| We are born with the most basic self defense | | | | Your attacker can catch you easily and might hurt |
| mechanism in the world...the fight or flight response. | | | | you even more for trying to escape. |
| When you are in a dangerous situation, your body | | | | Trying to escape when your chances of successfully |
| tells you whether to fight or run away. Your mind | | | | getting away are dismal signals to your attacker that |
| goes through several problem solving decisions in | | | | you're scared which makes you an easy target for |
| order to determine which response will save your life. | | | | him. If you can't run, then you have to make the |
| A perfect example is if you are walking in the forest | | | | decision to stand your ground, be assertive, look him |
| and all of a sudden a big bear is in your path staring | | | | in the eye and let him know that you're not afraid of |
| right at you. Do you run or fight? If the bear gets | | | | him. At some point, you will also have to decide if |
| too close, do you fight the bear? Do you think you | | | | physical methods need to be used to get away. It |
| can outrun the bear? What else can you do to avoid | | | | depends on the situation and the amount of threat |
| an attack? If you had a plan for this type of situation | | | | to your life. |
| before you took your walk in the woods, you would | | | | But, if you are in a location where you can easily get |
| know what to do. | | | | to a store, restaurant or some other place with |
| The same goes for walking home from school or | | | | people around, then running might be the best |
| work when it's dark outside, or if you've been | | | | decision. For example, if an attacker confronts you |
| cornered in a secluded area by an attacker. What do | | | | on the sidewalk and there is a store open across the |
| you do to survive? You only have seconds to make | | | | street, you can run to the store for safety. |
| a decision before your fight or flight response kicks | | | | Every situation is different and you won't know what |
| in. | | | | you'll do until it happens. But, by knowing what your |
| If you end up in a situation where you are cornered | | | | options are before the attack happens can help you |
| in an area where you can't easily get away from | | | | make a better decision on your fight or flight |
| your attacker and there are no other people around, | | | | response. Also practicing self defense moves can |
| trying to run will probably make the situation worse. | | | | prepare you to fight back if you have to. |