Safety in the City Pt. 1

Please note that we are NOT the original writers of this blog post. All credit goes to the original writers. Find the original post as published at this link: http://invictaselfdefense.blogspot.com/2013/04/how-to-stay-safe-in-city.html

 A amount of women have asked me to write about ways to tay safe during your daily activities, because let’s face it, those are the times that you’re most likely to strike someone you do not know, or who may make you feel uncomfortable. I will write a few things on this over the next few weeks, but in the meantime, let’s start with some basics to keep in mind: 

1. Make Use Your Senses – which means not having your iPod earbuds in, rather than having your eyes down on your phone as you text, especially if you’re by yourself.  To the predator, these are automatic and highly visible signs that you’re disengaged from your surroundings, which you are not paying attention, and most importantly, that you’re an easier target because today your attacker has the element of surprise on his side. Maybe you didn’t hear him sneaking up behind you, or maybe you didn’t see him walking towards you since you were texting your bestie. Trust me, your texting and emailing can wait until you’re safely in your destination, or in a well-populated area. 
2. Purse – Don’t travel with your purse open. I see countless women who don’t pay
   

   attention to their bag and keep it open to make getting at their phone or other purse-contents simpler. Safety is about minimizing your chances of being victimized, and nothing is more inviting than an open bag.Your handbag may also serve as a handy self-defense instrument, and you’ve always got it with you. The majority of women carry a number of things in their purse (myself included), and swinging that sucker around to smack an attacker in the face will certainly hurt.

3. Weapons – I do NOT imply that women should carry weapons with them EVER. Any weapon that is ever introduced into an altercation can be possibly used against you. I’d also like to point out that pepper spray, mace and switch blades are illegal in Canada. However, that does not mean there aren’t really effective things which you can use for self-defense. 
1. Rolled up magazine – A rolled up magazine is a fairly common thing to find in many women’s bags, but the surprising thing about them is that the bottom of a rolled up magazine is extremely powerful. If you hit someone in the temple, across the jaw, in the throat with one of these bad boys, trust me, it’s gonna hurt. 
   
2. Kubaton – These useful tools were originally invented by the Japanese Police Force and were introduced to the LAPD for use by female officers. They inflict a surprising amount of pain, but with non-lethal force. I have a kubaton in my keychain, and am always happy to have it with me. I have it handy when I am out alone at night. It’s terrific for penetrating any soft surface on your attacker (eyes, neck, behind the ear, zyphoid procedure, etc.) . Kubatons are available at most martial arts supply stores and some martial arts schools, but they’re also easily ordered from amazon.com or ebay.com, and range in cost from barely $5-$15.  Do you have any tips or suggestions of your own to add to our list? I plan to continue growing it, and input is always welcome.