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Issue Date: January 13, 2008
A small woman's guide to self-defense
Size doesn't matter when it comes to protecting yourself against an attack, a martial-arts expert says. See how the 6-foot-2, 210-pound powerhouse gets taken down by our 5-foot-2, 110-pound reporter.
According to a Bureau of Justice survey, nearly three-quarters of the victims who fight back against attackers say their resistance helped the situation. The key, regardless of how strong you are, is to be aware, says Terri Harris, executive director of the National Self-Defense Institute. "Ninety percent of self-defense is awareness; 10% is physical."
For National Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month, USA WEEKEND teamed up with International Fight League, a team-based mixed martial arts organization that's rapidly gaining in popularity. The combination style of fighting -- borrowing moves from karate, boxing and wrestling, to name a few -- can save you from any type of aggressor, both in and outside the ring. Bas Rutten, an IFL coach and spokesman, is one of the many league members who will hold free classes nationwide this month (see ifl.tv/SelfDefense08.html for more information). With the right training, he says, anyone can potentially escape a life-threatening situation.
If you aren't particularly tall, Rutten recommends that you target your attacker's vulnerable spots: the eyes, throat and groin. Throw in some simple mixed martial arts and even a petite woman has a chance to hold off a heavyweight attacker.
We sent our intrepid reporter Reyhaneh Fathieh (who is 5-foot-2, 110 pounds) to demonstrate on Rutten himself (6-foot-2, 210 pounds). "It's all physics," he says. Don't believe it? Here's proof:
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The ultimate self-defense move
By Reyhaneh Fathieh
1. Bas (the attacker) approaches me (the victim) from behind and wraps his arm around my neck to choke me.
2. I quickly turn my head in the opposite direction (if approached from the left, turn to the right), then press my chin against my shoulder to prevent Bas from fully grasping my throat. With both hands, I grab his wrists and pull downward.
3. I take a wide diagonal step backward and to the side with my right leg, then plant my left leg behind Bas. The lower half of my body is now behind him. Squatting for support, I grab the back of his thighs, just above the knees.
4. Now that Bas is slightly off balance, I can lift him with my legs (as opposed to my back, to minimize the burden of weight) and flip him backward.
5. As Bas falls and releases his hold (he needs to do this to break his fall), I step to the side. With him on the ground, I can escape.
Photographs by Todd Plitt for USA WEEKEND
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