Unfortunately, women are often one of the groups of people most under threat of violence and other forms of abuse today. Jeanette Moser offers some insights on the mindset one needs to adopt in order to avoid being a victim, and turn the tables.

How prepared are you? When in a scary situation do you stand there as if frozen in time; go in screaming with arms flailing; run in the opposite direction; cower in a corner? Or would you be prepared in advance?

This is a question I’ve often asked myself. While talking about crime awareness to large audiences of women I watch different emotions cross their faces as I touch on issues relevant to them. A light bulb switches on in my head… I AM a little part of all those concerned ladies and yet uniquely myself. We all share human emotions, even though individually we handle these traits differently. Joys, anger, fear, happiness, pain, delight, hate, love, sadness, contentment - the list could go on and on.

Be prepared
Think ahead, analyse your life. You can’t anticipate an attack, but you can assess where in your life you’re most vulnerable. Consider your day. The drive to work or school, shopping, walking the dog, answering the doorbell, gardening, going out at night and so on.

Learn how to live without constant fear – knowledge brings answers and gives you a better chance of survival. Your safest form of defence is not getting involved, but if in a life threatening situation, know how to fight to win.

Attitude
Your attitude may be negative or positive – attitude is a strong opinion in our everyday thoughts. Most people have an attitude about the economy, the price of food, health, weight, even love.
Negative attitudes are destructive and pessimistic - they have no vigour - while positive attitudes are creative, fulfilling, succeeding and going forward, achieving - if you think you can, you will. Changing your attitude is a major contribution to your personal safety and will reduce your chances of being a potential victim. You can become more assertive and understand your own potential rather than being aggressive or neurotic.

Taking charge of your life
We are our own best friends after all. The often-heard cry ‘Why aren’t they doing something about rape, crime, pollution, poverty etc’ is so foolish. We are ‘they’! We can make a difference to our own lives by having assertive, positive attitudes.

Together we will create in you an awareness that could prevent you from being a statistic in a crime report. You will certainly have a far better chance of survival. You need no longer put yourself in vulnerable situations without thinking about how you would cope, and what you would do if something happened. Give yourself a better chance of survival. Let go of all your negatives and open your mind to finding, learning and understanding the solutions and answers to your many questions. Like many things in life we put up barriers and make excuses, but where there is a will, there is a way.

Attacks happen everywhere
In the home, in bed, in a lift, on a train, on the street, in a car or taxi, alone or in a crowd. The usual untrained response is panic, but it is unproductive and blocks out any controlled action. The second is perhaps a scream, but this is unlikely to bring help in an age where people are becoming increasingly scared of getting involved. YOU are your best means of defence.

Just as there is no stereotype of a victim, so there is none of an attacker. They could be men, women, or children, alone or in a gang, of any race, creed or colour, good looking or otherwise. Weapons can vary from conventional guns or knives to bottles, stockings and bare hands.

Fear and anger are destructive emotions that swamp common sense unless channelled by sound subconscious knowledge. These emotions produce an adrenalin rush that nature provides to us as a defence mechanism, giving us strength to be used wisely. Fear can result in us becoming a useless quivering heap giving up on life, or is a signal that calls for a turning point; a call to action.

Channel your fear into assertive force; instead of paralysing you, your adrenaline will feed you. Your safety lies in the confidence of knowing you can cope, and that you could upset your attackers’ expectations of a soft target, by avoiding or retaliating in a controlled and effective way.

Jab with a weapon
Learning to use your attacker’s balance, weight and strength in an attack gives you the immediate advantage. If you are in a situation try to keep your feet flat on the floor with your body weight directly above them, and your knees slightly bent (this gives you potential momentum.) By leaning into an attacker, you ‘use’ his balance. If however you are off balance, try to fall on your attacker in order to cushion yourself, and if possible, damage him. Remember, it’s not the age or size of the person in the fight that’s important, but the size of the fight in the person!

Your sixth sense
If you are uncomfortable about a situation, believe in your sixth sense. You might feel foolish, but you could be saving your own life. Unlike fear that grows and defeats you, your sixth sense is an instant revelation of a sub-conscious warning. It is a smell, colour, sound or vibe picked up by your subconscious before the conscious mind registers. I call it my guardian angel!

There are many scenarios of different types of attacks and throughout these articles I will try to give you a clearer understanding of how to prepare yourself mentally and physically for almost any situation. You need to be able to recognise and avoid danger, or to be capable of bringing the attacker under control, to survive a violent attack – be the Victor and not the Victim.

Conference and corporate presentations available. Contact Jeanette on the following numbers: Tel/ Fax: (011) 972-7372 Cell: 083-456-7390 Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

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