In a perfect world, hand to hand combat would not be necessary; everyone would get along, live in mansions and drive Lamborghinis. But the world is far from perfect, and there are unscrupulous people out there who have less-than-desirable intentions. If you encounter these types of people, you need to be ready to defend yourself. The most important part of self defense is proper training BEFORE you need it. When fear overtakes you, training will kick in and save you.

Military-based training

You won’t learn simple self defense moves here; you’ll learn some of the most brutal, effective moves that will disable your attacker and keep you free from harm. Special forces training is taug...

We live in a world where crime is an everyday occurrence, making personal protection devices a necessity of life. Unfortunately, it will continue to be that way for many years to come. Until we can live in a world without violent crime, these devices can help save your life. Here are some of the most effective devices on the market:

Pepper Spray

This is a small device that can fit in your purse or pocket easily. It contains a good dose of cayenne pepper, so just a little spray will cause your attacker to be temporarily blinded and cause him extreme pain. It’s enough to distract them, so you can run and flee to safety.

Personal Alarm or Whistle

Criminals don’t like a lot of noise when...

Regardless of your age, gender or physical ability, the best self defense moves can keep you safe. Whether you’re taken by surprise from behind in an underground parking garage, or your blind date suddenly becomes overly aggressive, you can protect yourself. Here are some of the most effective moves you can use on anyone who thinks they can get the upper hand:

Shout

Criminals and attackers don’t like to draw attention to themselves, so creating a ruckus and shouting out will definitely not work to their benefit. If someone grabs you, shout and make as much noise as you can to get someone’s attention.

Eye Poke

All you need is a few precious seconds for them to let go of you so y...

If you’re looking for the best self defense for kids, consider martial arts training. Tae Kwan Doo, Jiu Jitsu and other forms can be taught from a very young age. Many parents shy away from this type of activity because they think it will make their kids more aggressive. In fact, the opposite is true. There is much more to be learned than just self defense techniques, although those are extremely important. Here are just a few benefits of teaching kids self defense:

Builds Confidence

When your child learns how to defend himself (or herself) he (or she) will become much more confident. This can do wonders for their self-esteem, while keeping them humble at the same time.

Builds Self-Discip...

Many people ask about the best self defense techniques for men. The answer, of course, is not to get into a confrontation or dangerous situation at all. But that is not the world we live in. Regardless of the city or area in which you live, danger is not far away and can lurk in every dark alley, bar, or other public area. If you find yourself in a dangerous situation, here are some techniques that can help save your life:

Kicking

Most martial art forms teach high-flying fancy kicks, but you don’t need to be a martial arts expert to deliver a devastating kick. The key is to make sure your strike is debilitating, not just painful. Aim for the groin, or the knee. If you can get your oppone...

When it comes to self defense for women, there are plenty of experts who offer advice, but not all of it is good. Here are some things that you need to know in order to stay safe.

* Aim to injure, not just cause pain: There’s a big difference between pain and injury; the former will distract for a second, while the latter will give you more time to get away. Aim to injure your attacker, not just cause a second or two of pain.

* You don’t have time for Prince Charming to come and save you: When someone pulls a knife out demanding your purse, you have precious little time to protect yourself; while screaming and yelling may help you eventually, you can’t rely on Prince Charming...

Self defense classes are not just for women; in fact, men and even children can benefit greatly from taking these classes. No one likes to think about being attacked on the street, in their home, or even on a blind date. Unfortunately, that’s the world we live in. Here are just some of the many benefits of taking these classes:

Safety

The biggest and most important benefit is an increased sense of safety. You’ll learn how to protect yourself from an attacker and will be able to get away quickly.

Street Awareness

While most people don’t walk dangerous streets in the middle of the night, an attack can happen any time of the day, especially in a secluded area. Classes will help yo...

Self defense techniques have extremely close ties with martial arts; in fact, most people agree that if you can master any form of martial arts, then you will have acquired the necessary skills to defend yourself. It doesn’t matter how old you are, what your level of fitness is, or your gender. Here are some of the most popular self defense/martial arts forms:

Jiu Jitsu

This is more of a hybrid form of martial arts, incorporating grappling, choke holds, eye gouging, biting and hard striking. It involves grabbing your attacker and throwing him on the ground. If he has a weapon in his hand, you trap his arm while delivering a strike to his throat or collar bone to disable him.

Karate

This me...

Why should you learn self defense? Because nothing feels better than knowing you can take care of yourself, financially, physically and emotionally. For many people, however, a simple exercise class is enough for them physically, or so they think. But if you’re surprised by an attacker, those exercise moves won’t help you one bit. Here are 5 reasons everyone should learn to protect themselves:

1. It builds confidence. When you know you can protect yourself you will walk taller and with less fear, ultimately allowing yourself to become a better person.

2. It works on your balance and physical conditioning. Taking a self defense class will help build your balance and get you in the b...