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: He tries to overpower you and force you to the ground. (This often happens in potential rape situations.) He could try to strangle you. What to do: 1. Take a firm grip of his upper arms. 2. Bend your outer leg around the opposite side of his leg around the side of his head. (For example, swing your right leg around the side of his head that's to your left. Extend your inner leg upwards, gripping his head between your legs. 3. Use your legs to force his head to the ground and bring yourself up to a sitting position. 4. Now that your foot is positioned in front of his face, kick his throat, chin or nose hard or punch his groin with your fist or elbow – and get away. 'Look out for anything on the ground that you can use,' says Smit, 'such as sand, sticks or stones that you can throw in his face.'
BEAR HUG
GROUND ATTACK

*Photographs by Debra Roets

Author: Lesleigh Kivedo