Personal Defence Academy

Personal Safety Tips - Simple Defensive Moves - Part 2 of 2

Continuing the previous segment on simple defensive moves, we explore some less orthodox or well known methods of self-defence that can be potential life savers.

Shin Scrape
Did you know that being kicked in the shins can be a very painful experience? I'm sure anyone who has accidentally bumped into furniture can attest to this. As such, the shin scrape is an excellent way to inflict pain and damage on a potential aggressor.

A shin scrape is like a kick to the shins of an aggressor, but unlike a normal kick, you want to land your foot on the shin and grind it down all the way to his foot. The idea here is to use your shoe and your bodyweight to cause as much pain as possible. This is especially effective when wearing harder soled shoes, and can be combined with a kick to the knee, followed by the shin scrape, and finished with a foot or heel stomp. The shin scrape is versatile enough to be used whether your aggressor is in front or behind you, and is an easy move to learn for most people.

Bite Attack
When stuck in a dangerous situation with no other avenues of escape, chomping onto any soft tissue your aggressor provides you with may well be your ticket out. While there are certain risks involved with this technique, it is still a highly effective surprise attack when used correctly.

Usually, biting is used when pinned or held with no other limbs available to attack the aggressor. From the ears and nose to the arms and thigh, and even the fingers, anywhere with soft tissue is fair game for biting. However, be careful not to take too large a bite, as you might get a mouthful you can't clamp down on. Take a small nip on skin and flesh, and try to turn your head a little to the side to use your incisors instead of just your front teeth. Once you latch on, bite down as hard as you can until the hold on you is release. There's a certain amount of gross factor to this, but it should be the last thing on your mind when your safety is at stake!

Screaming
Yes, you read that right. Screaming is another effective self-defence technique that can be used to great effect. Not only is it a sneaky move that can stun your aggressor, it also alerts others to your plight. So don't be afraid to work those lungs when in danger!

Screaming only works up close and is best employed when you're near an aggressor's face or ear, for example when bear hugged from the front. Using as high a pitch as you can possibly muster, scream directly into his ear to give his eardrums a shock. However, screaming only has temporary effect, so make sure you follow up immediately with other attacks both during and immediately after the scream.

And that wraps up our second segment on simple defensive moves. Hope you found it useful!

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