Warning: This article contains sensitive topics. Please do not read further if this will harm you in any way. Stay safe.
In light of the recent news of the tragic murder of a young primary school teacher, Ashling Murphy, the topic of women’s safety has been once again spotlighted across the country. It seems that day after day we are hearing more stories about women being sexually assaulted, attacked or even murdered. We must continue to fight for effective government action, societal changes and equality, but whilst we are fighting, these tragic events are still occurring. This issue stretches far further than women’s safety- it is an issue of male violence and our patriarchal society, which prevents women from having truly equal rights.
Due to this, it may be of interest to you to learn how to protect yourself in this current climate. Below we have listed some simple self-defence techniques that may help you to feel safer out in public.
The first tip is to aim for spots of weakness. Try to avoid strong areas like the chest, back and knees, as attacks here tend to be ineffective. Focusing on areas on the face such as the eyes and nose can distract any attacker, giving you a chance to escape their grasp. Sensitive areas such as the neck and crotch are also weak spots. Aiming here can give you an advantage. Make sure to use as much force and power as possible, in order to make as large an impact as possible.
If an attacker approaches you from the front, your best port of call is to attempt a groin kick. In order to do this, ensure you are stable on the ground. Lift up the knee of your dominant leg and aim for the pelvis area. This can often have a vast impact on the attacker, giving you a chance to run away as quickly as possible. If your attacker is further away, extend your leg and kick using your shin.
Another technique that may be useful is the palm-heel strike. This move targets a very vulnerable area of your attacker’s face, the nose. With a steady, wide stance stretch your arm out completely. Ensure your palm is flat and open, not in a fist. Rotate your left hip towards your opponent and stretch the adjacent arm outwards, aiming for the nose. Rotate your hips again to face the right and repeat this with your other arm.
One of the most common self-defence tips is a hammerfist punch, clutching keys in between your fingers. This is a swinging motion, in which your elbow is pointed upwards. If you are in a comfortable position, swing your arm down and aim for the nose. This punch can be quite impactful, especially if using keys as a weapon. If you are not comfortable with using keys, hairspray is a good alternative. You can legally carry this, unlike pepper spray. It also is impactful because it can be used from a further distance if you do not want to get too close to your attacker.
If you wish to learn more, there are also various self-defence classes available across the country, specifically targeted towards women. In the current climate, it is so important to protect yourself, and hopefully, these couple of techniques will assist you in doing that. Stay safe.