Options in Women’s Self-Defense

Five Principles of Self-Defense ©

After assessing the emotional and physical problems of crime, realistically evaluating what, how, and why criminals commit their crimes will determine the most viable options to avoid threatening situations or when defending oneself during an assault.

Unfortunately most self-defense classes have reversed this order or never look at the emotional and physical problems involved in crime. These noble self-defense instructors attempt to apply physical options to generic situations. Keep in mind that it does not matter how well one can “punch and kick” or perform various other martial techniques. What really matters is what you can effectively do when under the conditions or constraints imposed upon you by an assailant.

The more aware and knowledgeable you are about how criminals operate, the faster you will recognize threatening criminal behavior. The sooner you can recognize a threat the sooner you can respond and distance yourself from the potential danger. Those who choose not to be aware are more vulnerable and easily surprised, tricked, isolated, and controlled. When attacked many victims were quickly overwhelmed and commonly say, “It happened so fast…”

Proper preparation and knowledge go hand in hand. When crime prevention has failed, the intended victim is now facing a decision whether to resist and must determine the method of such defense; this is regardless of whether she has planned for such an event.

Coping strategies women have applied during assaults have varied widely. Women have four general options when confronted by a rapist and can use multiple strategies within each of these general options.

Different situations call for different options. A woman who is willing to actively resist an assault may not know the most effective methods to apply and/or be inexperienced in evaluating danger. Another woman may be “street smart” and know the best methods but lack the confidence to execute them.

It is advantageous for women to possess proper and realistic self-defense skills necessary in order to make the best decision possible given their situational conditions, personality, limitations, and the criminal’s behavioral pattern of the assailant who is confronting them. The knowledge gained in Principle One provides information about how to adequately access the best survival choices. Fighting may not be the best choice in all situations and in other situations escape may not be the best choice. The difference is in the knowledge a woman has when making her choice based on proper preparation and self-defense training.

I. Crime Is an Emotional and Physical Problem
Ii. Options
Iii. Preparation
Iv. Mind-Body-Spirit Are One
V. Awareness