Self-defense comes with so many easy to do moves, but the areas that you target with your first moves can make all the difference. If at all you are to manage getting away from your attacker, you must choose body parts where you can inflict the most damage without too much effort. The position of the attacker and proximity to you will of course determine which area you are able to reach and strike, but the good thing is, there are several parts you can strike using your hands, knees or even feet no matter the position.
The eyes – The eyes are some of the most sensitive parts of the body; your attacker will not be able to see anything if you damage the eyes in some way and they therefore are some of the best you can choose to target. Scratch, poke or gouge the attacker’s eyes using your knuckles or fingers and you will leave lots of pain giving you time to escape. Temporarily interfering with vision is amongst the easiest and the most effective ways of dealing with a physical attack and actually getting out of the situation.
The nose – This is a good place to target when the attacker stands in front of you closely. You can use the palm heel to strike up right under the nose throwing your weight into the move so you cause pain and send the attacker off balance releasing their grip on you in the process. The nose also makes an easy but effective target when the attacker is behind you because you can strike with your elbow. When you aim for the nasal bones with all your energy it will do the trick and set you free so you can take cover.
The knees – They are ideal spots for self-defense because they partially incapacitate the attacker. The knees remain vulnerable from any given angle and you can also easily kick at them without the risk of having your foot grabbed. Simply target the side area of the knee to cause injury or incapacitate the attacker. The front part of the knee causes even more injury, but it is not as effective in causing imbalance to the attacker.
The neck – The side area of the neck is the best target because this is where the jugular vein and carotid artery are located. Hold all fingers straight and tightly together thumb tucked and knuckle slightly bent, then drive them right at the side of the neck. This is known as the knife hand strike and it will temporarily stun the attacker, giving you the upper hand.
Learning a few self-defense moves and techniques can save you big time when there is no one else around to come to your rescue. It helps to be ready at all times.