Self-Defense Tips Every Virginia Beach Resident Should Know

Virginia Beach is an amazing community with great neighborhoods, attractions and opportunities for an active lifestyle. However, no city is completely immune to crime. Assaults, robberies and other threats to personal safety can occur anywhere.

That’s why every Virginia Beach resident should have at least some basic self-defense knowledge and skills. At Savior Martial Arts, our Krav Maga classes teach practical, easy-to-learn self-protection tactics derived from the martial art developed for the Israeli military.

While we hope you never need to use these techniques, being prepared with the right mindset and a few key moves could potentially save your life. Here are some essential self-defense tips:

1) Awareness and Avoidance
The first line of self-defense is being aware of your surroundings at all times and avoiding potential threats proactively. Don’t walk alone at night, get Away from bad situations quickly, and always have a plan for safety.

2) Use Your Voice
If threatened, a loud, firm yell can deter attackers or call attention to get help. Projecting an assertive, “Stay back!” or “No!” in a deeper voice can also disrupt an assault before it escalates.

3) Strike Vulnerable Areas
If you can’t avoid physical confrontation, go for vulnerable targets like the eyes, throat, knees and groin using hammer fists, heel palms and elbow strikes. Don’t aim to “fight” – strike and escape immediately to safety.

4) Stay on Your Feet
The ground makes you vulnerable, so use low stances and footwork to avoid being taken down. If knocked down, focus on creating distance and regaining your base to stand back up quickly.

5) Carry Force Alternatives
Non-lethal tools like kubotans, key strikers, and pepper spray add reach and impact to maximize your self-defense potential. Just be sure to get proper training in their legal use.

These general self-defense concepts merely scratch the surface. Having ongoing instruction from certified experts is crucial for true preparedness and confidence.

At Savior Martial Arts, our Krav Maga classes welcome students of all ages and skill levels to learn practical self-protection in a supportive, Christian environment. Reach out to start getting trained today. A little knowledge could make all the difference.