No escape.

Find an escape route. Maybe you don't like to think of yourself as the type of person to run, but having an escape route can be necessary to your survival. Especially if you're not in a fair fight to begin with. Survey your surroundings so you know where to make a quick getaway if necessary, especially in potential trouble areas like rowdy bars and alleys. You'll also want to get out of sight as fast as possible, not simply escape, so be sure you know how to do that, as well.

Read peoples' body language. You should be able to read body language to the point where you can start to intuitively feel peoples' inner attitudes and emotions. If you start to perceive a threat from someone else, or know if someone is watching you, it will help you trigger your inner "alert" and let you know that you might need to get ready for a combat situation. Reading body language will also help you better understanding logistics, such as by seeing where your enemy looks - he might tip you off to the presence of a few of his allies.

Know your blind spots. When you're driving on the highway, you know where your blind spot is. But if you enter a new area, you don't really know, so you'll want to check. It's good to know the situation, but if you have a few blind spots, that means you face the unknown. As a general rule, it's usually a good idea to try and have as few blind spots as possible. If you do have them, be aware of where they are so that you can check them in a hurry if need be.

Reading a combat situation means that you should be shrewd. Know when the odds are stacked against you, read the logistics, and keep your emotions out of play. The better you understand the situation, the better chance of survival you'll have.

Photo Credits: SarahCartwright

Originally posted 2010-01-12 03:13:27.

Learning self-defense.

First, you should be sure to carry yourself confidently. Don't look down at the ground - be sure to hold your head up high and keep your posture straight. This doesn't mean you have to be rigid, but it does mean you'll want to avoid looking sad or lonely. Criminals will often target individuals who look down at the ground often. These people are less alert and more vulnerable to attack. Don't let yourself look vulnerable, even if you are.

Posture is very important to how you're perceived. Recall that kings in Europe would often stand up straight and barely even move their head in order to look at someone. This higher-value posture indicated that they were less reactive to others, and therefore of a higher status. You should be able to give off the vibe of someone who is capable of self-defense by the tone of your voice (clear and strong) as well as your posture. Do you look like the type of person who would crumble if attacked, or do you look like you'd fight back? If you look like the type of person to fight back, you lower your chance of being attacked.

This doesn't mean that you should always walk around being tense. You can be relaxed, but be sure to assert yourself confidently in social situations and to walk like someone who knows how to handle himself.

Keeping your posture straight will also maximize the appearance of your physical stature. Dog trainers sometimes recommend holding sticks against attacking dogs because it becomes an extension of your body, making you appear larger. Use this with your own posture - stand up straight and don't be afraid to take up plenty of space.

Self-correcting your posture to the point it becomes a habit will also help you to remain mindful of your situation and be on the look-out for potential attacks. The better you're able to prevent attack, the less you'll have to worry.

Photo Credits: snappybex

Originally posted 2009-08-14 03:11:52.

Self Defense Class.

• Get a can of pepper spray, but make sure that it is legal to carry and that you're trained to use it. Check with the local officials and try to take a basic self-defense class designed for women. Ask the instructors about pepper spray and how you can begin carrying it. Pepper spray isn't just a mild irritant - it can seriously disable would-be attacks, so don't take carrying it lightly.
• Travel in groups as much as possible. It's not always possible to travel with someone at your side, but try to make as much use of other people as you can. For example, ask a security guard to walk you to your car. Be sure that you go out with friends. The larger your group is, the less likely it is that you'll be attacked. Don't let the need for a companion restrict you to your home, but do try and be aware that you'll be more protected with others at your side.
• When you're alone, make sure that you walk against traffic so that you can keep better track of cars. This is especially true at night when it's difficult to see people from the road. Don't assume that cars will always see you - it's up to you to stay out of harm's way.
• Remember that prevention is better than reaction. The more you can do to keep yourself out of harm's way, the better. This means thinking about threats in advance - such as the aforementioned tip of asking a security guard to walk you to your car. This also means equipping yourself with pepper spray even if you don't think you'll ever need it.
• When someone asks for your money at gun or knifepoint, give it to them. Even if you have the skills to defend yourself, it's best to remain calm and simply hand over the property. It can be replaced; your life can't.
• Inside the house, don't let anyone in unless you requested them there or you personally know them. People who say they're from a company shouldn't be granted access simply because they claim to be from somewhere; call the company first to verify their identity. Make no exceptions, even though it may seem odd to do so.

Photo Credits: adamjackson1984

Originally posted 2009-08-12 03:05:13.