Fight or Flight: How You Can Protect Yourself From an Attacker

Picture this: you're walking home after working late, it's dark and the road is seemingly empty. Until you hear footsteps quickly approaching behind you; you can sense the danger immediately. Would you know how to protect yourself from a potential attacker?

Idealistically, self-defence would never have to be a necessary skill for women to know, however until that day arrives, women should be prepared to escape from a dangerous situation. With reports of rape and sexual assaults at their highest since 2002, according to the Office for National Statistics, there is no better time to become acquainted with the art of self-protection.

Sev Necati, self defence teacher, explains the importance of self-defence skills: “Women are always thought to be vulnerable to physical attacks on the street but I whole-heartedly disagree! It isn’t that they are vulnerable, at all; it’s that they don’t know their own strength yet. Self-defense is such an important skill which so many women find empowering once they know how. The basic self-defence methods are simple to learn and manoeuvre as well as a great way to help keep fit.

As a teenager I was attacked in a record shop.  The effect it had my confidence was surprising; it really affected every aspect of my life, I even carried a knife with me for a year to feel protected. It was because of this horrible experience I became interested in learning and teaching self-defence.”

Knowing how to protect yourself and break free from an attack could be the difference between life or death. Up to 3 million women experience violence on average a year in the UK, a statistic that shouldn’t be ignored. Monique Ahlah, a 32 year old who experienced a violent attack whilst walking home said she feels that having learnt self-defence techniques she feels empowered: “It was about two years ago that I was attacked by a man walking home from the train station late at night. I was so frightened when it happened that it's a blur now. I literally never thought it could happen to me, which was naïve I guess.

“After the incident I couldn't leave the house for months, I was terrified and scared all the time. It was when my friends started to get really worried about me and work started to ask questions that I realised I had to do something. I decided to learn self-defence and find some ways to better protect myself and rebuild my confidence. I found courses online and decided to pluck up the courage to go, a year and a half later I am so much more confident, even more so than before the attack, I think.”

For those victims of attacks, just like Ahlah, learning basic self-defence techniques could help lessen the fear of another assault or attack. Sev Necati is currently holding self-defence classes in London, for more information visit www.sevnecatitraining.com.