There are thousands of preppers and survivalists all over the world. They’re passionate about preparing for a wide range of scenarios from natural disasters to zombie invasions.
The truth of the matter is that preparing for something is very different from actually experiencing it. You could have food and water supplies stored away for an emergency and a flood washes your entire house away with all your supplies. This will be a devastating experience.
You could have taken up self-defense classes for years and when you least expect it, three guys break into your house and rob you for all that you’ve got leaving you tied up and on the ground. You’ll be dejected and feel humiliated.
These are very real possibilities. Survival is hard… and to survive, you need to develop a mindset that will allow you to weather any literal and metaphorical storm that life throws at you.
Mike Tyson once said, “Everyone has a plan ’till they get punched in the mouth.”
This quote describes the prepper dilemma all too well. You could be very well-prepared and suddenly find yourself in a scenario where all your preparations are pointless.
What will you do now?
In this article, we’ll look at the mindset you need for self-defense. If you can master this mindset, you’ll truly have an attitude that will see you through any survival situation. Self-defense is the ultimate form of survival. You’re fighting for your life.
- Controlling Panic
This is the most important thing to note. When you’re in a situation where you’re about to get assaulted, raped, robbed or attacked, you must NOT panic. Keep your wits about you.
You’ll be able to respond more effectively and escape better if you’re not a panicky mess. Mentally tell yourself to calm down. Clench your jaw in determination and know that whoever is trying to take advantage of you has something coming their way… and it’s not good.
- Nothing is as it seems
This is a very important point. It doesn’t matter if your assailant is bigger than you. It doesn’t matter if he’s a man and you’re a woman. It doesn’t matter if they have a weapon. Always remember, you have a fighting chance.
All criminals are looking for easy prey. The woman who bites and screams at her attacker will often scare him off. The woman who cries and tries to reason with him may end up getting raped and killed.
Throwing a pre-emptive punch at a potential assailant might knock him out and give you a chance to run off. Trying to talk your way out of it because you’re scared will make you look weak and that’s exactly what they want.
- Explosive unpredictability
Even a woman who is pinned to the ground has a fighting chance. She’ll need to lull her attacker into a false sense of security. Conserve her energy and act like she has given up the struggle.
This will make the attacker relax and let down his guard. When he least expects it, she can jab him in the eye with her finger or knee him in the groin. This will leave him groaning in pain while she runs off.
That split second of explosive action that the attacker didn’t predict will save her life. The same applies to a man who is being robbed.
Looking down and acting dejected while the criminal waves his knife or gun at you will make them feel bold… and when they’re least expecting it, a quick punch to the throat or a kick to the groin will shock and incapacitate them.
Keep attacking furiously while keeping an eye on the weapon. Once the attacker is on the ground, run off.
“There’s only one basic principle of self-defense- you must apply the most effective weapon, as soon as possible, to the most vulnerable target.” – Bruce Lee
- Scan your surroundings
If you’re in a situation where you’re a prisoner or you’ve been tied up, always scan your surroundings to see if you can use any item to help yourself. NEVER resign yourself to your fate and wait to see what happens. The goal should always be to free yourself and escape without getting hurt… and you want to do it fast.
- Never lose hope, never give up
No matter how bad the situation is, never lose hope and never give up. Always operate with the mentality that you will destroy what’s trying to destroy you.
Many women in dangerous situations often feel like they lack the physical strength necessary to save themselves from their attacker. They’ve given up on themselves and put their attackers on a pedestal.
All it takes is a small weapon and a quick action to turn the tables on their assailant in a second. Never lose hope and never give up. This is survival. Tell yourself that you MUST survive against all odds… and you will.
“It’s not the size of the dog in the fight, it’s the size of the fight in the dog.” – Mark Twain