Self Defense Moves Using Your Arms and Hands

The self defense moves you'll learn in this section are the arm and hand strikes. You'll learn how to hit with the palm of your hand, use your thumbs and throw elbow strikes.

First, below are the areas of the body to target:

To cause the most pain, hitting your attacker in the eyes, throat and groin area are your prime targets.

Using open-hand self defense moves can be better than using your fists because you might hurt your wrists or knuckles if you throw a punch. If you execute your hand strikes properly, your strikes can be more effective than punches.

Palm Strikes

Most of your power is going to come from your hips when you do your hand strikes. If you strike with your right arm, your left arm should be by your side. As you strike with your open palm, your right hip and right shoulder should be facing the attacker. If you're left-handed, then do the opposite of the above instructions.

You can also use your open palm to strike under the chin of your attacker. Once you strike under the chin, lifting the attacker's chin up, follow through on your move. Use all your power when striking. Don't ease up once you make contact.

To cause even more pain in the attacker, put your hands in claw positions. Yes, you're about to claw his eyes out. Push the heel of your palm into the attacker's chin. As you do this, dig your fingers into his eyes.

Another self defense tip is to gouge the attacker's eyes out with your thumbs. Place your hands on both sides of your attacker's face. Then plunge your thumbs into his eyes. This is an extreme tactic to use and will cause your attacker serious injury.

Another move to use is to strike at the attacker's neck. You use the space between your thumb and index finger. Strike at his throat or Adam's apple with all your power. Once again, as you execute the move, your power comes from your hips and shoulders. When you strike, you move your body into the strike to have maximum impact.

Elbow Strikes

If the attacker is at your side, make a fist with the striking arm and place that fist into your other hand. Bring both your arms up towards the bottom of his chin. Use all your force, pivoting your hips and watching where you land your elbow.

Another elbow move is to strike the side of your attacker's face, chin or throat area. The attacker will be in front of you. Bend your elbow at the joint. Bring your striking arm across to the other shoulder and then hit your attacker as if you're giving him a backhanded slap (but with your elbow instead of your hand). Your attacker has to be really close to you in order to do this move effectively.

One of the self defense moves to use if your attacker is really close to you is to use the forearm side of your elbow to strike. You start with your bended arm to your side. Bring it up so that the forearm part hits the attacker under the chin. This is an upward strike move. Follow through on the move for maximum impact.

The bottom line on the elbow strikes is that when you use your elbow to hit your attacker, make sure you use all your force by having the power come from your hips and shoulders. Hit as hard as you can and follow through on the strike without letting up.

Groin Strikes

The groin area is a very sensitive area of the body. Make sure when you use this self defense move that you grab the testicles and not the penis. The testicles are far more sensitive.

If the attacker grabs you from behind, you can bend over, make a fist with your striking arm and then drive that arm up and backwards into the attacker's groin as hard as you can. Or you can grab the attacker's testicles from behind you and squeeze really hard.

Sometimes, it might be more difficult to get to the groin area because the attacker is wearing close fit jeans or some other tight pants. In these situations, use your fist, knee or foot to strike at the groin area.