Butt Kicking Basics

If you're being attacked, there's no time to panic – you have to think and act quickly. 'In any situation, surprise is your best form of defence,' says Sanette Smit, COSMO's self-defence expert. 'The attacked doesn't expect you to fight back.' Learn – and practise – these basic moves and you'll be better equipped to defend yourself against three of the most common types of attack.

THROAT GRAB	What happens: The attacker grabs you by the neck. 'Strangulation is the number-one attack move,' says Smit. What to do: 1. As he grabs your throat, you'll naturally take a step back – use this step to steady yourself. 2. Lift your hands to his face and use your thumbs to gouge his eyes. He'll probably raise his hand to his face, giving you a chance to get away. 3. Or, with flat or cupped hands, hit his ears as hard as you can. This will cause him extreme pain and could burst his eardrums. While he reacts in pain, run away.
BEAR HUG
GROUND ATTACK

*Photographs by Debra Roets

Author: Lesleigh Kivedo