It is a harsh reality that no one is ever completely safe, whether they are at home, work, the gym, or somewhere in between. Unexpected threats to your personal safety exist everywhere. It is for this very reason that experts strongly believe everyone should take time to learn some self-defence techniques at some point in their lives.
In this article, we will discuss the importance of self-defence and the personal safety measures you should take.
Why is Self-Defence Important?
Learning self-defence can help you and the people around you in countless ways, making even the most fundamental techniques valuable to know. Knowing the many advantages of practising self-defence will help you understand why it is so important:
Protection Against Physical Harm
The primary reason why self-defence is essential is that it protects you against physical harm. In the event of an attack or assault, being able to defend yourself can be the difference between life and death. People who know some techniques have a better chance of protecting themselves and warding off potential attackers.
Improved Physical Fitness
Many self-defence techniques involve full-body movements that can help improve your cardiovascular health, strength, and endurance. Therefore, practising self-defence techniques will keep you in good shape.
Increased Self-Confidence
Knowing that you have the skills and ability to defend yourself can make you feel more empowered and less vulnerable. That’s why people who learn self-defence techniques are generally more self-confident. Thus, a positive mindset and improved physical well-being are additional benefits of learning self-defence.
Better Awareness of Your Surroundings
People who know self-defence tend to be more aware of their surroundings because they are trained to recognize potential threats and dangerous situations. So, this enables you to instinctively prepare for an attack or identify an escape strategy beforehand. All of this ensures that you stay safe in any potentially dangerous situation.
Measures You Should Take for Self Defence
Now that you understand the benefits of self-defence practice, you are most likely wondering where to begin. Fortunately, there are a variety of steps you can take to better your understanding and improve your ability to protect yourself in dangerous situations:
Enrol in a Course
Enrolling yourself in a self-defence course is one of the best measures you can take. Ideally, you should look for classes that teach you practical, real-world techniques that you will be able to remember easily and apply where needed. You can find community centres, martial arts studios, and gyms that offer such classes.
Carry the Right Gear
It is better to equip yourself with the right self-defence gear for unlikely situations than to find yourself in an unlikely situation and wish you had the right gear, which typically includes different tools. You should have no problem finding a variety of them, whether you’re shopping in-store or ordering through a wholesale self-defense gear supplier. The different types of tools include mace, pepper sprays, stun guns, batons, tactical pens, and much more.
Observe Your Surroundings
It is crucial that you observe your surroundings keenly if you want to react quickly and efficiently in a dangerous situation. So, there are a few precautions you can take. Staying in well-lit public areas at night, paying attention to people’s behaviour and body language, and being vigilant of any unusual sounds are all proactive measures you can take.
If you ever feel threatened by another person, even if the threat is not made obvious, you should call the police or have an escape strategy in mind.
Some Self-Defence Moves That Everyone Should Learn
People who know different self-defence moves are better equipped to fend off an attacker. Therefore, it is important to learn some basics at the very least:
Palm Strike
If you want to learn a straightforward yet effective self-defence move, you can try learning palm strikes. The palm stroke involves making a fist and then quickly opening your hand, striking with the bottom part of your palm. Ideally, you should aim for the attacker’s nose, throat, or eyes to disable them and create an opportunity to escape.
Knee Strike
The knee strike is typically used when an attacker is in very close range. In such a situation, you can raise your knee and strike the attacker’s groin, stomach, or face to create enough time and distance to escape.
Elbow Strike
You can create a blunt force impact on your attacker with an elbow strike, another effective self-defence move for close-range situations. If you want to use an elbow strike to defend yourself, raise your arm and strike the attacker’s face, neck, or chest with your elbow in a powerful manner.
Grappling Techniques
Lastly, you should try learning some grappling techniques to bail yourself out of threatening situations. Grappling techniques involve the use of body positioning and leverage to control an attacker. Takedowns and submissions are common grappling techniques that can be effective for self-defence, especially against an attacker that is larger than you. Enrol in a self-defence course that teaches grappling martial arts techniques to learn more.
Conclusion
To conclude, self-defence is a critical skill that can help you in multiple ways. Therefore, everyone should be educated on basic level self-defence measures at the very least. If you’re interested in learning advanced self-defence moves, look for a professionally-taught self-defence class near you. You won’t regret it!
Also, read: Personal Protection: Why Guns Make Society Safer for All
