Tips for Staying Safe in NYC by Tsahi Shemesh

FACTS:

Unfortunately, violent and sexual crimes in urban areas are on the rise again in the United States. One of the most startling statistics involves the increase in attacks on women. Here are a few chilling statistics and facts to help put things into perspective:

• Fact #1: 17.6 % of women in the United States have survived a completed or attempted rape.

• Fact #2: An estimated 683,000 adult American women are forcibly raped each year.

• Fact #3: 5% of adult rape victims are male.

• Fact #4: Men perpetrate the majority of violent acts against women.

• Fact #5: Sexual violence is associated with a host of short- and long-term problems, including physical injury and illness, psychological symptoms, economic costs, and death.

• Fact #6: A study reported in the New York Times suggests that one in five adolescent girls become the victims of physical or sexual violence, or both, in a dating relationship.

We all need to know how to defend ourselves.

6 Tips for Self Defense

There is no such thing as a type of person that is most likely to be a victim of violence. Women and men of all ages, religions, class, cultures, beliefs or geographic locations can become a victim to violence.

The broad nature of the problem has drawn attention to the methods used to counter domestic and street violence on a national and regional level. No single policing method or social policy or other strategy can single handedly manage the problem – it is also up to the individuals concerned to learn how to keep themselves safe.

There has been a dearth of rational dialogue and solutions put forward by politicians and policy makers based on notions of self-defense and individual responsibility. It would be politically risky to publicly suggest that citizens look after themselves and learn Krav Maga or another form of self defense but the fact is there is always going to be a risk to your personal safety no matter how efficient policing methods are or how much crime rates fall.

Self defense classes could be the easiest way to mitigate risks to your personal safety and one of the most responsible things one can do to help thwart the rise in attacks in urban areas such as New York.

There are in fact a number of things we can all do as individuals to help prevent attacks and feel safer. The following tips and advice are geared towards men and women of all ages and are learned in our regular Krav Maga classes.

1. Stay in control.

A study of sexual assaults among college students found that 73% of the assailants and 55% of the victims had used drugs, alcohol, or both immediately before the assault.  Don’t drink yourself stupid.

2. Make sure you know your surroundings.

Only 22% of female victims were assaulted by someone they had never seen before or did not know well.  Don’t rely on the fact you are with familiar faces and lull yourself into a false sense of security based on superficial acquaintances. Be friendly and don’t be paranoid but always be aware which means saying no to that extra drink or drugs.

3. Harm Reduction. The following steps will help reduce the risk of being assaulted:

- Be confident.  Attending only a few Krav Maga classes a month give you a huge confidence boost.  Your manner and self confidence is the easiest way to put off an attacker.
- Learn to identify threatening and dangerous behavior.  Learning how to identify aggressive behavior and a few simple techniques can give you a huge advantage if you are ever in a vulnerable position.
- Be assertive and speak confidently and directly when being approached or if put in a vulnerable position.
- Set the boundaries. Clearly communicate your limits to others and don’t be afraid to stand up for yourself. For instance, if someone is making you feel uncomfortable, say so immediately and clearly.
- If you sense danger, the easiest thing to do is walk away.

4. Assertiveness is empowerment.

Communicate clearly and firmly because if you establish boundaries early on and someone crosses the line, you can act quickly and do what you need to in order to remove yourself from a difficult situation.

5. Keeping yourself safe while traveling alone.

- Avoid walking at night wearing headphones or using a cell phone. Loud music and talking on the phone hampers your ability to hear what is happening around you and tends to attract unwanted attention.
- Don’t just rely on using things like pepper spray to defend yourself. Learn some form of practical self-defense like Krav Maga (classes are available from trusted trained professionals in locations in New York City including Tribeca, Wall Street (in and around the the financial district) and the Upper West Side), it will give you confidence and potential attackers sense that confidence.
Make sure you learn a practical form of self-defense because if you don’t practice your physical responses under realistic circumstances (i.e. mental and physical stress) and situations, you are more likely to encounter feelings of shock, numbness, loss of control, disorientation, and fear when it happens in real life. Non-practical martial art forms like Karate and Taekwondo are beautiful and elegant but they won’t help you when you’re in danger.

6. Keeping yourself safe at a party, club or bar.
- Be careful about walking away with strangers or when you are interacting with new people. Get to know them and decide whether or not you can trust them.

- Try to avoid being alone with someone who has been drinking or taking drugs. Someone that you know well could act very differently under the influence, and be a threat to you.

- Consider limiting your intake of alcohol or drugs. Taking drugs or drinking alcohol may make you more vulnerable. Your ability to keep yourself safe might be impaired. Know that even if you are under the influence of drugs or alcohol and you experience sexual assault, it is not your fault.

- Consider telling your parents and friends where you are going. They may need to contact you or, more importantly, you may need to contact them if you find yourself in an uncomfortable or dangerous situation.

- Trust your instincts. If you feel uncomfortable or afraid, it is ok to leave a situation. Do not worry about being polite or hurting someone’s feelings. And if you have a cell phone, use it.