Self Defense is not a black and white subject. There are many different facets to it, and one of these is the importance of Verbal Self Defense Skills. Now this seems like a pretty easy topic. But much of what is taught is plain wrong.
Verbal Self Defense Skills are consider to be a way in which to communicate with a potential attacker to hopefully defuse, de-escalate or end a confrontation. However if there are no physical skills present to go along with these verbal communications the odds are they will not work effectively if at all. Your training needs to be complete as possible and part of a normal routine of fitness.
Verbal Self Defense Skills
Quite often teachers of these types of Verbal Self Defense Skills will tell people to state "NO" very strongly. But there problem is for the most part this is not going to work! It will have little meaning and the attacker may even consider it humorous.
As I was looking today at some of what is being taught one thing really grabbed my attention. This was the idea that somehow all this Verbal Self Defense is a Zen art-form and not manipulative.
Yeah, NO you are being deliberately manipulative to buy time, delay an action from the attacker and hopefully discourage them enough to move on. Don't worry about their "feelings" as some people will teach. I don't care at all what happens to this person once they leave my sight!
Things NOT to do
As much as I do not care if this guy steps out on the road and gets hit by a bus you do not want to insult them. Do not feed the anger. Be strong and assertive as well as vert clear with your COMMANDS, "get out of here NOW!!!"
No matter how well trained you are do NOT threaten them with anything, even the police. If someone is with you tell them in a loud voice "call 911 NOW, do you hear me!?!?" No need to address this as a threat to the assailant. Make them believe you are in charge! Under most circumstances the attacker wants a easy victim!
Things To Do
Be loud and assertive in your communications! Try to keep your body on a 45 degree angle from the would-be attacker so he or she will need to keep re-positioning to remain dominant!
And LOOK THEM IN THE EYES. Not doing this makes you appear like a victim and will encourage pursuit. You can glance away when they speak like you are thinking about what they are saying, but keep them in your peripheral vision at all times.
Keep your hands up in a non confrontational position, not like picture above! Hand up, at a 45 degree angle, pinkies towards them, hands open! Not far from the body so they can be used to fend off a reach. This also prevent them [you] from being grabbed as easily.
Practice Verbal Self Defense Skills!
You need to practice to get good at this. The very best way to do this is being alone in front of a mirror and just do it! After some time your confidence will grow and you can train this will friends or colleagues depending on your personal situation.
Remember the only reason that this incident has not yet turned to violence is because the attacker has not YET decided to hurt you!
Humane Pressure Point Tactics
This skill set, Verbal Self Defense Skills are taught as part of our Level One Humane Pressure Point Tactics Course as Kyusho Jitsu University. For more information please follow the link below.
https://gold.kyushojitsu-university.com/humane-pressure-point-tactics-h-p-p-t/
