Women’s Self-Defense

Total Approach JKD

(908) 685-8255
March 16, 2003
 Statistics and Drills

This document is provided to give the student an understanding of

the statistical data related to crimes and self-defense. This
information is taken from the “Report to the Nation on Crime and
Justice”, a document prepared every 10 years by the Bureau of
Justice Statistics, a division of the Department of Justice. The
Bureau also prepares specialty documents on various crime issues,
which are available to the general public.
Also included in this document are a set of drills that can be
practiced after the course.
 Self Protective Measures
73% of crime victims used some form of self-protective
measure. The most common forms of self-protective measure
were resisting, running and persuading.

The different measures seen when comparing completed crimes

to attempted crimes can lead to an estimate of the relative
success of each measure:
Attacking an offender results in more completed violence as
does resisting an offender.
Running away results in fewer completed offences as does
“other measures”. Persuasion is seen as somewhat effective in
preventing a completed crime.
 Awareness Drills

Teach yourself to be aware of your surroundings especially when

you are alone.
Expand your awareness to include dark places, under cars, behind
bushes. Record details about faces and clothing on a regular basis.
Listen to yourself. Make safe decisions
 Use of Force
Out of all violent crimes, the victim was only the first to use force
in 15% of the cases. In rape cases, the victim was first to use force
25% of the time.

Most (more than 2/3) of the time, victims felt that self-protective
measures were helpful in the outcome of the situation.
Personal Weapons and Targets

Weapons Targets
• Fingers • Eyes
• Teeth • Nose
• Palm • Groin
• Knee • Fingers

The best weapon is your mind, the best target is his mind.
 The Criminal & the Crime
Non-strangers are more likely to attack (and injure) you than
strangers. These crimes more often involve a weapon (30% of all
non-stranger crimes)

2/3 of all crimes against women are committed by spouses or ex-

spouses.

½ of all rape attempts are completed. Most (¼ of all) rapes occur in

the victims home. Most rapes occur between 6pm and 12am. 40%
of all rapists are complete strangers to their victims. The rape
victimization rate is about 1/1400 people per year.
Self-Defense Drills

 Finger magic
 Practice biting
 Push and run, Roll and run
 Blindfold targets
 Berserker drill
 Weapons in Crime
Non-strangers are more likely to attack (and injure) you than
strangers. These crimes more often involve a weapon (30% of all
non-stranger crimes).

Weapons are used in crimes about 30% of the time with an equal
distribution between handguns, knives, and other weapons.

In 84% of crimes involving handguns, the weapon was only used

for intimidation. 13% involved the gun used to injure but was not
fired by the assailant. 2% of victims are wounded when their
attacker has a handgun and 1% are killed.
 Obstacle Training

Practice obstacle training with friends, spouse.

Identify stoppers and small impromptu weapons in your

environment.
 Injury in Crime
Actions that are associated with lower property loss are also
associated with higher likelihood of injury.

Resisting an offender results in injury 40% of the time but

attacking the offender results in injury between 13 and 50% of the
time. Cooperating results in injury between 10 and 20% of the
time.

However, a victim has the lowest risk of serious injury when they
attack their assailant especially if he has no weapon. In this case,
doing nothing can result in a higher incidence of serious injury.