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Be Prepared: Basic Self-Defense Moves (Full List)

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Feeling safe and confident in your surroundings is essential. While we hope to never need them, understanding basic self-defense moves can empower you to react effectively if faced with an unexpected threat. This list focuses purely on core physical ... 

Important Warning: These self-defense techniques are intended as last resort options for dangerous situations. The best self-defense is always avoiding danger in the first place. Be aware of your surroundings, trust your instincts, and remove yoursel...
Sections
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Essential Escapes

This section focuses on crucial techniques for breaking free from various common grips and holds. These are foundational moves for creating immediate space and opportunity to defend yourself and/or run away.

 
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The video provides instructions on how to escape from a front choke hold, focusing on self-defense techniques. It emphasizes the importance of remaining calm and describes several moves to counteract a choke hold.
How to Escape a Front Choke Hold | Self-Defense
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Learn essential self-defense techniques in this video, focusing on how to effectively escape a back choke hold. Discover two practical methods, starting with the crucial first step to prevent the choke from being secured. Whether facing a standard ch...
How to Escape a Back Choke Hold | Self-Defense
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The video provides instructions on how to escape a bear hug, emphasizing that this is a move to be used when surprised by an attacker from behind. It outlines a step-by-step process involving specific physical actions to break free and create distanc...
How to Escape a Bear Hug | Self-Defense
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This video provides a self-defense tutorial on how to escape a wrist hold. It demonstrates techniques for escaping when grabbed with either the same hand or the opposite hand, emphasizing specific body movements and pre-emptive strikes to ensure safe...
How to Escape a Wrist Hold | Self-Defense
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This video provides a self-defense tutorial on how to escape from being pinned to the floor. It demonstrates a step-by-step technique to create space and break free from an attacker who has both of your hands. The instructions emphasize specific body...
How to Escape being Pinned to the Floor | Self-Defense
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Immediate Threat Response

This section covers effective physical actions and immediate defensive responses to specific, dangerous attack situations like hair grabs or armed threats.

 
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This video demonstrates self-defense techniques for escaping a situation where someone grabs and pulls your hair. It covers different scenarios of hair-pulling and provides step-by-step instructions on how to react effectively.
What to Do If Assailant Grabs Your Hair | Self-Defense
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This video provides a self-defense tutorial focused on protecting oneself against knife attacks, specifically slashes. It explains the difference between slashing and stabbing and demonstrates techniques for blocking and redirecting a slasher's attac...
How to Defend Yourself against Slasher | Self-Defense
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This video demonstrates self-defense techniques against a downward stabbing attack. It explains the initial protective measures, the importance of moving towards the attacker, and a sequence of counter-attacks. The demonstration includes a step-by-st...
How to Defend against Downward Stabbing | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on self-defense techniques specifically designed to protect against a forward stabbing attack. It guides viewers through methods to effectively counter such a threat, focusing on practical movements to ensure safety.
Defend Yourself against Forward Stabbing | Self-Defense
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This video provides self-defense tips for escaping an attack in a dark alley. It emphasizes closing the distance quickly to prevent the attacker from hitting and using momentum to grab and strike. When a weapon is involved, it advises dropping one's ...
What to Do If You're Attacked in Alley | Self-Defense
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Core Strikes & Blocking

This section covers foundational striking and blocking techniques, including impactful strikes and initial defense.

 
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This video demonstrates the technique of redirecting a punch in self-defense, explaining why this method is more effective than simply blocking. It shows how to move and use your hand to redirect the opponent's force, along with a practice drill.
How to Block a Punch | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on the proper technique for punching, emphasizing that it's not a beginner's move. It covers how to form a fist correctly, utilize specific knuckles, and incorporate the elbow, shoulder, and hips to generate power.
How to Punch | Self-Defense
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This video provides a self-defense tutorial focusing on a technique called the "ear pull." It explains how this move can be effective against any opponent, regardless of their size, by causing significant pain. The tutorial covers the proper way to e...
How to Do an Ear Pull | Self-Defense
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The video demonstrates how to execute a hammer fist for self-defense, explaining two main variations. It covers the proper technique, including the angle of attack and the part of the hand to use, and discusses why the hammer fist is an effective and...
How to Attack with a Hammer Punch | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on how to execute a palm strike for self-defense. It covers two main applications of the palm strike: using it as a direct hit and employing it as a distraction. The video also demonstrates how to practice this techni...
How to Do a Palm Strike | Self-Defense
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This video covers the fundamentals of using elbows for self-defense. It emphasizes the correct distance for elbow strikes and demonstrates how to execute both horizontal and upward elbow strikes effectively. The video also highlights the importance o...
How to Attack with Your Elbows | Self-Defense
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This video demonstrates how to effectively use legs and feet for self-defense. It covers essential techniques for kicking and kneeing, emphasizing the importance of proper distance and targeting.
How to Use Legs & Feet in Self-Defense | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on how to use knee strikes for self-defense. It covers the correct distance to maintain from an opponent and demonstrates how to generate power through a stepping motion, showcasing various scenarios where knee strike...
How to Attack with Your Knees | Self-Defense
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Vulnerable Point Strikes

This section focuses on strikes specifically aimed at highly vulnerable points on an assailant's body. These techniques are designed for maximum effect to disable or deter an attacker quickly.

 
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Learn a self-defense technique involving an eye attack for extreme situations. The video debunks common myths about finger placement and demonstrates the correct and safer method for execution, showing how to effectively position your hands and finge...
How to Attack an Assailant's Eyes | Self-Defense
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This video demonstrates how to perform an eye jab for self-defense. It highlights the importance of precision and provides guidance on safe practice techniques. The video also explains how this technique can be applied in a real self-defense scenario...
How to Do an Eye Jab | Self-Defense
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The video provides instructions on how to perform an ear clap, a technique that can be used in self-defense. It covers the proper hand form, how to practice the movement using a partner's shoulder as a target, and two different applications of the ea...
How to Do an Ear Clap | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on how to punch someone in the face or neck for self-defense. It explains how to measure and execute a push, focusing on targets like the chin and nose. It also explains how to target the side of the neck, while cauti...
How to Punch Someone in the Face & Throat | Self-Defense
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The video provides instructions on how to attack an assailant's nose for self-defense. It emphasizes that these techniques should only be used in self-defense scenarios, not for minor threats or insults. The video demonstrates how to use the heel of ...
How to Attack an Assailant's Nose | Self-Defense
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This video demonstrates a self-defense technique called the "heel palm pump" strike, explaining how to effectively use it by pushing upwards at a 45-degree angle. It emphasizes that this technique is particularly useful for beginners or those without...
How to Do a Heel Palm Chin Move | Self-Defense
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Learn to perform a chin jab for self-defense in this tutorial. It covers proper fist formation, punch mechanics, and safe training methods. Discover how this simple, efficient punch can be used in various situations to effectively counter threats.
How to Do a Chin Jab | Self-Defense
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This video provides self-defense instructions focusing on techniques to attack an assailant's neck. It covers various methods like punching, grabbing, and using the palm, and explains how to combine these moves with other self-defense techniques for ...
How to Attack an Assailant's Neck | Self-Defense
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The video explains three basic pressure points that can be used in self-defense scenarios. It clarifies that "pressure points" don't always involve pressing; they can also be effectively targeted by hitting or rubbing them. The video demonstrates how...
Self-Defense Pressure Points | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on how to effectively use pinching as a self-defense technique. It demonstrates the proper grip and rotation for maximum impact, highlighting effective areas on the body to control an opponent's movement. It also expl...
How to Pinch an Attacker Effectively | Self-Defense
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This video demonstrates techniques for breaking an attacker's fingers during a self-defense situation, particularly in grappling scenarios. It emphasizes securing the opponent's hand and using quick, decisive movements to target the thumb or pinky. T...
How to Break an Assailant's Fingers | Self-Defense
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The video demonstrates various self-defense techniques focusing on how to attack the groin area effectively. It covers different methods using hands, knees, and feet, providing instructions on how to practice these moves. The instructor also explains...
How to Attack an Assailant's Groin | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on how to attack an assailant's knee in a self-defense situation. It demonstrates effective knee strike techniques for both long-distance and close-range attacks, explaining various scenarios where this move can be us...
How to Attack an Assailant's Knee | Self-Defense
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This video provides a self-defense tutorial on how to kick the shin. It explains that the shin is a very sensitive area and covers techniques for targeting both the front and inside of the shin. The tutorial emphasizes using the ball of the foot and ...
How to Do a Shin Kick | Self-Defense
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This video provides instructions on how to execute a toe stomp for self-defense. It explains that the toe stomp can be used as a direct target or as part of a larger technique. The video highlights the heel as the primary striking part of the foot an...
How to Do a Toe Stomp | Self-Defense
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