster. Hit them, kick them, scratch them, rake them, bite them — do anything and everything you can to stay alive. Use your hands, your elbows, your feet, and your knees. Most attacks tend to be ‘close quarter,’ so you can also use your forehead, side of your head, and back of your head to break the attacker’s nose. If you can grab a rock from the ground, hit the attacker in the face or side of the head (e.g. temple, ear). Yell as loud as you can in their ear. That will ‘stun’ them for a couple of seconds, which may be enough time for you to fight them off and escape. If you can, strike both ears with your open hands (palms) at the same time. That will cause an extremely painful pressure in their head that may cause them to back up or bend over. If they back up, kick them as hard as you can in the middle of their body (e.g. groin, intestines, stomach) and run away. If they bend over, grab the top of their head with both hands and push down as you strike upward with your knee. That will usually break their nose and drop them to the ground for at least several seconds — enough time to escape.

8. Once you’ve escaped, SCREAM!! You may be too busy struggling with your attacker to scream during the attack, but you can certainly scream loudly as you’re running away. Your screams can alert people nearby to the fact you are being attacked. The screams can also cause your attacker to run away from you instead of chasing you. If you can, add words to your screams (e.g. HELP, BAD MAN ATTACKING ME, etc).

9. Find a person, couple, or group of people who look trustworthy and ask them to call police right away. Don’t be embarrassed by being attacked. It’s not your fault that evil people are out doing evil things to women. They need to be stopped. Give police a good description of your attacker. That may lead to an arrest that will keep the person from attacking other women. Many running areas have cameras that police can use to look at the attack and possibly identify the attacker.

10. Take self-defense classes. Attend a self-defense seminar or clinic. Martial arts is great to learn, but it can take months to become proficient at using those skills to effectively defend yourself against one or more assailants. Find an instructor who focuses on teaching the types of skills that can be used effectively almost immediately. I tell my students that I want to teach them something every class that they can use that day or night if they’re attacked after leaving class. Take classes now before you’re attacked. Hopefully, you won’t be attacked — but I recommend you be prepared in case it happens to you.

Be smart. Be careful. If attacked, fight to stay alive. Unfortunately, it does not appear that things are going to get better in our world anytime soon. Things are becoming more dangerous, so we all have to be more vigilant.

Men, if you’re one of the ‘good guys,’ watch out for women, children, and older people. They are often more vulnerable and may need your help. If you don’t know how to help, take some classes in ‘protective’ self defense. That’s where people learn how to use ‘martial’ (fighting) skills to defend other people. Your job is to step between the attacker and victim as a ‘rescuer.’ While you are dealing with the attacker, the victim can escape. Keep in mind that a ‘rescuer’ can become a victim if they don’t know what they’re doing, so get the right kind of training. You can also dial 911 (or 999 in some other countries) as you’re running toward the attacker and victim. Tell police your location. Yell at the attacker that you are calling police. That may cause the attacker to run away. If the attacker comes at you, put the phone in your pocket and leave it on so police can hear what’s happening and get help headed your way. If you see a limb or thick stick on the ground, pick it up and be ready to use it on the attacker if necessary.

I’ll share more about protecting yourself in future newsletters. For now — keep your eyes open, your ears open, listen to your ‘gut,’ and learn how to ‘roar like a lion’ if attacked.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

What I’d like to share with you is the ‘Stop and Drop’ technique found in many kicking arts — like Karate, Kung Fu, Kempo, Savate, etc.

Stop

As someone approaches you to attack, do the following —

• step slightly backward (if you can) so that your back leg serves as a foundation for your stance .. that will make your front leg lighter for a STOP kick .. be sure to keep your back straight and slightly rounded .. sit into your back hip to help you with balance and power in delivering the snap kick

• raise your arms and hands out to help put some distance between you and the attacker

• kick the attacker with your front (light) leg using the ball of your foot — the front SNAP kick is the quickest kick in our arsenal — if the attacker is too close to kick him with your foot, kick him with your knee

• the target area is the attacker’s shin, knee, groin, or stomach — keep the kick low and fast so the attacker can’t block the kick

• if the attacker is close enough, you can follow with a stomping kick with your heel to the top of one of their feet — that will possibly break some of the small bones in their foot, making it difficult for them to chase you

Drop

After completing the STOP kick (and possible stomping kick), do the following —

• put a little more weight on your front foot and leg so it becomes the foundation of your stance .. try not to lean forward or backward with your body so that you maximize your balance and power

• use your back leg to kick the attacker with what we call a THRUST kick — you can use the ball of your foot again or heel, though we practice using the heel because it is a larger, harder bone that penetrates deeper into the attacker’s body for maximum effect — that has more power than the quick SNAP kick, which is why we call this the DROP kick — the thrust kick, coming from the back leg, has the power to DROP your attacker to the ground or at least move them several feet away from you .. that gives you room to run or prepare for another defense if necessary

• the target area is from just above the groin (intestinal area) to the stomach (slightly below or about belly button) .. if you make contact with your thrusting heel into an attacker’s stomach or intestinal area, the chances are good that they will drop to ground in pain giving you time to escape

Liza, who is a Red Belt in Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts, has the flexibility and strength to kick an attacker in the face, which is why her ‘drop’ kick in the photo above is higher than the stomach level I mentioned. If you have the strength, flexibility, and balance to kick someone in the solar plexus, that’s fine. However, if you don’t then aim for the stomach area. Kicking someone in the shin, knee, groin, or stomach is more difficult for an attacker to defend against.

How To Practice ‘Stop and Drop’

‘Stop and Drop’ is part of our warm-up time at Grace Martial Arts. It’s also an effective self-defense tool. Here’s a short example of how to practice the combination —

Once you’ve ‘dropped’ your attacker, escape to safety.

“Perfect Practice Makes Perfect”

Grand Master Robert Xavier

Yon Ch’uan Martial Arts

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

If you are attacked and want to escape to safety, what is your exit strategy?

Think about it. If you had to decide in less than two seconds where you should run once you escape from an attacker, would you know where to go?

We’ve recently looked at Evade to Escape and Evade to Enter. Both have the purpose of escaping to safety in two seconds or less, but how will you know which direction to run in that short time span? Keep in mind that you’ll be focused on protecting yourself and escaping the attack, so where do you get the time to develop an exit strategy?

The best time to develop an exit strategy is before someone attacks you.

What! How can I develop an exit strategy before I’ve been attacked? Don’t I do that when I’m attacked?

That is an option, but not the best option.

The first part of a personal ‘safety plan’ is the 60 seconds before an attack. Every person who has ever been attacked had a period of 60 seconds prior to the attack. We use that 60 seconds to prepare ourselves for possible attacks and one of the things we do is continually build our “exit strategy.” Why? Because exits often change as we move or enter into new situations.

Exit Strategy

Building an exit strategy begins with situational awareness. That’s where we have a 60/360 mindset. We are aware of our present situation at all times (every 60 seconds) and in every direction (360 degrees). We know what’s happening around us and whether we need to do something to protect ourselves or others. Our senses are finely tuned toward safety concerns at all time. Spouses, parents and friends will also be looking out for the safety of others as well as themselves. That can be for human, animal, or other dangers (e.g. cars, trucks, construction equipment, storms, water hazards, etc.)

The worst position to be in is “unaware.” That’s where you have no idea what’s going on around you. You may take a nap and leave the doors unlocked. You may be walking on a sidewalk or in a store texting a friend or talking with someone on the phone. You are not paying attention to your environment and have no way of knowing you’re in danger until it hits you. Then, it’s often too late to respond effectively.

A better position is to be “aware.” What does that look like?

1. Keep your eyes and ears open for any person who could attack you.

2. Keep your eyes and ears open for any animal that could attack you.

3. Keep your eyes and ears open for any “thing” that might hurt you.

4. Keep your eyes and ears open for a way to exit your current location if you are suddenly attacked or otherwise find yourself in harm’s way.

If you see or hear something that looks like it could lead to an attack or danger, you should quickly move into an “alert” position. My wife knows when I have moved from awareness to alert. My visual and audible “radar” is sweeping the area and I’m ready to move quickly to protect her or anyone else I’m with (e.g. grandchildren, friends). My self-defense plans, including an exit strategy, are ready to go. If someone moves aggressively toward me or someone I’m with, I immediately go into defense mode, which includes getting between the attacker and my family or friends.

[Part of training for this kind of self defense is also training your family and friends what you’re going to do in an attack situation and what you want them to do to stay safe.]

Field Tested

Martial arts has a long history that includes military functions (attack/defense). Many of the best martial arts systems and techniques have been field tested through multiple centuries. One of those systems is 60/360 situational awareness. Anyone who has been in the military has studied situational awareness in one form or another. However, you can be the best trained and armed person in the military, but if you aren’t aware of your surroundings – your training and weapons may not save your life or the lives of others.

A Way To Escape

Our goal when attacked is to escape – get away from danger. Knowing how to defend yourself effectively in two seconds or less is an awesome skill. However, if you successfully escape an attacker only to discover that you don’t know how to get from your current location to safety – you have a big problem.

As you use the 60/360 Mindset throughout your day, keep your eyes open for exits – places that would allow you to get away if you had to quickly.

• Do you know where the nearest door, hallway, or stairs are located that would lead you outside or to another part of a building or open area that would allow you to find a way to escape?

• If your attacker comes between you and your exit, do you have a plan for getting through, over, under, or around your attacker to get to the exit?

• Is there more than one exit you can use? If so, do you know where each exit leads?

• Do you know which exits not to use? (e.g. an elevator is usually not a good place to run to unless it’s the only exit available and you believe the doors will close before your attacker can get into the elevator with you).

• If you are surrounded by a group of people or several animals or a fire, do you know what you would do to get away safely?

An important part of self-defense training in Martial Arts is to develop a 60/360 Mindset and an Exit Strategy. We hope this article will help you build on both. If you’ve never trained in this type of self defense, check with your local police, fire department, or martial arts studios to see what ‘exit strategy’ programs are offered.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.

What do martial arts instructors mean when they talk about evade to enter?

In our last article we looked at how to evade to escape. That should be our first response to someone attacking us. If you can get away – get away. But if you can’t get away – evade to enter.

‘Escaping’ should be your main objective. If you can run, run. If you can’t run because someone is holding on to you, ‘stun and run.’ Stunning someone might include kicking them in the leg, hitting them in the face with your palm (like the photo above), poking them in their eyes with your thumbs, stomping on the top of their feet, punching them in the throat — and everyone woman’s favorite — a knee strike to the attacker’s groin.

Once your attacker stops attacking you, that’s your chance to run away. ‘Stun and run’ is quite effective if done with enough power and speed..

Power

The first thing I want to emphasize is how to use power in self defense. Many of my female students through the years have shared that concern because someone who would attack them (or had attacked them in the past) would usually be larger and stronger.

First rule — don’t meet force with force. What I mean by that is don’t think you can ‘power’ your way out by using your strength against the strength of your attacker. You may be able to ‘break free’ of someone’s grip by using some of the techniques I mentioned in the last part of the series. However, if you can’t break free it’s usually because the attacker is too strong. That’s why ‘stun and run’ works well.

Second rule — take advantage of the power your body gives you through ‘adrenaline.’ It’s known as an ‘adrenaline rush.’ It doesn’t last long, but it’s usually long enough to help you hit someone harder than you could ever imagine and run away at increased speeds. You’ll probably feel worn out when it’s over, but at least you will be a safe distance from your attacker where you can call police or someone else for help.

I tell my students to think of the adrenaline rush as a ‘super juice’ God built into the human body to help us deal with stress, excitement, or a physical attack. An adrenaline ‘rush’ uses glycogen stored in your muscles. Adrenaline helps you focus on the attack and use power from your muscles in ways you might not have thought possible. Adrenaline is sometimes called the ‘fight-or-flight’ hormone. That’s what you need when you’re under attack — stun, then run.

Speed

The next thing I want to emphasize is the ‘need for speed.’ It is surprising to see how quickly someone can change an attack into a powerful self defense. My goal for students is to accomplish their escape or stun-and-run in less than two seconds.

While a student can usually evade and escape in about one second, evading to enter to escape will take a little longer – about two seconds total. That’s because the student will push, pull, strike, kick or throw the attacker just before escaping to safety. That will add another second to the technique. If the attack is especially strong, the student may launch a flurry of kicks and punches that might add another one or two seconds to the total response prior to escape. The larger goal is to finish your defense in under five seconds to limit injury to yourself.

Again – and this is VERY important – your goal is to escape from an attacker, not fight with them. They may have a weapon or friends nearby who will join in and try to hurt you. If you can’t escape an attack, ‘stun and run.’ Use any method necessary (and legal) to defend yourself. This is a basic tenet of Women’s Self Defense.

Please Subscribe and Invite Others

We hope you will subscribe to Women’s Self Defense and invite daughters, mothers, and other women in your life to subscribe as well. Subscribing means that each new newsletter will arrive in your inbox on the first Monday of each month. Articles will also be available under the Women’s Self Defense section of this Substack website.

How Do I Subscribe To A ‘Section’ On Substack?

If you're a new subscriber to a publication on Substack, you'll receive all sections by default.

If you're already a subscriber and the writer has created a new section or sections, you'll need to subscribe to them in order to receive a new email newsletter or see a post in your app Inbox.

Subscribe now

I am here to help you, so please share your comments, concerns, and questions about self defense. Even though I’m emphasizing “Women’s” self defense, the principles and techniques I’ll share are just as applicable for boys and men.