A Self-Defence, Awareness and Empowerment Programme for Women “Towards Building A Caring Society”
The practice of Self-Defence Awareness is empowering the “Presence of Mind. The objective of this programme by Selangor Police aims to equip the participants with necessary knowledge to prevent them from becoming the victim of an assault. Total avoidance may not always be possible but nonetheless practical risk reduction skills can help to remove yourself from such potential confrontations.
As Sherlock Holmes wisely taught, a crime seldom happens in a vacuum. Crimes rarely go unannounced, without prior notice, clues, or warning. There are always readable signs before and after a robbery, physical attack, theft, sexual assault or mysterious death.
Seeing an armed robber wave a knife in your face is an obvious and tangible sign of danger. But the most commonly experienced danger signs such as gut feelings, vibes, impressions, uneasiness and suppositions indicate that something is not right.
Criminals have their own system in profiling victims before selecting their target. Hence, mental preparedness can give women the options of avoidance, escape, dissuasion, or even to attack. By doing so, this will allow women to learn to deal with the situation before it deals with them.
This safety training will enable women to become more alert street-wise, and also to be able to defend themselves with their weapons of courage, spirit, knowledge and determination regardless of whether one is armed with an extrinsic weapon.
This is not a Fight Club Programme to train women to become fighters as the majority of attackers are often far bigger, stronger and more vicious.
The programme focuses on educating women in preventing violence using real-life, street-wise tactics and common sense information employing the presence of the mind.
Unfortunately, crime is never ending. Crime will always plague humanity as long as passion, greed, madness and evil exist – it always will. Through this programme, it is hoped that the participants will be able to safeguard themselves from criminals.
This Informational programme organised by Selangor Police serves as a resource education in empowering women in recognising the risks, how to avoid them, and gain confidence in making informed risk reduction decisions to escape dangerous situations. The programme will also give viable considerations, options and tips in maximising survival in a hostile situation.
This programme is centred on three main themes:
i) AWARENESS. Knowing your environment through the employment of your instincts ii) AVOIDANCE. How to get out of harm’s way and recognising criminal signals. iii) ADAPT. How to overcome, resist, defend and survive in dangerous situations.
"This, above all, is to refuse to be a victim” – Margaret Atwood
You can purchase the book and/or check out about the programme from Public Media Agency (PMA)
Contact Us Mr. Kunasegaran Mobile: + 6012 312 2925 Email Note: The book is available in four languages.
Samples from the Handbook
Keeping Street Sense Without Fail
Stay alert and tuned to your surrounding wherever you are. Look out for anomalous crime activity (perceptibly abnormal).
When in an unfamiliar area, do not give the impression that you are lost. Stay calm, confident and know where you want to go.
Predators often profile those targets who give the appearance of easily surrendering. Street-wise individuals broadcast this message: “don’t mess with me”.
Trust your instincts. If something or someone makes you uneasy, avoid the person or situation and leave the area immediately.
Know your neighborhood well as well as your college, and place of work. Keep in mind of the whereabouts of the nearest police station and other safe places which you can approach for assistance.
Verbal Defence
One of the reasons why women are victims of attacks is because they do not know how to react when attacked. If a woman says something wrong, she could be seriously hurt.
Understanding verbal self-defence is useful to limit a situation, and to keep it from getting worse. The ability in putting up a verbal boundary or verbal self defence in a strong, assertive, projecting voice is an extremely important tool in protecting yourself.
Criminologists suggest that the best way to deter a threatening predator is by distracting him in an abstract discussion in the present tense. The more he talks, the less chance he will attack. Show yourself as a real person with struggles and dreams. That destroys a predator’s fantasy (before he gets into the heat of his attack).
A victim’s fear and begging arouses a rapist. Show no emotion, don’t be frightened or arrogant, and try to keep the tension low.
Do Not Say
“You will go to prison for this.” This might provoke him to kill his only witness – YOU.
“I am pregnant” or “I have AIDS”. It might reinforce his belief that women are bad and deserve rape or death.
“What if I were your mother, sister or daughter?” It might trigger his bad memories and hatred of them.
The diplomatic approach to defuse a confrontation is to avoid arguing or humiliating the attacker and show him the respect he pathetically craves. You should speak simply, remain calm and use soothing words and tone of voice. Listen to him and respect his statements to show he is being heard, and then redirect the conversation.
However, a more assertive approach may be needed at all times, a woman is too obliging when she softens a command statement by putting it in question form or apologising such as, “I am sorry, would you mind stopping that?”
Match your assertive tone of voice and volume to suit the situation with the short, to the point command, “stop”, “stay back”, or “back off”. Making the body language match the verbal language is critical for the woman to be able to show the attacker that she will fight back if she is attacked.
Don’t justify yourself and leave room for bargaining, and don’t answer his questions. Act tough and show no fear.
The extreme is fierce talking. Hissing, snarling, cursing and bellowing a profanity, is the only language some criminals understand – best used with a ferocious attack. Predators fluent in belligerent talk often seek victims who appear easily intimidated.
Criminals attack when they see an opportunity available to them. If it is easy, they will take it. If you show that you are familiar with your surroundings, walk with confidence, giving off the impression of strength, a criminal might not want to work to fight with you.
The victim’s best verbal defence is either talking tough or calmly ignoring him while quickly leaving as gracefully as possible. You might have to pretend to cringe to set up a surprise attack then Stun and Run.
