Basic Self-Defense Techniques Anyone Can Use

Modern day world is fraught with dangers no matter where you live and self-defense has become a critical skill everyone should know. Regardless of age, gender, or physical fitness level, we all must know at least the basic principles of self-defense techniques and tactics to stay safe or protect our loved ones. 

So in this article, we will focus on bringing you the best and most effective self-defense tactics that anyone can use in different situations. This guide primarily focuses on techniques and tactics that require little to no practice, but will significantly improve your chances of escaping unharmed. Without further ado, let’s dive right into it. 

Basic blocks and head movement

Knowing how to effectively block punches and kicks requires martial arts training. But everyone should, at least, know the fundamentals of blocking, like keeping their hands up in the guard, and the correct motion of the arm when you are placing the block. You simply won’t last long if you freeze and leave your head exposed to the attacker. 

If the fight breaks out and you can’t run away, the first thing you need to do is to put your arms up in the guard, and this is not rocket science. Keep both of your hands at your cheek level, chin down, and your lead hand slightly out in front, and chin down.

You may even raise your arms a bit because, in street fights, the majority of the attackers’ punches are aimed at the head. In such an intense and chaotic situation, no one really bothers applying any advanced tactics and throwing hooks to the body. Unless they are skilled fighters, of course.

Head movement is also crucial when it comes to defense. Always be on the move, and never hold your head in the centerline because this makes you an easy target. Lean the upper body and head in all directions to make yourself much smaller, and force the attacker to miss. Even if they hit you, leaning will probably cause the punch to “slide” off your face.

Use of Everyday Objects 

Learn how to use everyday objects as improvised weapons for self-defense. This can include keys, pens, a rolled-up magazine, or a bag that is often heavy and big enough to serve as a weapon. Anything you carry with you can be used against the attacker, and here are some examples.

The key might be small and light, but if you put it in between your middle and ring fingers, it actually becomes a scary weapon. With a direct hit, you can easily cause a deep cut on the attacker’s head, and with that, severe bleeding. And on top of that, they won’t see what hit them and many of them would think you have a knife in your hand. This will destroy their momentum and probably put them into panic mode and force them to run away.

Some of the everyday objects we all carry with us are:

• Mobile phones
• Keys
• Perfume

Women tend to carry perfume that is usually stored in a small glass bottle. These small perfumes and deodorants have sharp edges and are usually quite heavy, and you can use them to blast the attacker straight in the face. These small objects can generate the same force as hitting someone with a rock and cause a lot of damage.

If you are going through a dangerous neighborhood, be prepared and get perfume, keys, or other object in your hand.

Mount Position Escape

In case the fight lasts long enough, it will eventually end up on the ground at some point as most street fights do. Things can get pretty chaotic when both persons hit the ground, especially if the attacker is physically bigger and stronger than you, and can easily use this to their advantage to overwhelm you with sheer force. 

One of the worst positions you can find yourself in is the “mount position” when the attacker is sitting on your stomach or higher toward the chest. They are essentially putting their entire weight on your stomach and escaping from the bottom is quite challenging, which is why this is considered the “most dominant position” in grappling arts such as BJJ. From here, they can quickly hurt you with strikes and cause severe injuries.

The most common way of escaping is by shrimping to go into a slightly better position or do a bridge and roll. 

The Push Kick (Front Kick)

Push-kick, or front kick as people call it in martial arts, is one of the best self-defense techniques that is also quite easy to learn. It doesn’t require any specific martial arts knowledge, flexibility, or fitness level and everyone can do it.

In some way, the front kick is the equivalent of a jab and fighters use it to measure their range, keep the opponent at a distance, at if the kick lands at the right place, potentially hurt their rib or liver. 

The best thing about push kicks is that the reward-risk ratio is quite high. First, it is much easier to hit the opponent with a push kick than with a punch to the head because the target is much bigger.

Next, you can throw without worrying much about being instantly hit back as the attacker will be out of your range. And if you time it and land it well, the kick can instantly throw them off balance and buy you a few seconds to run away, grab an object, or set up a better defense. 

• The front kick is usually thrown with the lead leg because it covers more distance and it is also the faster way. 
• Raise your lead foot off the ground and bring it up to a hip level.
• Slightly lean back with the upper body to generate the force, and then push your foot forward from your hip.
• In an ideal case, land with the ball of your foot or heel at full extension to deliver maximum force.

Jab + 1–2 Combination

Jab is not only the easiest strike to learn, but it is also one of the most effective ways to hit the person standing in front, and the fastest. People who know how to time it well and generate force through the hip rotation can also inflict serious damage. A well-placed jab can easily break the attackers’ nose, knock out a couple of their teeth, and make their faces bloody. 

In a self-defense situation, you want to keep it all simple and effective. Those spinning jumping kicks walk only in movies. The more complex the technique is, there is greater the risk of missing and being countered.

If things escalate into fighting, use a jab to quickly blast the attacker. In an ideal scenario, they will be moving forward so you can use their momentum against them to generate even more force and hurt them.

Even better, you will follow up a jab and launch a rear hand to throw a cross with your dominant hand. Jab-cross is known as the “1–2 combo” and is the most used striking combination across all striking sports such as boxing, MMA, or kickboxing. 

Dirty Tactics

Always have in mind that there are no rules in the streets which means you can use any type of technique or tactic to protect yourself. Dirty moves such as hitting the groins, or gouging the eyes might visually look brutal and are illegal in most combat sports, but these techniques are actuallym very effective in real life but are also on the more risky side. These are small targets.

Target areas:

• Groin area
• Neck/Throat
• Nose
• Eyes

Targeting body pressure points is not easy because first, you have to know where these points are, and second, you must be skilled to hit the right place. However, hitting the attacker with a kick or knee to the groin, or grabbing them with your hands during the scrambles is not too hard. As long as the kick or knee goes between the legs, you are going to hit the right spot, that’s for sure. 

Upon landing, the attacker will instantly feel intense pain, and will likely crumble down to the ground. Just look at how hurt MMA fighters are, who by the way wear groin protectors when they receive a hit to the ground. All of them need at least one minute to recover. Now imagine doing the same thing to a person who is probably not trained in martial arts and doesn’t have that high pain tolerance. 

The same stands for eye-gouging which is maybe harder to execute than hitting the groins, but is even more effective. Just glancing the fingers on the attacker’s eyes can easily leave them temporarily blind. 

Non-Physical Self-Defense Tactics Everyone Should Now

Running Away

Although this may sound cliche, running away is probably the best and most effective self-defense tactic everyone can use if you have little experience. Of course, there are many situations where running away is not an option. But in the majority of others, you can quickly sprint away to safety.

This is a smart move if you get jumped by multiple aggressive attackers and other scenarios where you stand no chance of putting any physical resistance. In some situations, you might drop your bag first, especially if you are dealing with a robber. Instead of chasing you down the block, they will quickly switch their focus to what’s in the bag and leave the scene. 

Push Back To Keep Your Distance

As soon as the attacker starts getting in your face and requesting something, be sure to stay calm, and loud, look them straight in the eyes, and protect your space by pushing them back and loudly saying “Leave me alone!” or “Stay away from me!” Pay close attention to your balance and posture. 

Also, keep your feet busy and try to move in all directions while pushing them away which will make it harder for them to catch you with a cheap shot. Staying in the centerline of their attack is never a good idea because it makes you an easy target.

What this technique does is signal to the attacker that you are not an easy target and that you are focused on what’s going on, and ready to fight back if needed. Most of the time, pushing them away and being loud will do the work because the attacker will realize you are not as scared as they thought.

Keeping your distance is also important because it prevents the attacker from hitting you with a strike, or getting a hold of you. Never allow them to get in your face as this is the point of no return.

Awareness and Prevention

The first and most important self-defense technique is awareness. Pay attention to your surroundings and avoid potentially dangerous situations whenever possible. If you are in another country or town, be sure to always be on alert, maintain a low profile, and try to anticipate the problems coming your way three steps in advance.

The initial step is early threat detection. Always be alert to your surroundings, and by doing so, you can easily spot unusual behavior, and suspicious individuals looking at you, and anticipate potentially risky situations. If you have too many alarms going on around you, finish your drink and move to another place, or simply walk away from that place back home.

Being aware and thinking ahead also helps you determine potential escape routes. On the streets, things can escalate from 0–100 within a second and you want to plan your way out ahead. If you are in unfamiliar territory, try to identify where is the nearest safe place you can run away, like a police or taxi station, maybe a restaurant or hotel where you can get help.

Although awareness and prevention is not a martial art technique, it is actually a very effective self-defense tactic that can help you stay out of trouble. A lot of people are completely unaware of the situation they are in, especially when they travel to another town or country, which is why they often get robbed or end up being victims of physical abuse.

Get Loud and Make a Scene

If you get in some type of trouble and your life is in danger, try to be as loud as possible, and if the situation allows you so, make a scene to attract as much attention as you can. This is one of the most effective self-defense tactics you can use in any place where you are surrounded by people such as the street or a bar. Of course, be careful not to overdo it.

Yelling or screaming loudly can alert people nearby that you are in trouble. In public spaces, this can prompt bystanders to intervene by asking the attacker to calm down or call for help. Their presence alone and their watching what’s going on from across the street will instantly make the attacker uncomfortable because they will realize there are witnesses who may intervene physically, or call the police. In the end, these witnesses can put you in jail if things go to court.

Shout-specific requests like “Call the police!” or “Help me!” can prompt bystanders to take action. This direct communication can be more effective than vague cries for help.

Next, speaking firmly and loudly can send a clear message to the potential attacker that you are not an easy target and are willing to fight back if necessary.

Conclusion

The basic self-defense techniques presented in this article are not limited to martial arts experts but are accessible to everyone. By mastering the fundamentals of blocking, head movement, and strikes like the push kick and jab, individuals can significantly increase their chances of escaping dangerous situations unharmed.

Also, using everyday objects as improvised weapons and applying dirty tactics when necessary such as hitting the attacker’s groins or throat can make a lot of difference. When all else fails, getting loud and making a scene can alert people around you and bring help. 

Remember, self-defense is not just about physical strength; it’s about knowledge, awareness, and preparedness. With these basic self-defense techniques in your toolkit, you can bolster your personal safety and gain the confidence to face any challenging situation head-on.