Rape

Defend by Attacking

 Body language, de-escalating, boundary setting, and evasive skills are the first lines of defense, but they do not replace the need for violent counter measures nor address the necessity to overcome the fear of injury. Practical and powerful techniques may determine the outcome of an attack. You should attack while remaining focused, not struggling against the assailant's strengths, and attacking vulnerable targets. Do not poke or gouge, this will only anger the assailant; instead, attack with powerful kicks and punches. Use weapons of opportunity, such as a broom, piping hot coffee, a book thrust into the throat, etc. Yell! Besides drawing attention to your plight, it prevents “freezing” and summons the fighting spirit.

If pinned down, can use the hips to dislodge or heave off an assailant.

To avoid being choked, cut, or hit in the face, keep your head and throat out of the attacker's reach, position your legs between your body and his and use them like battering rams to vital regions. Use the hips to put maximum power into any technique. Retreat Syndrome One of women's biggest challenges is learning to not retreat when confronted with danger. If an attack is imminent or already in progress, moving back can have dire consequences. It triggers predator/prey dynamics that will draw the attacker in, giving him a tremendous tactical advantage. Instead, women must summon their will, move in, get inside his strike zone, and attack similar to a lioness. The element of surprise―going from Barbie to ballistic―is the best defense. Once you commit to violent counter strikes, there is no turning back. While stun-and-runs are sometimes effective, be prepared to apply a continuous counterattack until it is safe to flee. Turn Fear into Rage The fear of rape terrifies most women. It interferes with their basic sense of safety and freedom. Some may call it paranoia, but the fear of sexual assault is based on fact. It is estimated that 12 million American women have been the victim of "forcible rape" and that 1 out of 8 will be assaulted in her lifetime. The aftermath of rape can be devastating, profoundly altering a woman’s sense of self for years, if not a lifetime. No woman is immune, yet few are prepared.