Learning senior self-defense and survival tactics has become a grim but absolute necessity for older people these days. Have you ever wondered how you would react if faced with a life-threatening situation where you needed to defend yourself, whether it be at home or on the streets?
The headlines act as a stark reminder that being well-informed about safety measures is essential in safeguarding oneself from the possible turmoil and danger that could exist beyond one’s immediate circle of family and friends.
In early December 2023, a 29-year-old man attacked a grandfather who was taking a walk in Calabasas, California, with his infant granddaughter in a stroller.
The attack was sudden, savage, and apparently without motivation. The older man and his granddaughter were just about to cross an otherwise empty street in a suburban Calabasas neighbourhood when the young man approached and – without warning – delivered a vicious left hook to the older man’s face.
The punch was so violent the older man went down almost instantly. The offender then walked away as if nothing had happened. The senior’s little granddaughter was thrown out of her stroller during the attack.
Police later obtained video footage of the assault from a nearby security camera. The perpetrator was eventually arrested, but authorities could not determine a motive.
Why Has Learning Senior Self-Defense Become a Necessity?
Crime statistics indicate that individuals aged 60 or older are less likely to experience violent crimes compared to younger age groups. But crimes like that unprovoked attack in Calabasas are not rare.
Researchers often base victimization statistics on national surveys that collect data on reported crimes. However, some analysts say these statistics do not fully represent the actual experiences of older individuals when it comes to crime.
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Many crimes against older adults go unreported. Taht might be because some older individuals are less likely to report crimes because of fear, embarrassment, or a lack of confidence in the authorities’ ability to help.
Hannah Bows, an assistant professor in criminal law at Durham University, points out that much of the current research focuses on a limited scope of violence and abuse, often neglecting sexual violence and incidents resulting in death.
Victimization surveys also often exclude specific groups, such as those living in senior care facilities. Other surveys only include responses from individuals within a certain age range.
All these factors have led to a largely incomplete representation of the true extent of victimization among seniors. While crimes against older people may be lower than other age groups, they are hardly uncommon.
5 Senior Self-Defense Tactics and Survival Strategies to Keep You Safe
We all need to feel secure, no matter where we are or where we go. This makes senior self-defense and survival strategies important considerations for any older person who wants to continue living a full life.
As people grow older, their bodies become slower and weaker. This can make them more vulnerable to criminals. Because of this, seniors need to learn how to keep themselves safe despite limited physical abilities. Safety precautions and self-defense tactics are important for everyone, but they are particularly important for seniors.
By learning senior self-defense tactics and safety techniques suited to their physical limitations, seniors can embrace life with more confidence and security. Fortunately, seniors can employ a variety of survival strategies and senior self-defense tactics to protect themselves. For the most part, they do not require martial arts training or experience.
Here are 5 senior self-defense and survival tips to help keep you safe whether you are at home or out and about.
Don’t Behave Like a Victim!
The first senior self-defense and survival tactic you need to learn is both simple and improtant: Don’t look or behave like a victim. That may not sound like much, but it can save your life.
In one well-known study, researchers filmed people walking down a New York City street and presented the footage to a group of prison inmates who had previously committed assaults on strangers.
The researchers asked the inmates to point to the individuals from the video who they believed would be the most vulnerable or easiest targets for such assaults. The inmate’s choices were remarkably consistent. Surprisingly, age, size, and gender were not factors.
The inmates tended to focus on certain behaviours that made individuals appear more vulnerable. These included dragging feet, awkward movement, slumped posture, and avoiding eye contact.
These behaviours apparently convey to potential assailants that you could be easily overpowered. This is why senior self-defense experts say that being aware of your surroundings is crucial.
Walk with confidence and establish casual eye contact with people around you. This communicates that you’re alert and paying attention. Remember, criminals favour potential victims who seem uncertain or unaware of their surroundings.
So, standing straight is among the basic senior self-defense and survival strategies you need to learn. Keep your chin up and your shoulders back. A hunched posture and a lowered gaze will make you seem fearful and timid.
Be Wise to the Ways of the Streets.
One of the best senior self-defense tips you’ll ever receive is to learn how to think like a criminal. While some may find the idea disconcerting, the ability to think like a thug is an excellent foundation on which you can build strategies against them.
By learning how to think like a criminal, you can avoid situations that would put you at a disadvantage. Senior self-defense is as much about being clever and wise to the ways of the street as it is about being aware of your surroundings.
David Solano, a convicted criminal who says he has mugged more than 100 people, is currently serving a 25-to-life prison sentence in Stormville, New York. He says he was not particularly choosy about who he mugged—or when.
What did matter to Solano was whether there were witnesses around—or even people who might have tried to help his victims. So, his favourite target was, as he curtly describes it, “anyone alone.” In fact, “being alone” was always Solano’s principal criterion when selecting targets.
Avoid Isolated Areas and Tunnels.
Sometimes, walking alone is unavoidable. This is especially true for seniors who have chosen to age in place and may have to venture out for supplies at night. In that case, your best senior self-defense strategy is to do so in well-lit areas that have pedestrian traffic.
Stay away from narrow, deserted backstreets and alleys. Avoid empty subway platforms. Solano says these are among the typical mugger’s preferred venues.
Tunnels are escape routes for muggers. They are dark and you are less likely to pursue a mugger into a tunnel.
Do Not Dress Too Flashy
You will sometimes come across the term “gray man” in senior self-defense courses, books, and manuals. This means dressing in a way that does not call attention to yourself. Do not wear clothes and apparel that would make you a likely target for criminals looking for some quick cash. That is yet another fundamental senior self-defense and survival tactic.
Solano says that when he was hunting for a target, he dismissed people who did not look like they were carrying valuables. In contrast, well-dressed people in designer clothing are more likely targets, especially when they’re alone.
Preparation and Deterrence: Carry the Right Tools
Senior self-defense and safety are not always about physically fighting back. They are also about prevention, deterrence, and smart, rational thinking. Self-defense and survival are about creating and maintaining a defensive distance between you and a potentially dangerous situation.
Research shows that most robbers and muggers strike at night. So, it’s always best for seniors to stay safe indoors as soon as it gets dark out.
If you must venture out at night, again, choose routes that are well-lit and populated. This reduces the likelihood of encountering potential dangers as well as increases your chances of getting help if needed.
Mount your keys on a Kubotan. Kubotan is a generic trademark for a self-defense keychain weapon. It was developed by the renowned martial arts expert and self-defense master, Sōke Takayuki Kubota, in the late 1960s.
A Kubotan is typically no more than 140 millimetres long and about 13 millimeters in diameter, just slightly thicker than a marker pen. This is a safety measure more than it is a weapon. You can use the Kubotan as a makeshift self-defense tool if necessary, yes; but it is best used for creating distance between you and an assailant.
Remember to carry a high-quality tactical flashlight, as well. A tactical flashlight will not only help you see better in the dark, but it can also double as a weapon and help you draw attention or alert others if you find yourself in trouble.
In Case of an Attack, Activate an Alarm or Make Loud Noises
Having a whistle, personal alarm, or any loud device readily accessible is a smart senior self-defense tactic. A device that calls people’s attention can be particularly helpful when you are in trouble.
The sound draws potential help or intervention from others who might be nearby and unaware of the situation. This is an important factor in senior self-defense.
Loud noises can also startle or disorient an assailant, giving you a momentary advantage to either escape or seek help. If you have no whistle or personal alarm on you, self-defense experts advise that you yell to call people’s attention.
Keep in mind that criminals prefer to operate without drawing attention. Shouting loudly or activating a loud alarm before any would-be assailant moves closer to you will demonstrate that you’re not an easy or passive target. You are prepared to protect yourself.
This can be enormously intimidating. So much so that you will likely scare off the assailant. No criminal wants to attract people’s attention to a crime, especially in a crowded place. Denying would-be attackers the advantage of being inconspicuous is an excellent senior self-defense strategy.
De-escalate the Situation
If you followed all the preceding tips, then the fact that you are alert, thinking, and prepared to protect yourself is what will be on the mind of an assailant. But that is not the only active dynamic in senior self-defense.
Be smart. Prioritize your personal safety over your material possessions. In a situation where someone threatens you, especially if they have a weapon, the main goal is to protect yourself from harm.
If all else fails, comply and indicate that you will cooperate. Handing over your money or belongings might be distressing, but it’s a strategy to de-escalate the situation and reduce the risk of physical harm or violence.
Escape, if Possible; Defend Yourself in The Gravest Extreme
Senior self-defense means being aware of possible escape routes. If, after handing over your valuables, it becomes clear that the criminal is intent on hurting you, consider a safe and quick escape.
If, in the gravest extreme, the assailant closes the distance and you are suddenly face-to-face with the possibility of serious physical harm – or even death –without recourse to an escape, remember that just about every object within your reach is a potential weapon.
This includes pens, keys, your purse, or a rolled-up newspaper. Self-defense experts at ALICE Training Institute say canned goods, because of their weight and solidity, can serve as good impromptu weapons if needed.
If you’re carrying groceries and feel threatened, having a can in your hand could provide some defense.
You Don’t Have to Be Helpless
There are only three foregone conclusions in life: you were born, you will live, and you will die. What happens in between is largely up to fate’s roll of the dice. That said, most people would agree that they would like to live as many healthy years as possible.
That fact is becoming more relevant as the world’s aging population continues to grow. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that, by 2030, approximately 1 in 6 people worldwide will be aged 60 years or older.
Experts at the WHO say that, during this time, the number of people over 60 worldwide will have increased from 1 billion in 2020 to 1.4 billion.
This early, researchers, sociologists, and healthcare experts have begun to voice concerns over a potential increase in crimes against seniors. Many of these concerns are premised on the perception that older adults are vulnerable due to factors such as physical frailty and cognitive decline.
But that does not always have to be the case for all seniors – especially as more older people are educated on senior self-defense and survival strategies.
In 2020, a 77-year-old man successfully fought off a would-be mugger who had attempted to attack and rob him at an outdoor ATM in Cardiff, Wales.
Trevor Weston, 77, a former bus driver, had stopped at the store on Colchester Avenue, in Cardiff, to get money for his daily newspapers when the would-be mugger, who wore a hoodie and was carrying a backpack, shoved him back against a rubbish bin and tried to rob him.
There was a struggle between the two men. Weston managed to free himself and assumed a boxing stance to defend himself.
The robber stepped forward to grab Weston again but was met with two jabs from the senior, who then took the offensive and closed in on his assailant. His would-be mugger decided it was time to flee the scene and ran in the opposite direction.
Cardiff Police praised the senior’s courage.
“I needed money to buy the papers so decided to drive down to the local Sainsbury’s because all the shops closer to me charge you to make withdrawals from their cash machines,” Trevor says. “Normally there’s staff milling about outside, waiting to be let in. But, that day, there was no one.”
This incident is only one among countless others that are taking place all over the world. Seniors are learning how to protect themselves – and that is a good thing.
How to Learn More About Senior-Self Defense
If you want to learn more about senior self-defense and safety tactics, you will find many excellent courses online. These courses are often administered by bona fide security and senior self-defense experts.
Many seniors elect to learn martial arts techniques for self-defense. Certain martial arts styles emphasize redirection of force, balance, and using an opponent’s momentum against them, which can be a perfect basis for senior self-defense training.
There are specialized classes focusing on cane fighting, as well. These will teach you how to use a cane as a defensive weapon to block, strike, and create distance between you and an attacker.
You should also explore personal safety devices such as personal alarms, mobile apps for emergency assistance, or even wearable devices that can alert authorities or loved ones in case of an emergency.
Keep in mind that the aim of these senior self-defense is not to encourage confrontation but to empower seniors and protect them when they are faced with life-threatening situations.
It’s about feeling more confident and prepared to handle unexpected dangers and, ideally, to avoid them altogether.
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