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3-IN-1 SAFETY DEVICE
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Self defence for female travellers Worried about the safety aspects of travelling? Want to do something practical to increase your confidence and reassure your mum? Try a self defence class. We sent kick-ass reporter Mary Malyon [left, in front] to attend a class, and interview not-at-all-scary self defence instructor Dalia Terret [left, behind]...Remember, the moves mentioned below have been taught to us by an instructor. We are not endorsing their use in any situation without the proper guidance and training. Mary Malyon writes...  "Chucking your possessions on your back and setting off to discover the World is a liberating experience. Unfortunately a lot of people, especially women, steer clear of independent travel because they're scared. And no wonder: if you believe what the papers say, every traveller is stripped of her bags and money as soon as she touches down on foreign soil.Of course, this impression is far from the truth. Unfortunately though, if you do opt to ditch the predictable package holiday and go it alone, you may encounter certain dangers. Luckily there are loads of steps you can take to protect yourself. To find out more, I talked to Dalia Terret from London’s KB Fitness. As a martial arts expert who's practised judo since she was six, Dalia knows how to protect herself. But when I went to her one-day self defence course I was relieved to find out that self defence isn't all about Bruce Lee-style karate chops! In fact it's incredibly simple, and common sense. "Firstly, if someone invades your personal space and you feel under attack, shout 'fire!'," Dalia said. "It's a sad fact that if you shout that, people are far more likely to come to your rescue than if you shout 'help', when they might think it’s 'just a domestic'." She added that if at all possible we should run from an attacker, but if we couldn't there were a few simple but deadly moves available. These are so effective that Dalia had to warn us not to use them unless we were in serious danger. One move, the Brachial Stun, can actually kill someone... so don't try it at home! Throughout the course Dalia was keen to emphasise that however good you are at martial arts, the best way to stay safe is through preparation. After the class I had a chat with her to get some in-depth advice for female travellers...  Mary: Firstly, how did you start teaching self defence?Dalia: I came from South Africa to the UK 12 years ago, where I met Kelly Bunyan, KB Fitness' chief instructor. We set up KB kickboxing together and soon diversified into self defence, yoga, jujitsu and kung fu. So what safety tips would you give to backpackers? - Wear comfy shoes all the time so you can run away if needs be. - Keep your cash, credit cards and travellers' cheques in a money belt hidden under your clothing, but keep a few pounds in your pocket which you can hand over if anyone demands money. - Don't wear highly visible jewellery, especially if it's expensive. - Always walk towards traffic so you can see if a car's trailing you or if someone stops to get out. - Try and find a backpack with detachable straps that's easy to take off if you need to run. Have you ever had to use your self defence knowledge when travelling?  No, and I don't assume that I’m immune just because I know self defence. On the other hand, the fact that I know martial arts does give me confidence which might deter a potential thief. The more likely reason that I've never been attacked, though, is that I would never wear expensive jewellery or watches, especially at night.What safety products would you recommend? Personal attack alarms are good. Push them and they make a hell of a noise. Use them as soon as someone's refused to leave you alone after you've asked them. Never be afraid to ask for help either. You can buy legal, non-toxic spray on the internet now as well. You spray it on an attacker and a thick, blue gunk froths up on their face. It stains them for up to three days as well so the police can identify them! What's the best way to keep an eye on your backpack and valuables? Padlock the zips on your backpack up. Thieves don’t normally cut bags open, so if they can't undo the zip they won’t bother. If I'm a female travelling alone, what precautions should I take? Well firstly always stick to well-lit areas. If someone does follow you at night cross the road immediately and check if they're still following. If you feel at all threatened knock on the door of a public place, a corner shop or a pub, and ask for help. When you're in an area that you don’t know well, get into the habit of remembering road names so that if the worst does happen you can call the police and tell them exactly where you are. It's important to be aware of your surroundings and trust your intuition: you can normally sense if things aren't quite kosher. If someone's following you and making you feel uneasy, turn, stop and let them past. Then you can keep an eye on them and if they do confront you, it'll be face to face so you can fight back. Finally, if you do get attacked and you can't run away, fight like crazy! Use your nails and go for all the holes in the head, except for the mouth or you might get bitten. Clapping someone on the side of the head is a good tactic as well.  Dalia’s top self defence moves The Praying Move This is a grip release which you use if someone's strangling you. Take your hands under the strangle hold and make an upwards, praying motion to lever it away [pictured right]. The Heel Palm Strike Use the heel of the hand to make an upwards movement, striking either the nose or the chin."  Dalia Terret is a self defence instructor with KB Fitness. She runs self defence classes every month in Central London. Alternatively, she can organise a class at your college, workplace or in your back garden! Click here >> for more information or to book a class  More safety advice Click here >> for advice on meeting local people Click here >> for advice on staying safe in the sun Click here >> for advice on staying safe on public transport Click here >> for advice on alcohol and safety Click here >> for advice on what to do if attacked overseas |
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