If they are a mugger, they will ask for your valuables. This will be easy enough to deal with: all you have to do is give up your things. While it may be hard to part with some of your valuables, it will be worth your life. Phones and jewelry can be replaced, but your life and health cannot. If the person is looking to pick a fight, let them know that you have no interest in violence. If they are especially menacing or threatening, talking may not be an option, but try it anyway. If the person seems mentally unstable or under the influence of a substance, they will be far too unpredictable for you to deal with. These are often the most dangerous kind of attackers because it is very hard to judge what they are going to do next. Try talking to them in a calm, soothing voice while backing away.
If you’re in a more remote location, like a hiking trail or an empty field, try yelling anyway. While you might not be able to see anyone nearby, people may be close enough that they’ll be able to tell that something is wrong. If you hike often and are afraid of being attacked, carry a loud whistle. The sound will carry further than your voice alone. [4] X Research source Feel free to scream for help and/or call emergency services, because both are just like yelling for help.
Get close enough to strike. If your attacker isn’t close enough for you to strike at their throat, move in a bit. You’ll want to be an arms-width away. Use your elbow and forearm. The harder the part of your body that you use to strike, the more effective and painful your attack will be. Your elbow is solid bone, and you’ll be able to get a lot of power by striking forward with it. Push through their throat. Using your elbow as your weapon, strike your attacker’s throat. Strike as hard and as fast as you can, using the element of surprise to your advantage. Run. If you’ve struck your attacker hard enough, they’ll lose their ability to breathe. When they double over, run away.
If you’re close to your attacker, use your knee. A shorter distance between you and the person attacking you means that a knee will be sufficient enough to make a connection. Force your knee hard into their groin. If they are an arm’s length away from you, use your foot or shin. Using your shin is better, because there’s more surface area to cause more damage. Extend your knee and snap your leg up into their crotch. Run. Once your attacker is doubled over or on the ground, run away as fast as possible.
Extend your fingers to reach their eyes. Most people flinch instantly when they see an attack directed at their eyes, so you’ll have to move very quickly. Snap your arm out towards their face in one swift motion. Press your fingers hard into the eye socket. Simple scratching or light pushing will not be effective. These light attacks will cause pain, but may only further enrage your attacker. You’ll need to use your fingers to push hard into the eyes, pressing them into the skull. Push down. As you push your attackers eyes, press them down towards the base of the skull. Again, this technique is not for the faint of heart, and should only be used in the most dire of circumstances. It can cause blindness and even death. Run. Once your attacker is incapacitated or unconscious, run away.
Your number one objective is to cut or destroy the hand holding the weapon. If you have a knife, then try to cut their weapon arm or hand, and if you have an impact weapon like a stick, then smack the hand holding the weapon. [12] X Expert Source Adrian TandezSelf Defense Trainer Expert Interview. 24 July 2019.
