How to defend yourself from an attack in 5 essential moves

Attacks are sudden, and when they happen, it’s all too easy for panic to take over. But with some simple self-defence tactics under your belt, it doesn’t have to. Stay safe on the street with these five essential moves, and be prepared for anything.

First, here’s some rules of thumb for if you’re being attacked:

● Make as much noise as possible. While you’re defending yourself, yell/scream at your assailant to draw attention to your location, so passersby can interject.

● Use your head, knees and elbows where you can. These are the hardest parts of your body, so will provide the most impact (if used efficiently).

● Remember: the objective is to run away. Don’t put yourself in more danger. If you manage to injure your assailant, use the opportunity to get back to safety.

Train with an expert and be sure you are prepared if needed.

1. Hurt their nose

Using the palm of your hand, strike your attacker in an upward forward motion against their nose. The nose is extremely sensitive, so even a move as simple as this can cause it to break or bleed. Whatever the result, they should be hurt enough for you to get out of there.

2. Restrain them with a wristlock

If you think fast, you can momentarily disable your attacker with a wristlock. To do this, flip your assailant’s palm up, then twist and force it towards the ground. This’ll throw them off, but probably won’t stop the attack completely, so pair this tactic with an attack of your own (such as a kick to the groin or headbutt) before escaping.

3. Poke them in the eye

It sounds simple, but something as small as poking your assailant in the eye can stop them, as it’ll really hurt them and they won’t be able to see what they’re doing. Don’t be afraid to be a little forceful - a lot of self-defence experts recommend you use a ‘weapon’, like your keys, to defend yourself, ensuring your attacker’s vision is impaired long enough for you to run off.

4. Backwards headbutt 

If an attacker grabs you from behind, jerk your head back as hard as you can so that you hit them in the face or neck. This should loosen their grip on you. If they don’t quite let go, bend down and reach between your legs to grab the back of their calf or knee, and pull it towards you with as much force as possible. They should lose their balance or even fall over backwards entirely, giving you more time to get out.

5. Forwards headbutt 

A lot of attackers attempt to pin their victims against the wall. If this happens to you, you have a few options. Either dip your body a little and then shoot up to headbutt them in the jaw, or, if their arms are on either side of you, punch them as hard as you can in the armpit so that one breaks away. 

Go the extra mile...

If you want to learn more self-defense techniques, why not take one of our classes? We at Holmes Place offer several boxing classes: Fitboxe, Kick Power and Thai Boxing - among others - check out your local club to see what’s available.