In this self defense guide, i will teach you several tips on becoming a better fighter. Keep in mind, i'm not training you for ring fighting or just beating the average punk on the street. I'm teaching you how to fight against people of any skill level be it average to highly trained attackers. Assuming that you've already trained in hand to hand combat, these are principles you need to keep in mind and you will become proficient in self defense.
* Be aware of your environment - If you aren't aware of your attackers or potential attackers and the environment you are in then you won't be able to properly defend yourself. You will be easily taken by surprise and lose opportunities to escape much less survive. Be mindful of your surroundings.
* Strike first - It's very important to beat your opponent to the punch quite literally. If you check out my post "how to end street fights FAST" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2017/01/how-to-end-street-fights-fast.html). By landing the 1st strike accurately and without warning, you could end the fight or at least severely injure your attacker and give you more opportunities to strike him or her down. Remember it's about quality more than quantity in violent situations. This video will give more insights.
* Strike in vital unguarded areas - You shouldn't blindly hit your opponent wherever. You should hit vital areas such as the eyes, nose, groin, jaw, neck, temples, solar plexus, ribs, sides of knee, thighs, shins, under the chin, back of the head, throat, knees, sternum, and so on. When you strike an attacker in one area, his or her reaction is to either defend or evade but this opens up an unguarded bodily area to attack. The same happens when your opponent attacks you and vice versa. Practice landing accurate quick shots in training so it will be second nature in combat.
* Use improvised weapons - If you have weapons and you know how to use them, use them. Don't hold anything back. Adapt to the level of violence. The more lethal force is being used against you, the deadlier the weapons you will need. Use guns, knives, bats, chairs, sticks, brass knuckles, tactical lights, stones, broken glass, the list goes on. Weapons are great equalizers especially against trained fighters. This video will explain further in detail.
* Use the environment as a weapon - There are many tools in your environment that you could use to your advantage such as barriers (fences, cars, or walls) and other objects. You could slam your attacker on concrete or into a car. You could also throw dirt or sand into your attacker's eyes to blind him or her temporarily as you strike at full force and full speed. If you want more, read my post "how to use the environment as a weapon" (http://everythingselfdefense.blogspot.com/2016/12/how-to-use-environment-as-weapon.html).
* End the threat quickly - The longer a fight goes on, the more danger you put yourself. You don't know if your attacker has a weapon or friends in waiting. Many people in martial arts learning self defense make the mistake of moving around like it's a fight. You need to put yourself in the mindset that if you don't end the threat as quickly as possible, there will be more threats coming your way. Be aggressive and constantly attack your opponent. Don't let your attacker breathe until the threat is over. Quickly shift from being on the defensive to the offensive or you might find yourself knocked out eventually.
* Don't step back - When you step back, you are giving your opponent a psychological advantage. You need to exert dominance over your attacker, not submissiveness. If you keep moving back when your attacker is striking you, fear might take over and eventually you will get hit. This video explains the mechanics behind stepping back.
* Get in superior positions - Avoid staying in front of the direction of attack and get in superior positions to attack your opponent. For example if your attacker came charging in at you, move to the side and deliver an attack of your own. By understanding how to get in superior positions of advantage will put your opponent at a disadvantage.
* Fight dirty - Remember that in the streets, there are no rules. Eye gouging, headbutts, biting, limb breaking, and other brutal tactics are useful in incapacitating an attacker.
* Pay attention to body language - One thing you should never do is give away your intention to attack. This is a common mistake i see people make. By tensing up your arms, clinching your fists, moving your fists around, and throwing jabs trying to figure out where to hit are giving away your moves. By doing this, your attacker can predict what you will do and he or she can counter-attack you. Here's a training tip i came up with to help you use body language to your advantage. Get in front of a mirror and practice striking without telegraphing your attacks. Make sure that your completely relaxed and your eyes aren't wandering around. Be sure to also have your hands completely still before you explosively strike quickly. Practice speed and timing. You could also trick your opponent into thinking you will hit him or her in one area only to hit in another area.
* Have a strategy - If you have no strategy then you will get hurt or killed. Without knowing your enemy first and foremost, you cannot develop an effective strategy to defeat him or her. In order to have an effective strategy, you must think and respond quickly. If your facing someone who is superior than you in hand-to-hand combat for example then you need an equalizer such as weapons and injure him or her.
* Adapt to every situation - This is probably the most important tip. If you don't know how to adapt to various situations, you won't survive. Adapting to the circumstances is one of the most fundamental keys to self defense. Adapting might require you to change your strategy of attack when the first did not succeed. What works in one set of situations will not work in a different set. Proper judgement will allow you to assess how to deal with them in self defense.
* Use distractions - If you can distract your enemy in combat be it through fake attacks or other objects then you allow an opportunity to land a fatal blow.
* Be in the present moment - Don't focus on the outcome of the fight. Don't focus on past failures in self defense. If you focus on either one, you will lose period. Be in the present moment of the fight. Respond to your opponent's movements and allow mindfulness to rule.
* Be in the present moment - Don't focus on the outcome of the fight. Don't focus on past failures in self defense. If you focus on either one, you will lose period. Be in the present moment of the fight. Respond to your opponent's movements and allow mindfulness to rule.
* Understand and control distance - By controlling the distance between you and your opponent, you are able to attack while avoiding your enemy's attacks. Learn how far your arms and legs can extend so you can use them effectively in combat.
* Change the patterns and rhythm of attack - Everyone has his or her own way or rhythm of fighting. In order to be a skilled fighter, you must learn to recognize patterns and rhythms then change your own to catch your opponent by surprise. For example, you may notice your attacker likes to bob and weave as he or she throws upper cuts mixed with punches to the head each time you attack. You could strike to gauge a reaction and quickly deliver a kick to the groin or sides of knees. If you like to punch hard and fast in combination, you could suddenly pause briefly to surprise your opponent before you land a kick to the solar plexus or groin.
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