In an ideal scenario, you would be able to resolve most conflicts without getting into a physical fight or resorting to violence. But what if the other person won’t leave things alone? To make things worse, what if they’re bigger than you? Here are just a few ways to defend yourself against a stronger opponent should you ever find yourself in a physical confrontation.
Protect Your Vital Spots
A blow to the head can end a fight before it even begins. A strike to the sensitive areas of your neck, chest, and stomach can cripple you to the point of complete immobility. If someone is taking a swing at you, your priority should be protecting the most vulnerable parts of your body. Teach yourself how to block with your arms or stabilize your stance in a way that lessens damage; learn how to curl up in a defensive ball and weather an attack before getting back up and starting round two. Your priority should be to minimize the damage you take.
Use Your Opponent’s Movements Against Them
This is one of the foundations of aikido, a Japanese martial art that’s particularly popular with women. Unlike other martial arts that are focused on offensive maneuvers, aikido is used for self-defense, and many of its techniques involve taking down an opponent by using their own force and momentum against them. For example, if they try to punch you, you can grab them by the arm and swing them in the opposite direction. You don’t have to be a giant to take someone down; you just have to manipulate their body the right way.
Get Them Off Their Feet
A larger opponent has an advantage when they’re towering over you. On the floor, however, you’ll have a more equal chance of getting in strikes and securing grapple holds. Aim for the knees early in the fight. Bring your opponent down to your level. You might also try going for the eyes to debilitate them and take them down. It worked for David in his fight against Goliath, and it can work for you, as well.
These are just a few tips for protecting yourself against a bigger, stronger opponent. It isn’t always possible to avoid a physical confrontation, so if you find yourself in a situation where you need some real-world defense skills, keep these things in mind.
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Javill Byron is an accomplished martial artist, entrepreneur, businessman, and philanthropist based in Miami. As the owner of Top Shot Miami and WMB Martial Arts, Javill strives to serve as a valuable resource for individuals who want to improve their physical abilities and learn to protect themselves. Javill is especially passionate about helping children with disabilities and children who are bullied.
As a philanthropy-minded person, Javill Byron devotes much of his time to his nonprofit, WMB Foundation, Inc., which provides services to families and children diagnosed with ADHD, ADD, or Autism and aims to promote academic success and generally enrich their lives.