By Aradell
We all hope we never have to do it. Never have to be in that sort of a situation, when somebody, or worse yet, something, threatens our life or our safety. And yet, the reality is there – even in the largest of our cities there are still dangers that lurk in the dark places, and sometimes, even, in the light.
This is written for the vast majority of people who have learned no weaponry. Most encounters are between an armed aggressor and an unarmed defender, for the simple reason that those who prey upon us look for easy prey – it is one of the most basic of predatory tactics. And when the encounter involves no weapons at all, it is usually a much stronger aggressor against a much weaker defender. How, then, can we defend ourselves?
Nothing will do so well as true combat training. If you have the time and will to learn swordplay or martial arts, do so, and your chances of becoming someone’s prey will drop dramatically. Remember that even a small woman, wielding a lightning-quick rapier, can take apart the largest man who might be wielding a clumsier blade.
Most of us, however, will not take the time for such training. Here, then, is how to best defend yourself against dangers.
Your first key is awareness, along with sensible actions. Common sense will tell you where danger is most likely to lurk. Keep your eyes and ears open, and avoid situations where danger might threaten. Daylight in populated areas is the safest place you can be – from there, if you venture into the dark or to places where people seldom trod, you put yourself at peril. If you’re out at night, keep to well-lit places where people are mingling or walking. And if you’re travelling to unpopulated locales, keep your awareness at a peak, and avoid anyone who raises your suspicions. In such situations, trust your intuition, which will pick up on things you’re not even consciously aware of.
Sometimes, though, you’re going to get into a situation despite the best of precautions, and to understand what happens in such an event, we have to get into the mind of the predator, whether they be a mugger, vampire, or slaver. Think like they think. You see, the fact is that they are looking for easy prey. None of these people want to be caught, because if they are, they’ll be fined, imprisoned, or killed. They know that by using a strong display of aggression, they can get most of their intended victims to quietly cower and succumb to their designs. What they don’t want is to get into a situation that is messy, loud, or in any other way injurious or dangerous to themselves. After all, they usually make a career out of this sort of predatory activity. If they lose one victim, that’s a lot better than winding up in the dungeons. So be that victim that they lose.
Again, into their mind. First of all, they’re watching from afar. They see you coming. Are you walking upright and confidently, or are you hunched, peering about nervously? They’ll attack the nervous one. If you’re walking a dark alleyway alone at night, walk like you’re meant to be there, and stride with aggressive purpose.
But what if this is not enough, and you find yourself backed up against a wall? This is where I need to say that fighting should be your last resort. If it becomes physical, you’re going to be up against a stronger, more powerful opponent. So see if you can end the fight without any blows.
You do this simply by being a predator yourself – respond aggressively and noisily to their assault. Don’t act like prey. Use your eyes to show them you’re dangerous, command them to drop their weapon or back off in a very loud, demanding tone, and let them know with your stance that you’re ready to fight if they come any closer. If possible, put something between them and you, and don’t be afraid to scream loudly or shout at the top of your lungs for help. The advantage of the scream is that it scares many attackers away like magic. And the advantage of shouting is that you can shout out what is happening to you and warn anyone who’s coming to help you about what sort of person or creature you’re defending against. The main point to remember is to be loud, demanding, and aggressive in your verbal self-defense.
Sometimes, however, not even this is enough, and despite your awareness, reverse aggression and screams, someone advances, intent on your jewelry, your body, or your life. Then it’s time to defend yourself.
Here I’ll divide this into two sections – defending against unarmed attackers and armed attackers. Here’s what to do –
Unarmed attackers are relying on their superior strength to batter you senseless or quickly close with you and hold you down. When you attack them, you’ve got to make sure that your attack is nothing less than devastating. My first choice of target for a weaker opponent against a stronger one is the eyes. There are others, such as the throat, knees, shins, ears, and nose, but the eyes are the most vulnerable spot on almost any creature. Just remember that creatures instinctively protect their eyes, so you’ll need to use a very basic martial tactic to make your attack work. You’re looking for an opening to jab into the eyes, using a tiger’s claw hand, which is simply a hand held with your fingers clawed forward and held stiffly so that you have five impact points. Jab this into your opponent’s eyes. Make the first attack count, or they’ll be watching for the second. If they’re already guarding their eyes, you’ll have to use that tactic I was speaking of. Urge their attention downward by kicking at their legs or shins when you’re close enough to strike. When they reach down to grab your leg or block your attacks, jab for the eyes, or if necessary, reach around their head and press into them with clawing finger attacks. When you feel the softness, dig deeply, doing as much damage as you can. Even undead or vampires are concerned about their eyes, as are all animals and especially humans. Gouge strongly, try to struggle free, and run away, screaming as you do.
If the eyes aren’t available, attack other vulnerable areas, including the throat or ears (slap your palm down on the ears). Recall, however, that attacks to the throat or ears will do little good against some creatures, especially undead, who have no need of breathing. If it’s an attempted rape and you can get your hands on the man’s vitals, don’t be afraid to rip at them or wrench them in a direction they’re not supposed to go. You can do permanent damage, and often cause enough pain to allow you an escape.
It may seem odd, but you can almost be in a better situation if you’re up against an armed attacker. They’re depending on the threat of their weapon to make you do as they desire, and will often be loathe to use it. And because they’re not intent on jumping upon you and holding you down, escape can be quite a bit easier. And remember, escape is always the best option – don’t use any of the tactics below unless all means of escape have been cut off.
You’ll come up against three basic weapons in most situations. The knife or dagger, the sword, or the crossbow.
Of the three, the knife can prove the most difficult to defend against. Be prepared to get cut, but otherwise do the same as you did against an unarmed attacker – try to jab for the eyes. The knife won’t give them much of a reach advantage, so you can utilize the same tactics as I mentioned before. If possible, grab the knife-hand, but don’t obsess over it – many a great advantage has been lost as someone tried to wrestle the knife away from someone when their eyes were right there, ripe for gouging.
If a sword is being held against you, remember that a sword derives its power from its length, which allows for swinging cuts or deep thrusts. Close as quickly as possible, even going so far as to push the blade aside with your body (choose a clothed area if at all possible). Without the force of a blow, most swords (unless exceptionally sharp) aren’t going to do that much damage if you’re pushing them aside. Crowd the person, reaching with one hand for their sword-hand. In most cases they’ll be very intent on holding onto their sword. As soon as their attention is diverted, go for the eyes! Once you’ve closed with a sword-wielder, stay close until you’ve maimed their eyes so they can’t get in a blow. If they can push you back, they’ll likely get in a crippling strike.
Lastly, there is the crossbow. In most urban settings, this is the bow of choice, but you must be prepared to defend against the short and longbow as well.
If you’re very close, attempt to knock the bow aside and close, again attacking the eyes. And if they’ve got you at range, your best wager is to turn and run. Make sure that as you run, you do so in a sharp weaving route, which will make you a tough target for almost anyone. Be sure to vary your weaving so that you don’t present a pattern as you go. If you hear the first bolt or arrow go by, break into a straight run for the count of three (to get some distance) and then begin your weaving again. Crossbows have a limited range, and the person will probably not bother with a second bolt. Bows, however, have much more distance available to them, so you’ll need to keep up your weaving until you’ve found some cover. Remember as well that putting an obstacle between yourself and the archer will make their weapon useless.
Lastly, you should be aware of the most common trap utilized by both humans and creatures alike. The lure. Be wary of anyone who wishes you to go someplace where you won’t be easily seen or heard. And if you hear cries of help, be suspicious of such cries if they are quiet or lacking in earnestness. If they’re loud enough for anyone who might be in the area to hear, either respond or, preferably, gather some other people to enter the situation with you.
In an actual combat situation, nothing ever seems to move smoothly. Just do your best to respond to the danger with your priorities in mind – first, escape. Second, frighten your attacker off with shouts or other actions that clearly state that you’re not easy prey. And third, if you have to, attack back with a quick and decisive maiming strike, and then escape. Nothing, of course, will make up for combat training, so if you live in such a way that you often meet with the potential for this sort of danger, do yourself a favor and get some lessons.