Petite women's self defense...

Question

I'm interested in taking some sort of self defense classes like krav maga or kick boxing but the one concern I have is my height. I'm 5'3" but very athletic (i'm a dancer). Most classes teach to hit the eyes, nose, neck, or ears but chances are if a guy is attacking I'll be way too short to hit any of those places before he intercepts it. The only lower areas are the groin and knees but most guys are prepared for groin kicks. Does anyone know of any classes that would be especially helpful in my situation or any techniques or places to hit? Thanks in advance

aMuse · Accepted Answer

When it comes to self defense your best options are really fighting styles that utilize leverage and counter attacks. I'd recomend either No Gi Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Krav Mega, and/or Wing Chun Kung Fu. Jiu Jitsu in general is more about technique then strength. You can drop people twice your size and use leverage to attack their joints at their weakest points or cut of their air way. As a 5'3 girl you're never going to over power a guy with force. Wing chun is more responsive to counter attacking and is great for closing the gap and defending against offensive blows, you may not be able to disable so it has a some value. Krav Mega is pretty brutal in it's attacks, but it's also something you need to be explosive and forceful for. I grew up a wrestler, and I have favoritism towards grappling because it's just so damn effective at taking anyone out one on one, but I could understand the value of Krav Mega when you are facing more then one opponent and just need to kick them in the nuts and instantly go after the other to disable them and run away. I've taken on more then one person with grappling a number of times, both in safe circumstances back yard wrestling and in street fights/muggings and it's always carried me to victory. You have to use what works for you. Having several tools in your chest doesn't hurt, so long as you know how to use them without thinking.

MyNameIsJonas · Accepted Answer

Krav Maga is great. It does take time to master but it will come in handy. I think it's important to remember in your situation you are only trying to defend and flee an attacker not train to take one head on. Against a man who is 6 foot and 200lbs you don't want to begin a one on one fight you want to hurt or disorient then flee. Some tips and things to consider -

Invest in mace, a taser and a pocket knife as back up. Can never be over prepared.

Some techniques that may help... Depending if you wear boots regularly or sneakers you can kick with learning certain kick techniques to the shins/ankles can be devastating. Many who master such techniques can easily generate over 2x force body weight and actually break a shin.

https://www.YouTube.com/watch?v=-Ob69-laGdM

Graphic just so you know. Use bottom of foot or heel of boot. Not your own shin must condition for that.

Eye gouging works well. Biting jugular can be fatal (human jaw is very powerful)

You can be taught a lot of different techniques but nothing is like real fighting. Remember be aggressive and inflict as much damage as possible if your being attacked. The best attack is one that is not seen coming. It is impossible to defend against.

snowangle · Accepted Answer

Hit his neck; all you need is a quick strike right in the center (where the cartilage rings of the trachea are). When a guy attacks you, he expects you to struggle and flail and scream like the prey he thinks you are. So the quick strike to his throat will come as a surprise.

If he grabs you, remember your knees and elbows. Knee him repeatedly if he grabs you from the front, and elbow him repeatedly if he grabs you from behind. These were the single two most used moves I did during my attack simulation.

Also yell instead of scream. Trust me, if you don't yell, you will forget to breathe. You don't want to pass out in the middle of a fight. A simple "hai!" or "no!" with every strike will keep you breathing.

PonyCar · Accepted Answer

Wing Chun is a very popular martial art among small people, as its effectiveness is not based on strength. I know one person who does it, and she's actually much smaller than average also. She says most of the people in her class are also small.

Aikido is another one. My cousin does it and he's literally a 5'4" twig. He's done aikido for years and it's all about redirection of force, which is ideal for smaller people because that is what someone bigger than you will try to use on you.

crazyincalifornia · Accepted Answer

Kick boxing is great cardio, but might be limited in SD for gals.
I've been participating in Karate, off and on, when I make the time, for about 4 years. I'm not too sure it truly prepares you for a street defense. I mean you pretty much have to see it coming to get into a defensive stance. Also, once you're down you are at an extreme disadvantage.
Still I do it because I have friends there (all totally nice) and I like the exercise.

pepper1993 · Answer

Trust me, guys being "prepared" for a groin kick is something of a fallacy. Guys cannot protect their nuts every second, there's always going to be an opening eventually, and it only takes one shot. I used to spar with guys after class (one building housed like 6 different martial arts/self defense classes) and I would spar with boys taking Jujutsu, TKD, Judo whatever, and lots of times I told them I was going to hit them in the nuts at some point, and they say stuff like "pfft yeah right" and then thirty seconds later they are on their knees. Sure those first one or two shots they might block, but you'll always get your chance and you better make it count haha. Also, keep in mind, a "groin attack" doesn't always mean a kick! So I wouldn't worry too much about the height thing, my best friend is right around that height and she is a stone cold bad ass (who also has no problem hitting dudes where it counts).

As for what classes you should take, I don't think you can go wrong with just your basic "Women's Self Defense 101" whatever its called. I did the whole self defense thing as well, they will definitely teach you multiple, effective, groin strike techniques.

Anonymous · Answer

Learning self defense is a must for any girl wanting to feel safe. However, it is very important to choose the right course. The class I took was offered by our college and it was very intense, we learned all sorts of things from awareness/avoidance to basic and last resort techniques. Our female instructor told us we are going to learn some brutal stuff, but we must not be squeamish, self defense is not a pretty thing. She also explained us some very important points: Girls cannot compete guys on strength but can be trained to excel in specific techniques designed to explore guys natural vulnerabilities. When fighting back in a serious situation you need to inflict an incapacitating injury, fast without warning.

However, the methods must be taught properly but at the same time regularly exercised to become automatic when needed. For me and the other girls it was not a piece of cake to listen to detailed graphic descriptions of brutal techniques how to gouge eyes or how to destroy a rapist's testicle.

With a right technique even a petite girl can take down a strong guy. Groin is indeed a good target but you should at first distract him e. g. by an eye strike to make his genitals an available and unguarded and then to apply some of the effective techniques like scoop kick. You kick with your raised foot between the attacker’s legs so your toes make a contact with the sensitive back of the testicles and instead of bringing the leg back on the ground you pull it quickly towards yourself to jerk his balls hard causing more damage and pain than a normal kick.

jndixn · Answer

The best target is the nuts but since they expect this, it is best to feint a high attack to draw his attention away from your intended target and immediately go for his nuts.  He can't defend two things at once.  Being petite, it may be better to use your hand and try to grab his balls. You only have to grab one nut but if you do get hold of one, don't let go and keep squeezing till he passes out.

Aizou · Answer

can I suggest Tai Chi? for you, if you feel like

height is a problem, yang style tai chi would be

a good way to start, you don't need strength for

this, since you'll be returning the force they fling

at you, back at themselves even more powerful by

making them slip out of balance and push them away.

noone will get hurt this way either, but they won't

mess with you again ^.~

Anonymous · Answer

For guys you’re honestly better off carrying weapons. Against girls, groin hits are usually one hit KO’s. The great thing about hitting girls in the groin is that it only takes one hit to completely incapacitate them in the fetal position on the ground. Guys are another matter, they actually tend to be better at taking groin shots for whatever reason.

tebow4mvp · Answer

I don't care how tough a guy is if you spray him in the face with mace and then kick him in the balls he'll be down. I'm assuming from your dancing you  have strong legs so I bet one of your kicks would hurt pretty bad. Have you ever had to hit anyone before?

Lockdown · Answer

How about Krav Maga? I do feel its appropriate for self defence. I've had 2 female friends who were attacked recently and they distracted their attackers by showing off their panties and breasts and kicking their attacker in the groin.

rjroy3 · Answer

Specifically Maybe Thai Womens Self Defense. It is effective and the easiest style of fighting to pick up that actually works. a lot of elbows and knees

Moloch · Answer

Krav Maga is your best bet. You can't really defend yourself in other forms united you're real good, and I think you just need some pointers, not on it for the long haul.

Anonymous · Answer

Krav will teach you how to open them up for attacks. Once you learn how to make a man stagger and spread his legs, his balls are no match.

TsubasaCorrupted · Answer

I suggest aikido. Strength isn't as important and footwork. You redirect an opponents power and momentum against him, and being a dancer would work in your favor here.

Maazin · Answer

Are you spooked by someone? A tight slap in front of everyone works most of the time. The obsession with striking the groin area doesn't work always.

Anonymous · Answer

petite women look like kids...at least you have to be afraid only pedophiles))) not maniacs or somth

ntrdr · Answer

Get a concealed weapons permit. Problem solved.

Anonymous · Answer

You could practice kicking me in the balls ;)

life101x · Answer

balls weak spot.

PowerpuffJohnnyBravo · Answer

Their guys. Duh>>

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