Module 1 - Escape Self Defence The First lesson to learn in Self-Defense is that you are important. The most valuable possession you will ever have is you. No-one has the right to hurt, intimidate or harass you. You have the right to protect yourself and you are well worth fighting for. The second most important lesson is to learn to understand that your mind is your most valuable weapon, in self-Defense we use our mind to control panic and fear, use our brain to assess a situation and to judge the most appropriate action to take. We use our Brain to make choices and making choices is a big part of Self-Defense. Self Defense is not just about learning a few techniques, it's about all the things we do on a daily basis to make our lives safer. Much of it is common sense and the rest of it just makes sense. Some things you just do without thinking about whether it's wearing a seatbelt, crossing the road or using a knife safely. At one time people had to be forced to wear seatbelts in the car, nowadays people sit in a car and reach across without a thought. It shows that when you do something often enough, it becomes a habit, after that it becomes instinctive. Body Language - Staring at the ground, hunched shoulders, hiding your hands in your pockets and making yourself small, carries the message- “I'm weak and vulnerable”. Women get targeted as easy prey so having strong body language decreases the risk of being a target. Make eye contact with people in a way that lets them know you've seen them (Would-be Criminals are far less likely to do anything if they think they could be identified). Swing your arms when walking, take up space. Strong Body Language not only affects how others see you but it increases your own confidence. Compare Predators on the streets to Predators in the wild, they are not looking for the biggest, boldest, strongest animal to bring down but the weak, injured or isolated. Try not to put yourself in a position where it increases your vulnerability. Predators are not looking for a fight but an easy kill and when the target fights back ferociously the Predator will often abort. Verbal Strategies Asserting yourself is an important part of taking control of your life. If someone's behavior is making you feel bad, uncomfortable or scared then confront the person. Tell them - Name the behavior, Criticize it, tell them what you want them to do: “You're constantly touching me, I don't like it, stop it” - Repeat if necessary. This is a direct, non-engaging way of establishing what you want, avoid saying please when you are asserting yourself. If someone is bothering you in a Public Place, make a scene, it will be much more embarrassing for that person than for you. Your voice is a weapon too. Yelling will alert other people around and can startle an attacker. It can also help channel your fear into aggression - Shout “NO” loudly and deeply from your stomach. Trust your instincts, if something does not seem right, then it probably isn't. Say someone unpleasant is following you - Trust your instinct and do something whether it's confronting them, getting to safety, calling someone or getting a weapon ready. WWW.FIGHTWIZE.COM continued…. Module 1 - Escape Get a cell phone, it's not expensive if it's for Emergency only, not only can you summon up help from anywhere but you can also use it as a weapon (if you learn how). We encourage people to use their voice once a physical confrontation has begun. Shouting loudly as you strike serves many purposes. Firstly, you may startle the attacker with a sudden loud shout, you are also attracting attention to yourself so someone may come to your aid, you may be creating witnesses which may come in handy if you caused physical harm to your attacker in Self Defence as it may well come to a situation where it's just your word against theirs, however, if it just so happened that a passer-by heard you shouting “Let go, let go” then that suddenly becomes evidence. Shouting also tenses up your abdominal region so if you happened to receive a hit at that same time then you are much less likely to be winded by it. Distance and Time It makes sense that the closer you are to your attacker then the less time you have to respond to their movements. Then obviously, the greater the distance, the more time you have to react. Keep at a safe distance, a distance that you are comfortable with and will give you time to react. If possible stand with an obstacle between you and the other person too. The attacker always has the upper hand from an action - reaction point of view as he knows that he is going to attack but your brain will have to process what it is he's doing and then decide what it is you're going to do as a reaction and then send out the signals to the muscles to make them move as required. This is the very reason we recommend the interview stance, the defensive stance and to keep at a safe distance. WWW.FIGHTWIZE.COM

Module 1 - Escape Tools and Targeting Your body is equipped with several tools: Head • Elbows ⚫ Knees • Fists • Hands • Fingers ⚫ Feet Butt ⚫ Hips etc.. Anything goes! strikes can be used in various ways, practice using different tools to access the different Primary Targets: ⚫ Groin • Eyes • Throat • Solar Plexus Knees • Instep Everyone, regardless of size, has these weak points. Follow the steps for increasing the effect of your strikes. Shouting with each strike not only startles an attacker, it alerts any people around you and also helps channel you fear into aggression. Practice the basic stance shown and using various strikes from this stance. For practice, look for possible targets on people as you are talking to them or even if you're just sat watching someone. Consider the various strikes that you could use to each of the targets that you have in mind. The bottom line for striking is use whatever you've got, it does matter if the type or style of strike is out of some text book or not, if it works for you then use it. WWW.FIGHTWIZE.COM

Module 1 - Escape Conclusion Hopefully, today's course has opened your eyes a little and increased your awareness as to what is available. You know that your first choice is to avoid trouble, your next option is to walk or run, and then you come to the escapes and use whatever physical force is necessary for you to achieve that. You have learned the Primary Targets, how to strike them and the concepts behind breaking free from holds, getting to a place of safety and last but not least you have learned many tips that will increase your knowledge and awareness. Ensure that you practice at home with family or friends, attend other courses or classes, search for more information and don't neglect the verbal or Psychological aspects. Build up the confidence that you have in yourself and that you're prepared to defend yourself. Be in control of your own destiny rather than leave it in the hands of some ruthless thug. The tactics shown in this course are not to be just read and understood but read and practiced. Get yourself to a few classes. It does not have to be a full commitment but at least find a class where you can drop-in. Module 1 - Escape Courses Available: Basic Targeting and Striking. Escapes from common holds Module 2 - Ground Defense Your Attacker has taken you to ground, the fight is far from over !! Learn the Essentials of Protecting yourself on the Ground. Module 3 - Simple Take downs Learn a number of ways to take your opponent to ground. Module 4 - Simple Hold Downs There may be situations where you need to keep your attacker “secured”. Module 5 - Maximum Effect Further Targeting and Striking. Learn how to access and strike some of the most effective Pressure Points and Motor Nerve points for maximum effect. Module 6 - The Weapon of Opportunity Hairbrush, Pen, Cell phone, Keychain, Newspaper, book. Know these potential weapons and how you can use them in your Self Defense. WWW.FIGHTWIZE.COM