While most people don’t necessarily plan to get in fights or become a victim of some sort of violent crime, there may come a time in your life when you are subjected to something of this nature. And although you may not like to think about it now, preparing for it can help you avoid injury and pain, both physically and emotionally.
So while you might not be a fighter yourself, knowing how to hold your own against another person can prove to be beneficial. To help you in doing this, here are three tips for protecting yourself in the event that you get in a physical altercation.
Seek To Avoid Arguments Escalating Into Fights
One of the best ways to ensure that you don’t get hurt in a fight is by avoiding being in a fight in the first place. In most instances, a fight doesn’t just break out over nothing. Because of this, there are usually things you can do to avoid a fight happening.
According to Caroline Cunningham, a contributor to Washingtonian.com, if you ever find yourself in a situation where you think someone might resort to violence, the best thing you can do is try to de-escalate the situation. This can usually be done by removing yourself from the situation or just not doing anything that they would view as provoking them. Although you might be upset yourself, choosing not to escalate the situation is usually your best option.
Know The Most Sensitive Parts Of The Body
Whether you’re in a fight that you saw coming or you’re attacked by someone who’s caught you unawares, it’s good to know what you can do not only to defend yourself but to incapacitate the person attacking you.
To best stop someone from harming you, you’ll want to focus on the most sensitive parts of their body when fighting back. According to Melanie Pinola, a contributor to LifeHacker.com, the most sensitive parts of the body and the ones that are damaged the most easily are they eyes, nose, neck, groin, and knees. If you can harm these areas, you might give yourself enough time to get away or seek help.
Be Familiar With Any Safety Items You Carry
Because you can never know if or when you’re going to be attacked, it’s wise to keep some safety items on you at all times. These could include things like pepper spray, a taser, or sharp rings. However, simply having these items isn’t enough.
Diana Pearl, a contributor to Good Housekeeping, shares that if you’re going to have these items on you, you best know how to use them if the need arises. Take a class or practice so you know exactly what to do if you get in a scary situation.
To help you stay safe, consider using the tips mentioned above to know how to protect yourself in the event of being attacked or in a fight.