The Way Self-Defence

Advice on personal safety

A self-defence course will cover a range of personal and home security issues. For those readers who will not make it any further than this website, we have included some basic guidance on this page.

• Do not make the mistake of thinking that trouble only happens to other people; to someone else you are the 'other people'.
• Always use your common sense: look, listen and use your feelings (you may well feel something is wrong before you see it or hear it).
• Take a basic first aid course - you may need to help those around you in a first aid situation (or indeed, perform first aid on yourself)
• Take a self-defence course (even if you don't want to do a course with us, find somewhere you are happy with and learn some basic self-defence).
• Find out more about personal security (get a leaflet from a police station, search the Internet, investigate attack alarms).
• Do not take short cuts that may compromise your security; and avoid dark routes and poorly lit areas with few people around.
• Don't assume that people are only attacked at night - personal security is your 24 hour responsibility.
• Try not to put yourself in isolated positions - such as the top floor of a bus, or an empty train carriage.
• Try to avoid being out alone (especially at night); stick with friends.
• While on a night out make sure that you keep an eye on your drinks and those of your friends, don’t leave your drinks unattended, try and buy bottles where possible as it’s harder to slip anything into your drink.
• Don’t let people buy or give you a drink unless you trust them completely.
• If going to the toilet take your drink with you! Even if you leave your drink with a friend you’re trusting them to pay enough attention, not get distracted or be too drunk to make sure no one else puts anything in it.
• If you’re unsure about whether your drink had been compromised get rid of it and get a fresh one, the cost of paying for another drink will be a lot less then if it has been compromised/spiked.
• You shouldn’t get drunk when you’re on a night out. There is nothing wrong with having a drink, but you should always pay attention, be aware of your surroundings and be able to defend yourself if unfortunately in the position to need to do so.
• If you’re getting a cab, make sure you are using a licenced cab company. Use a well known/established company where possible, don’t get into un marked cars.
• If you do ever have to accept a lift from someone you don’t know or if you unsure you can trust them, take a picture of the car with the licence plate and potentially even the driver, and send it to someone you know.
• Even if using Uber, share/send your journey.
• Think about the security of your family - their pain will hurt you more than your own.
• Look into your home security situation (such as security alarms, security locks & grills,heat, smoke and carbon monoxide alarms, fire extinguishers).
• Car security. When driving you should have your doors locked at all times from as soon as you get into the car. Also try to only have your windows open a small amount, use aircon where possible.
• Be aware that some of the newer car security is already being compromised, I.e. keyless entry vehicles.
• Please review all of your security as we can assure you, you won’t be the only one doing so. At this particular time, apart from yourself, the most useful tool you can carry would probably be a bottle of water. We will discuss that more if we see you on the course.