Zen Garden > Danger in the Streets - How to Be Your Own Bodyguard (Part 2 of 2)

As promised in Part 1 of this two part article, I will now outline some tactical responses that you can employ. Having studied karate for 35 years and run countless self-defense courses I believe I am as qualified as anybody to teach this...

As promised, I will outline some tactical responses that you can employ. Having studied karate for 35 years and run countless self-defense courses I believe I am as qualified as anybody to teach this.

Here are your options:

1. try to escape - ie run away
2. try to attract the help of others - ie call for help
3. try to outsmart your antagonist - ie trick him or her
4. try to defend yourself - ie fight back
5. succumb to the antagonist - ie give them what they want

Here, now, are my recommendations for each:

1 - If you try to run you will need to be fit. Are you keeping yourself fit? If you have a disability or are too old then this is not a viable option. Sometimes an attacker will chase you, sometimes he will not. It depends on his level of desperation and whether he is willing or capable to chase you. Where do you run? This is a serious option if you are capable but you must give due thought to the terrain, your attire, your fitness, the attacker's apparent fitness, time and location.

2 - If you try to enlist the help of others do not expect a "knight in shining armor" to arrive. Most people will just not want to help you. They don't want to "be involved." They fear for their own safety. And the way that Courts operate these days if they do fight your attacker off they will most likely have to pay the cretin compensation. If you yell "help!" nobody will come. However, if you yell "fire!" everybody will come. Nobody wants to help but everybody enjoys watching a fire - perverse, but true. Yell fire!

3 - If you try to outsmart the antagonist you might try to distract them in some way long enough for you to escape. Here is where you need to be both creative and convincing. A few ideas you might try are as follows. Pretend the police have arrived, that you have a communicable disease or that you know a friend of the person. For example, you might try saying: "Hey, aren't you John's friend?" Everybody knows somebody called John so it may work. At least it will stop the antagonist for a moment by making him wonder whom you are referring to. That moment might be all you need to escape.

4 - Unless you are skilled in a martial art like karate or boxing this option could be a problem. Even if you are skilled it could still be a problem. Never underestimate an opponent. They may have a weapon or they could have friends nearby. People who attack others are good at it because they do it so often. They know how to take all the advantages of fear. My recommended actions for an unskilled or semi-skilled person would be a finger thrust to the eyes and/or a swift kick to the shins. They are the best targets and have obvious tactical advantages for you.

5 - Succumbing to an antagonist is the last option you should consider, particularly if you are a female and the attack is sexual. These days there is a high probability that a violent offender will get what he or she wants and then enact violence on you anyway. Apart from that, if the offender is subsequently apprehended by police that person's defense lawyer will tear you to pieces in Court for not resisting. The lawyer will attempt to convince a magistrate or a jury that you condoned the act.

My final word on all of this is that you really do need to be your own bodyguard. Don't expect anybody else to protect or defend you. It won't happen. When weighing up the appropriateness of your response ALWAYS remember the three variables - time, place and circumstance. Use your experience and judgement.

For more information of self-defense please check out the information in my self-defense e-courses called "Strike Back I and II."

Gary Simpson is a 7th Dan karate master who teaches self defense, motivation, self help and wealth building to students around the world through home study courses. You may reprint this article as you include this author credit and an active link to his web site. Finance - Self Help - Motivation - Self Defense - Personal Growth MotivationSelfEsteem.com