Effective Self Defense Techniques and Principles

Understanding and training the right self defense techniques can save your life.

As outlined on my Self Defense Page, in a violent encounter you could be dealing with more than one attacker, a bigger opponent or an opponent holding a weapon. 

In these situations, there is little time for fancy movements.  Your objective is to do enough damage in order to escape quickly.

 
A matter of life and death

When training self defense techniques it is important to get into the right mindset.  Try not to think in terms of martial arts competitions, with a referee and rules. This includes mixed martial arts competitions which are often perceived as ‘real’ fights.

Try to think about a situation where your life is threatened.  For example, being mugged by two individuals while walking to your car at night.

In a scenario such as this, you need to do whatever it takes to escape.  How you react could mean whether you live or die.

 
Gaining the advantage

In a situation where your life is threatened you want to gain the upper hand as quickly as possible.

I believe the two of the most important ways to gain the advantage is to hit your opponent/s first and/or use a weapon.

 
Hit first

Hitting your opponent first probably goes against many mainstream opinions on self defense.  However, in a situation where your instincts tell you that your life is in danger, with little chance of you escaping without having to resort to violence, I believe that it is important to get the first strike in. 

Hitting first allows you to gain some control over the situation. Afterall, you can be unconscious if your attacker gets one good shot in first.

 
Gain an advantage with a weapon

Another effective way of gaining the advantage in a self defense situation is to get your hands on an object that could be used as a weapon. 

A chair, a set of car keys, a bottle, a tree branch, a drinking glass, a cue stick, basically, anything in the surrounding environment that can be used to inflict pain.

I recommend taking note of objects in any environment that you are in that could be used as a weapon.  Making this practice a habit will mean that you are more prepared should violence break out.

Self Defense Techniques

The following techniques should to be used for self defense only, as a last resort, after all other avenues have been exhausted.

 
Attributes vs Techniques

Like any martial art technique, it is the attributes that you possess that will allow you to effectively use them, not the technique itself.  Examples of attributes include timing, accuracy, speed and power.

Click here for more information regarding martial arts attributes.
 
In saying this, there are some techniques that are more effective in a self defense situation.  Some of these are outlined below.

 
Attacking the eyes

The human eye is very sensitive.  If you have ever had something in your eye you will know what I mean.  You simply cannot do much until the pain, or irritation, has resolved.

Attacking the eyes is an extremely effective self defense technique.  It is a simple movement that does not require power or strength.

When striking an opponent’s eyes, relax your fingers and hand and do a ‘flicking’ motion into the eyes.  The motion is similar to trying to flick water off the tips of your fingers.  The aim is to hit the eye with your middle finger, however, any finger that lands into the eye will have the desired effect.

Practice this motion on a training partner who is wearing safety goggles.  Start with your opponent standing still and progress to enacting different scenarios where the eye strike will be effective.  Remember, try to hit them first.

 
Attacking the groin

Any male who has been hit in the testicles will be able to appreciate how effectve a groin strike can be in a self defense situation.  The pain is immediate and debilitating.

As with the strike to the eyes, this technique does not require a lot of power or strength to be effective.  In fact, a light ‘flick’ can sometimes be a lot more painful than a solid hit.

You can either strike the groin using your foot or knee, depending on the distance between you and your opponent.

When kicking the groin it can be a good idea to feint (fake) a strike high to draw your opponents attention upwards before you deliver the blow to the groin.

Practice the groin strike on a partner wearing a groin cup protector.  Even with the protector on it is important that you practice hitting the inner thigh, just below the groin, to avoid injuring your training partner.

As with the strike to the eyes, progress to the point where you can pull off this technique on a moving training partner who is really trying to hit you.

 
Ear slapping

Ear slapping can be very good way to disorientate an opponent and is used in many Chinese martial arts.  The reason that it is effective is that the vestibular system, the system responsible for a human’s sense of balance, is located in the ear.

When the ear is struck hard with a cupped hand the disorientation is immediate.

Although, not as easy to perform as the eye or groin strike, the ear slap can be effective in certain situations where you cannot access an opponent’s eyes or groin.

A good way to practice the ear slap is on an training partner who is wearing a motorcycle helmet for protection.  If you do not have access to a helmet you can practice slapping the side of their shoulder.  

Do not practice this technique by actually slapping a training partner in the ear as you can seriously injure them.

 
Injuring to degree

When performed with the correct attributes, the above self defense techniques will buy you enough time to either run, follow up with more strikes to further injure your opponent or deal with your next opponent. 

In a self defense situation it is important to injure only to the degree necessary for you to escape or to control your opponent.  Anything more than this can result in criminal charges being laid against you.