Self-Defense Instructors Say to Stay Aware

Rochester, N.Y. -- Self-defense instructor Ryan Fredericks says there's no set way to handle an attack, but with proper training you can be prepared.

“You definitely have to have a mind set and a skill set to back what you're going to do on the street as far as protecting yourself,” says Fredericks, who runs Close Quarters Combat in Rochester.

He says the first thing everyone can do is pay attention to what's going on around you.

“Don't fumble on your cell phone text messaging or calling anybody,” Fredericks says. “Have your keys ready to get into your vehicle, look around look under your vehicle... Make sure no one is following you.”

He says if someone does approach you with a weapon, give them what they want, but don't let them take you to the next location.

“You basically want to do everything that they say in the hopes that giving them your money, your wallet, your purse, is going to be enough,” says Fredericks. “If they're looking to take you somewhere, do not go and put up a fight.”

Fredericks says only with proper self defense training should you try to disarm someone, but if you do find yourself fighting back, he says going for the groin doesn't always work and that there are better spots you can target.

“You might be grabbing the sides of someone’s skin, their love handles, gripping onto their neck, pulling an ear…. Go to the face. Don't worry about the groin because it's not necessarily going to do that much damage until you're in a position of dominance.”

Reported by: Edward Moody
Email: emoody@13wham.com
Last Update: 10/08 7:46 pm
http://tinyurl.com/yfyt3p6

Victim of a sexual assault

If you are the victim of a sexual assault:

• Seek medical treatment immediately, even if you don’t feel you have any physical injuries; you may have internal injuries, which require treatment. You can also receive medication to reduce risk of sexually transmitted diseases and, if you choose, medication to prevent pregnancy.
• Do not wash, change clothes, comb your hair, or wipe yourself after urinating. Even if you do not wish to pursue legal action against the perpetrator, by collecting evidence, you give yourself the option of pressing charges in the future.
• Seek counseling or support from someone you trust or a mental health professional. After a sexual assault, many women are in shock and may feel fine and able to “cope,” but there can be a delayed reaction to the assault.

National Center for Victims of Crime: 1-800-FYI-CALL (1-800-394-2255)
http://www.ncvc.org/ncvc/Main.aspx


Information came from the following link
http://bgh.kaleidahealth.org/services/services_display.asp?SID=350&CID=3

Best Defense

"You're best defense is to look at your lifestyle, figure out what kind of threats you are most likely to face, and implement strategies that reduce the chances of them happening." http://www.nononsenseselfdefense.com/self-defense.htm

Quote

Train for what happens most and you will be able to handle most of what happens. Marc MacYoung

Awareness, De-escalation, Physically Defending

Awareness

Awareness is defending yourself by avoiding danger altogether by thinking ahead, or making good decisions. Examples include parking in a well-lit area, not wearing music headphones while jogging (so you can use your sense of hearing to pay attention to your surroundings), or looking under your car/in the backseat before entering to ensure there is no one waiting for you.

Due to its non-physical nature, awareness is emphasized heavily in women's self defense classes where it is assumed that the attacker will probably be larger and stronger than the victim.

Awareness: http://tinyurl.com/mah5w

De-escalation

De-escalation is the use of voice, tone, and body language to calm a potentially violent situation before violence actually ensues.

De-escalation: http://tinyurl.com/mah5w

Physically Defending

****LEARN TO TRUST YOUR INSTINCTS****
If you choose to run away from your attacker, be careful to make sure to run to a safe place, where other people are that can possibly help you.

****If you do run your attacker will be behind you and you will not see what and where they are****

****There is the possibility of your attacker being able to out run you****

Men and women have different socializations. A man expects a man to stand up to them, and an assailant will use this to talk the man into a fight. Men who choose to attack women are cowards but dangerous. A man does not expect a woman to stand up to them, and a male assailant will often back down when she does.http://tinyurl.com/mah5w

Environment

Always be aware of your environment. Make sure that you don't have any distractions.

The other day I was watching a woman walking near the local University. She had an ipod in her ear, and a cell phone on her other ear. She was looking down while walking also.

One of the higher locations of occurrence of attacks for women are universities, hospitals, and malls.

This woman had too many distractions while walking at a high concurrence location. What advice would I give this woman or any woman walking on a university? 1) don't walk alone during lite hours---when there aren't many people around, 2) never wear an ipod, you can't hear what's going around you. 3) keep your cell phone away unless you are in immediate danger, again it takes your attention from the environment. 4) look up while you are walking. Walk with self confidence, even if you have to pretent you have cofidence. Look at every one in the eye when walking past them and say hello casially. By looking at the person you will be able to identify them. Would be attackers are looking for victims---victims aren't people who walk with cofidence. By saying hello you have also made yourself human in the other persons eyes--the would be attacker doesn't look at their victims as humans but as prey.

Trust Your Inner Voice

Have you ever felt weird around a person and didn't understand why? I would suggest that you listen to that feeling---it has never led me astray when I have listened. When I haven't listened to it, I've gotten into situations that were not pleasant.

If you feel odd about going a certain way home, listen to that inner voice, choose a different way.

If you feel like some one is following you listen to your inner voice and go to the nearest police station---make sure you do not go home. If you go home, you will be leading your stalker to where you live.

If you don't feel good about going to an event, even if all your friends are going to be there, listen to your inner voice, and don't go.

If you have a feeling of distrust toward a person, listen to your inner voice and stay away from them, and don't share information with them.

If you get into an elevator and a person in the elevator makes you feel "yucky"---listen to your inner voice. Get off the elevator at the next stop, make sure they know you are aware of them, don't get on the elevator...etc.