7 Self-Defense Techniques for Women Recommended by a Professional

Victor Lyalko, the acclaimed martial arts master, wrote a book where he described the most effective methods of self-defense to help women if they are attacked.

1. For starters, memorize the vulnerable places.

It doesn’t matter how big or heavy your attacker is because you can beat anyone if you know where the most vulnerable spots are. The main ones are the eyes, nose, throat, chest, knees, and groin.

You can attack in any way you want, but to be on the safe side, you need to remember that the most effective moves are aimed at these areas.

2. The simplest and most effective moves

One of the best moves that will make any giant whimper or drop to their knees is grabbing the wrist. Grab the little finger and ring finger with one hand and the middle and index fingers with the other, and bend the wrist forward.

If you can’t grab your opponent’s hand, hit them with a fist or finger between the collarbones or into their Adam’s apple. This will allow you to disorient your opponent enough for them to take a long time to come back to their senses.

3. If you were grabbed from the front:

If you are grabbed from the front and you can’t lift your hands, do the following: move your hands forward and make a fist in front of your pelvis. This will create enough room between you and the attacker.

After that, hit the attacker’s nose with your forehead. This will make the attacker move away from you. Next, hit the groin with your knee.

If there is still some room between you and the attacker, there is a way you can protect yourself using your palm. Straighten your left arm and hit the attacker on the chin and nose with your right arm. Then hit them in the groin. This way, the attacker will be disoriented for a long time and won’t be able to move.

4. How to free your hands:

You can easily escape a stronghold if you remember the “rule of thumb,” which is to rotate your arm to the side of the attacker’s thumb.

If they are holding your arm tightly, rotate your wrist toward the thumb. When your arm is under the attacker’s, pull your arm as strongly as you can.

5. If you were grabbed from behind:

Attackers often come from behind because this is the easiest way to hold the victim’s arms so that they can’t move them.

To set yourself free, quickly bend back and try to hit the attacker with the back of your head. It’s okay if you can’t do it — the point is to make the attacker put one of the legs forward.

Now quickly bend down, grab his leg, and get up while pulling it with you. The attacker will lose balance and you will be able to drop even the biggest opponent.

6. If you were approached and grabbed from the side:

An elbow hit is one of the most dangerous hits in all kinds of martial arts. This is exactly the hit you need if you are approached from the side.

Hit the attacker’s temple, jaw, or nose with an arched move. After this, the attacker will take a few steps back. Now hit the belly or chest and run.

7. If you were pushed against the wall:

It happens very often that attackers try to corner their victims or push them against a wall. In this situation, it’s necessary to remember the most vulnerable places and hit one of them depending on your position.

• If both of the attacker’s arms are up, straighten your palm and hit the armpit.
• If one of your arms is down, there is a chance you can hit the opponent in the chest, neck, or jaw.
• But one of the most effective and powerful moves is a hit with your head. Squat a little to be lower than the opponent. Then quickly jump up and hit the jaw with your forehead. This move will instantly disorient the attacker and give you a chance to escape.