SELF-DEFENSE FOR TEENS: USING YOUR HEAD
We have all seen it in the movies: a girl walks through an isolated parking lot and suddenly; an evil-looking guy jumps out from behind a SUV. The girl jabs the attacker in the eyes with her keys or maybe she kicks him in a certain sensitive place. Either way, while he is squirming on the ground, she leaps into her car and speeds off to safety.
Certainly she did everything right in terms of physical self-defense techniques; but, there is a second part of self-defense that does not involve using physical techniques. That second part includes trying to do everything possible to avoid fighting someone who threatens or attacks you. Self-defense includes using your head before using your hands and feet.
INSTINCT, INTUITION, AND COMMON SENSE
People, and that means girls as well as guys, who are threatened and should know how to physically defend themselves if it becomes necessary, but the very best way to handle any attack or threat of an attack is to try to get away. One way to avoid a potential attack before it ever happens is to trust your instincts. Your intuition, combined with your common sense, can help you get out of trouble. For example, if you are running alone on the school track and you suddenly feel like you are being watched, that could be your intuition telling you something. Your common sense would then tell you that it is a good idea to go back to where there are more people around.
SAFETY TIP
When the elevator doors open, does that suspicious-looking person in the corner make you feel uneasy? Do not get on (or get off if the person who makes you uncomfortable is getting on). If you are riding the elevator and you begin to feel afraid, get off on a floor where you know that you will find other people. Your safety is all about trusting your own judgment.
DE-ESCALATING A BAD SITUATION
An attacker is not always a stranger who jumps out of a dark alley. It is sad but true that teens can be attacked by people they know. That is where another important self-defense skill comes into play. This skill is something self-defense experts and negotiators call de-escalation.
De-escalating a situation means speaking or acting in a way that can prevent things from getting worse. A classic example of this is giving a robber your money rather than trying to fight or run. But de-escalation can work in other ways as well; for example, if someone harasses you when there is no one else around, you can de-escalate things by agreeing with him or her. You do not have to actually believe the taunts; of course, you are just using words to get you out of a tight spot. Then you can redirect the bully’s focus (“Oh, I just heard the bell for third period”), and calmly walk away from the problem.
Something as simple as not losing your temper can help de-escalate a situation. Learn how to mange your own anger effectively so tht you can talk or walk away without using your fists or weapons.
Although de-escalation won’t always work, it can only help matters if you remain calm and don’t give the would- be attacker any extra “ammunition”. Whether it is a stranger or someone you thought you could trust, saying and doing things that do not threaten your attacker can give you some control.
REDUCE YOUR RISKS
Another part of self-defense is doing things that can help you stay safe. Here are some tips from the experts:
Understand your surroundings. Walk or hang out in areas that are open, well lit, and well traveled. Become familiar with the buildings, parking lots, parks, and other places you walk. Pay particular attention to places where someone could hide, such as stairways and bushes.
Avoid shortcut that take you through isolated areas.
If you are going out at night, travel in a group.
Make sure your friends and parents know your daily schedule (classes, sports practice, club meetings, etc.) If you go on a date or with friends for an after-game snack, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
Check out hangouts. Do they look safe? Are you comfortable being there? Ask yourself if the people around you seem to share your views on fun activities. If you think they are being reckless, move on.
Be sure your body language shows a sense of confidence. Look like you know where you are going and act alert.
When riding on public transportation, sit near the diver if possible and stay awake. Attackers are always looking for vulnerable targets.
Carry a cel phone if possible. Make sure it is programmed with your parents’ phone number.
Be willing to report crimes or suspicious people and activities in your neighborhood and school to the police.
TAKE A SELF-DEFENSE CLASS
The best way, really the only way, to prepare yourself to fight off an attacker is to take a self-defense class. We cannot teach you all the right moves and techniques here. They are something that you must learn in person.
A good self-defense class can teach you how to evaluate a situation and then decide what you should do. Self-defense classes can also teach special techniques for breaking an attacker’s grasp and other things that you can do to get away. For example, attackers usually anticipate how their victim might react. He might be expecting that kick to the groin or jab to the eyes. A good self-defense class can teach you ways to surprise your attacker and to catch him or her off guard.
One of the best things people gain from a self-defense class is self-confidence. The last thing you want to be thinking about during an attack is, “Can I really do this self-defense tactic?” It is much easier to take action in an emergency if you have already had some practice and experience (“Oh, I did this in class with sensei last week!”).
A self-defense class should give you a chance to practice your moves. If you take a class with a friend, you can continue practicing on each other to keep the moves and techniques fresh in your mind long after the class is over.
We have all seen it in the movies: a girl walks through an isolated parking lot and suddenly; an evil-looking guy jumps out from behind a SUV. The girl jabs the attacker in the eyes with her keys or maybe she kicks him in a certain sensitive place. Either way, while he is squirming on the ground, she leaps into her car and speeds off to safety.
Certainly she did everything right in terms of physical self-defense techniques; but, there is a second part of self-defense that does not involve using physical techniques. That second part includes trying to do everything possible to avoid fighting someone who threatens or attacks you. Self-defense includes using your head before using your hands and feet.
INSTINCT, INTUITION, AND COMMON SENSE
People, and that means girls as well as guys, who are threatened and should know how to physically defend themselves if it becomes necessary, but the very best way to handle any attack or threat of an attack is to try to get away. One way to avoid a potential attack before it ever happens is to trust your instincts. Your intuition, combined with your common sense, can help you get out of trouble. For example, if you are running alone on the school track and you suddenly feel like you are being watched, that could be your intuition telling you something. Your common sense would then tell you that it is a good idea to go back to where there are more people around.
SAFETY TIP
When the elevator doors open, does that suspicious-looking person in the corner make you feel uneasy? Do not get on (or get off if the person who makes you uncomfortable is getting on). If you are riding the elevator and you begin to feel afraid, get off on a floor where you know that you will find other people. Your safety is all about trusting your own judgment.
DE-ESCALATING A BAD SITUATION
An attacker is not always a stranger who jumps out of a dark alley. It is sad but true that teens can be attacked by people they know. That is where another important self-defense skill comes into play. This skill is something self-defense experts and negotiators call de-escalation.
De-escalating a situation means speaking or acting in a way that can prevent things from getting worse. A classic example of this is giving a robber your money rather than trying to fight or run. But de-escalation can work in other ways as well; for example, if someone harasses you when there is no one else around, you can de-escalate things by agreeing with him or her. You do not have to actually believe the taunts; of course, you are just using words to get you out of a tight spot. Then you can redirect the bully’s focus (“Oh, I just heard the bell for third period”), and calmly walk away from the problem.
Something as simple as not losing your temper can help de-escalate a situation. Learn how to mange your own anger effectively so tht you can talk or walk away without using your fists or weapons.
Although de-escalation won’t always work, it can only help matters if you remain calm and don’t give the would- be attacker any extra “ammunition”. Whether it is a stranger or someone you thought you could trust, saying and doing things that do not threaten your attacker can give you some control.
REDUCE YOUR RISKS
Another part of self-defense is doing things that can help you stay safe. Here are some tips from the experts:
Understand your surroundings. Walk or hang out in areas that are open, well lit, and well traveled. Become familiar with the buildings, parking lots, parks, and other places you walk. Pay particular attention to places where someone could hide, such as stairways and bushes.
Avoid shortcut that take you through isolated areas.
If you are going out at night, travel in a group.
Make sure your friends and parents know your daily schedule (classes, sports practice, club meetings, etc.) If you go on a date or with friends for an after-game snack, let someone know where you are going and when you expect to return.
Check out hangouts. Do they look safe? Are you comfortable being there? Ask yourself if the people around you seem to share your views on fun activities. If you think they are being reckless, move on.
Be sure your body language shows a sense of confidence. Look like you know where you are going and act alert.
When riding on public transportation, sit near the diver if possible and stay awake. Attackers are always looking for vulnerable targets.
Carry a cel phone if possible. Make sure it is programmed with your parents’ phone number.
Be willing to report crimes or suspicious people and activities in your neighborhood and school to the police.
TAKE A SELF-DEFENSE CLASS
The best way, really the only way, to prepare yourself to fight off an attacker is to take a self-defense class. We cannot teach you all the right moves and techniques here. They are something that you must learn in person.
A good self-defense class can teach you how to evaluate a situation and then decide what you should do. Self-defense classes can also teach special techniques for breaking an attacker’s grasp and other things that you can do to get away. For example, attackers usually anticipate how their victim might react. He might be expecting that kick to the groin or jab to the eyes. A good self-defense class can teach you ways to surprise your attacker and to catch him or her off guard.
One of the best things people gain from a self-defense class is self-confidence. The last thing you want to be thinking about during an attack is, “Can I really do this self-defense tactic?” It is much easier to take action in an emergency if you have already had some practice and experience (“Oh, I did this in class with sensei last week!”).
A self-defense class should give you a chance to practice your moves. If you take a class with a friend, you can continue practicing on each other to keep the moves and techniques fresh in your mind long after the class is over.
Sekishinkan Tokugawa Dojo will begin offering classes in Self-Defense in Tajimi, Gifu Prefecture, in the early spring of 2010. A variety of classes will be offered both in English and Japanese, including: Self-defense for Kids, Self-Defense for Teens, Self-Defense for Adults, Self-Defense for Seniors, plus a long-term, extended class, The Art of Self-Defense. If you are in the Tajimi area and would be interested in taking such a course, please contact us at:
SAFETY TIP
If you ever need help, draw attention to your situation by shouting out specific words like “Help” or “Police.” Commands like “No!” or “Get away!” or “Back off!” are excellent attention getters if you feel threatened.
