4 Self Defense Moves Every Woman Should Know

It seems as if someone goes missing on a daily basis-women, children, and even men. We then hear about it on the 5 o'clock local news or on the Nancy Grace show at 7pm and wonder what on Earth would make someone do such a thing.

With the latest news on the possible discovery of the missing UVA student Hannah Graham, it just makes me stop to think for a second: this could happen to anyone. And, actually, it does happen every single day, to ordinary people doing ordinary things, everywhere we go.

Here are a few widely publicized cases:

On June 30, 2001, a 23 year old woman named Ginger Hayes was in a convenient store parking lot changing her infant's diaper in the backseat of the car while her husband and brother ran into the store. She and her 11 month old were both abducted and driven to an abandoned field where the mother was killed and the baby was left for dead. Luckily, they were found just in time for the baby to be saved.

On December 24, 2002, an almost 8 month pregnant woman named Laci Peterson was reportedly strangled to death by her husband Scott Peterson, in her own home, and dumped in the marina nearby.

 On September 25th, 2014, a realtor, Beverly Carter, went missing shortly after she was due to show a house to an unknown individual. Her body was found a few days later.

The list of the missing and murdered women goes on and on. Most cases do not even make it to the national headlines. These women were doing everyday things that we, as people, normally do: going to a bar and maybe having a few too many drinks, tending to our babies in public, expecting a baby and putting our trusts in our spouse or lover, and even doing our everyday jobs that we went to school for.

As women, we need to learn how to protect ourselves. Because you never know when or if something will happen to you.

However, these moves are great to remember and easy for anyone to do them when needed:

1. Groin Kick: This move works well for a reason-it hurts like hell!However, if you are not in a position to kick your assailant in the groin, use the next best (and actually more accurate thing)-your hands! Yes! Grab his groin as hard as you can. You can even use your elbow if he is behind you or back kick.

2. Elbow Hook: To escape from a bear hug, move your arms up to loosen the assailant's grip on you. Then bend your arm and use your elbow to slam the assailant in face or throat.

3. Throat Jab: If the person grasps you from the side, pivot to face him and punch him in the throat with your fist. This will take his breath away or cause him to choke.

4. Eye Gouge: This move is best executed by keeping your index and middle fingers together. Make a pistol with you fingers and jam them both into an attacker’s eye, hard. Don’t just graze the eyeball… You are trying to push your fingers through the back of their skull.

There are also everyday items that you carry around in your purse that can make great weapons in case of an attack. Here is one way to use your house key as a weapon! Rings make a great weapon as well.

Or I guess you can just buy one of these:

Here are some important tips to always remember:

• Be aware of your surroundings.
• Trust your gut.
• Stay in well lit areas. 
• Have a friend walk with you instead of walking alone.
• Turn your lights on.
• Lock the door.