Verbal Self-Defense: A Critical Factor in Women’s Self-Defense

Verbal self-defense, using your voice in a threatening situation, is an extremely important tool for protecting yourself. How? Uncommon in popular belief, criminals don’t just pounce on an individual when they feel like it. They attack when they see an opportunity available to them. If it’s easy, they’ll take it. They will prey on those who are weak, unaware, and an easy target. Criminals will act with premeditation or stalk their victims before attacking. If you show that you are familiar with your surroundings, walk with confidence, and give the impression of strength, a criminal will not want to work to fight you.

Keep your eyes on everyone. Just because they don’t “look” like an attacker doesn’t mean a guy in a business suit can’t be. If someone approaches you, look them in the eye, hold your hands out in front of you and yell “Back!” or “Stop!” Most of the sex offenders interviewed say they leave a woman alone if she shows that she is not someone to mess with or that she is not afraid to defend herself.

It’s called setting a verbal limit or verbal self-defense. Many who have used this as part of their self-defense training say they were startled when they took a step toward a menacing stranger and yelled “Stand back!” in a strong, assertive and projected voice. And the would-be attacker did exactly that.

Using pepper sprays can work the same way. Simply by pointing at a potential attacker and yelling “I’ve got pepper spray!” it may be an excavation. That is if it is in your hand at the time.

Pepper sprays are only effective if used correctly. Telling your would-be assailant that you have pepper spray…and it’s in the bottom of your bag is not effectively using it, or any weapon or self-defense product, for that matter. Whether it’s a sledgehammer, stun gun, or even your keys, have it readily available in your hand. More self defense products can be found online at this great website http://www.safetyquestproducts.com

Knowing how to use these devices also plays a very important role in protection. You must know how the device works and be familiar with it. How? Practice. Practice. Practice.

When you use mace, go out and shoot a tree. See how pepper spray really works. See the distance it takes to reach a target. If you’re going to use your keys, plan ahead exactly where the attacker would stick them. The eyes and throat are fantastic targets. Say to yourself, “I will use this if I feel my life is in danger, no doubt.” and without hesitation.

There are places that actually have computer simulated club practice rooms. They are extremely realistic. These are the same simulation rooms that police and security officers use for their own training. Check with your local police to see if they are available in your area.

This type of training helps to program the mind during adrenal stress. Or another form is called Body Alarm Reaction (BAR). You must train the mind with a stressful situation or adrenaline response to know how it will react during a real confrontation or attack. The way you react in a BAR moment will let you know if you will hesitate in a life or death situation.

Knowing how verbal self-defense works can be an excellent safety tool for a woman to avoid falling prey to a stranger’s approach. Verbal self-defense is also another way to increase your self-confidence. It allows women to see the power of their voice, the protection they can have of their voice and not feel threatened by anyone.