Self Defense For Women - An Ounce of Prevention is Your Most Effective Women's Self Defense Techniqu

Women's self-defense is a subject that spawns many myths.

One of the biggest myths around women's self defense is that women are weak and unable to fight back. But that myth ignores the truth that you can avoid most attacks by taking simple preventive measures that require no physical strength. These are very effective-often they preempt the attack from occurring at all.

Another is that crime happens only in rough urban neighborhoods. The corollary is that many people let their guard down because they live in the suburbs or a "safe" neighborhood. The result is that many people who employ excellent street awareness while walking in the streets of Manhattan, are oblivious to their surroundings when going about their business in their neighborhood.

While it is true that crime may be more prevalent in certain locales, the truth is that crime can and does take place everywhere. Just ask the police department of any "nice" quiet, suburban neighborhood.

Most attackers like to pick on easy victims. They are looking for targets that would be unwilling or unable to fight back. And, ideally, the victim would be too befuddled to give an accurate description to the police.

Attackers seek out targets who have their guard down.

Try to get in the habit of maintaining a general awareness of your surroundings even when you are tired, upset, or think that you are in "safe" or comfortable territory. And that includes the time when you are engaged in the most routine of day-to-day activities.

Some months ago there was a spate of robberies of women in Philadelphia. They had just completed their grocery shopping. Each woman had shopped during the daylight hours and each was attacked as she was engaged in unlocking the front door to her house while her arms were full of groceries.

The attacker came up from behind and surprised the women. The women were beaten and some were injured severely enough to require hospitalization.

When the attacker was caught he admitted he cased his prey from one of two area supermarkets. He followed them, knowing that when they got into their cars they were going to drive straight home to put the food in the refrigerator.

When they arrived home, they were vulnerable-too preoccupied with juggling bags of groceries while unlocking the door to take effective action.

Who thinks of the possibility of predators in the local supermarket? Who would expect to be attacked by a stranger on their doorstep in the middle of the day?

Do you look around to see who is watching you when you are grocery shopping or at the local mall?

Being aware of your surroundings confers two advantages.

First, it signals to the would-be attacker that you are not easy pickings. He will often just go on to someone else. Many times you will never even know that you averted an event.

The second advantage is that your awareness may give you a warning that something is amiss-enough time to run, scream, or even just cross the street.

A general awareness of your environment will not prevent every crime or every attack. But just by keeping your eyes open and staying alert, you have using one of the most effective self-defense strategies for women (and men) you can employ.

by Lisa Cooper