Here’s some important safety tips from Kevin Marshall, the trainer at our recent self defence classes run in conjunction with the City of Sydney and “Fight Like a Girl”.

Awareness - Always try and be aware of your surroundings.  Its is important to know who is around you and how close they are to you at all times. Be aware of your exits. 

Don’t be distracted - Attackers (being cowards) pick on soft targets.  This includes gay men that are distracted by phone conversations, ipods, finding something in their pockets etc.  Walk confidently and with purpose when you are out and about. 

Safety in Numbers - It is always better to walk together with others.  Make it a habit to walk with your friends to their cars after a night out and then get them to drop you at your vehicle.  If you drop a friend home, wait for them to get into their house before driving off. 

Distance - Knowing where other people are is the first step, keeping them at a safe distance is the next.  Once a potential attacker ‘closes the gap’ it becomes very hard for you to have enough time to adequately launch a defence if necessary. 

Keep your hands up! - Keeping your hands up provides a ‘fence’ or a barrier between you and the attacker.  It allows you to maintain distance and have your hands in a good position to protect your head, or launch strikes to their eyes and face should the need arise. 

Targets - Remember to go for targets that will create a strong reaction and diminish the attacker, this will give you the best chance to end the confrontation, Eyes, Throat, and Groin! 

Improvised Weapons and Shields - Use your environment to help you defend yourself.  Everyday objects can be easily used to help even the odds against an attacker.  Common shields are items such as water bottles, locking yourself in your car, or using stationary objects to put between you and the attacker to limit their ability to get to you. 

Material Goods - Don’t loose your safety and health over material possessions. If you are being threatened and all they want is material possessions give them the goods and run.  Nothing you are carrying is worth getting bashed (or worse) for. 

Secondary Crime Scene - Never let an attacker take you to a secondary crime scene, no matter what they say, as this normally leads to the victim’s death.  If they try to move you it’s time to fight and fight. 

Seek Help  - If you are experiencing violence at home, or suffering with the effects of post traumatic stress, seek out the assistance of professional help, e.g Life Line or Reach Out are good places to start and remember if you are attacked report it, you may be saving another person. 

For more information:

 www.fightlikeagirl.com.au