Geoscience Reference
In-Depth Information
If you are older, or a nonthreatening looking male or female, your looks could be used to your
advantage. Deception is excellent self-defense. By all means, avoid a confrontation if you can,
but if you are unsuccessful in these efforts, use body language and voice to momentarily disarm
and distract your opponent. Once your opponent reaches toward your body, touches you, or at-
tempts to strike a blow, you have a brief moment of opportunity where you may take control of
the situation. If your attacker has no clue that you have the knowledge and skills to defend
yourself with crippling blows to vulnerable parts of his body, he is much less likely to be cau-
tious and protective, so do not go into some cheesy self-defense stance you learned in the
martial-arts class you took decades ago.
Keep your hands above your waist in a nonthreatening stance such as the “thinking pos-
ture,” or perhaps scratch your chin or nervously play with your hair. Turn your body to the side,
standing at an angle to your attacker that minimizes your exposure of vital areas, and be ready
to block your opponent's advance while launching a crippling counterattack. You must use the
element of surprise to your best advantage. You might be able to buy inches of room to in-
crease your options, and seconds to initiate your counterattack. When your opponent is at close
range, an alarming look to the side, a feint, or a gesture toward an imaginary friend could
provide that instant of distraction that you need to strike your opponent's eyes, throat, or groin
or other highly vulnerable areas. Distractions are everywhere—throw things if you can, and use
your voice (
kiai
or spirit yell). This will muster up your will, off-balance your opponent, and
alert others to the situation.
Vulnerable Parts of the Body
There are numerous “pressure points” and sensitive body areas that are vulnerable to attack, but
we are going to focus on those areas of the body that will be most accessible, and easiest to
strike while providing excellent results without the necessity for significant precision, training,
or strength. Which areas you strike, and how you strike your blows, will be dependent upon in-
stinct, training, and what is most convenient and accessible at the moment. There is a world of
information available on this fascinating subject, and I encourage you to expand your know-
ledge and training in this area. The experts involved in helping to produce this chapter recom-
mend balancing your martial-art and self-defense skills with altruism and healing skills, since
life and death are two aspects of the same coin.
Vulnerable areas to strike:
1.
Eyes.
Gouging the eyes with the thumbs, an extended finger, or a swinging blow from the butt of
