According to Australia’s National Research Organisation for Women’s Safety (ANROWS), 92% of women in Australia are physically assaulted by a male perpetrator. More alarmingly, 41% of assaults are by a former partner. However, these statistics are just a few within a much larger, concerning trend of domestic violence. Have a look at the details of the personal safety survey in 2016.
Women’s safety and protection have always been some of the most important topics of public discussion. Sometimes, perpetrators believe that women are more submissive and will not fight back. With more mechanisms in place to enhance public safety, women are continually becoming more aware of safety.
Living safe and free from violence is everyone’s right; reducing violence is everyone’s responsibility. Having said this, there is always room for improvement in order to better society. Here are several self-defence tips that women can utilise to stay safe and avoid violence.
Join a self-defence class
It is always better to stop something bad from happening than to deal with it after it happened. Joining a self-defence class will give you the self-confidence that you need to deal with your enemy. It will also give you the technical skills necessary to confront your attacker.
One of the best forms of self-defence is Personal Protective Measures (PPM). It’s also known as Bujinkan Ninjutsu, which is a form of Martial Arts. This self-defence training in Adelaide is designed to help people deal with assailants who have dangerous weapons, improving one’s chances of staying safe.
Do not hesitate to hit
Most of us hesitate in hitting other people as we have always trained to tame our nerves and remain composed. In a dangerous situation, however, this hesitation might be a dire mistake. Feel free to cause as much pain as possible to the attacker because if you don’t, they probably will. Defending yourself might just give you enough time to move to a safer place or seek help. It’s a judgement call of the moment, which you should use to improve your chances of making it through unharmed.
Never reason with your attacker
The person who is attacking you is not in a perfect state of mind. Moreover, they do not think like you. You can never properly comprehend the human mind or criminal minds. In a situation like this, reasoning with your attacker can be dangerous. Always remain calm, yet focused, looking for any avenue of escape. At the same time, try to assert your dominance, as this may lead your assailant to question their decision.
Scream for help
If you think you are in a dangerous situation, do not hesitate to scream. Scream like you have never screamed before. Firstly, your loud voice might frighten your attacker into thinking they’ll be caught. Secondly, you may be in a crowded area, or at least, close to an area of people, whom may hear your scream. This will increase your chances of someone coming to assist you. When someone is holding a weapon to your head, there is no shame in doing whatever you need to do. Scream to survive.
Stay fit
In a dangerous situation, having an above average-level of fitness could go a long way in deterring your attacker. To increase your level of safety and confidence in dealing with such situations, consider the need to work out regularly. Daily exercise not only helps improve your body but also the mind. It can increase your self-esteem and improve your reflexes, which will greatly help in unprepared attacks. Put simply, the fitter you are, the more chance you have of escaping the clutches of your attacker.
No matter how much training you receive, there will always be predators out to attack women. Preventative measures can help you stay safe, but this will only do so much. In such situations, women need to stay focused and rely on their instincts to remain safe. So, learning self-defence techniques through martial arts might help anyone stay alive in the worst situation.