Description

Personal Security: Defending Yourself in Daily Situations

Purpose

This short course aims to empower learners with practical strategies to enhance their personal safety in everyday situations. It addresses the need for situational awareness, de-escalation techniques, and basic self-defence skills to help individuals navigate potential threats with confidence and preparedness.

Rationale

In an unpredictable world, personal security is a critical skill. This focused approach equips learners with actionable knowledge to avoid, de-escalate, or respond to threats effectively. By emphasizing awareness and prevention, the course connects to broader safety principles while providing practical tools for immediate application.

Target Audience

This course is designed for individuals aged 16 and above, including students, professionals, and community members. It is particularly beneficial for those with limited self-defence experience who want to enhance their confidence and safety in daily life.

Learning Outcomes

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

1. Recognize and respond to potential threats using situational awareness techniques.
2. Apply verbal de-escalation strategies to prevent conflicts from escalating.
3. Execute basic self-defence techniques to escape common physical attacks.
4. Develop a personal safety plan tailored to their daily routines and environments.

Course Structure

Introduction

• Overview of the importance of personal security in daily life.
• Discussion of common threats and the value of proactive safety measures.
• Course objectives and what learners will gain.

Situational Awareness and Threat Recognition

• Key Concepts:
  • The Cooper Color Code: White (unaware) to Yellow (relaxed alertness).
  • Recognizing pre-attack indicators such as prolonged staring or flanking movements.
  • Environmental risk factors: poorly lit areas, isolated pathways, and blind corners.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • The alert shopper who avoided a potential robbery in a parking garage.
  • Avoiding a street confrontation by altering one’s route.
• Interactive Element: Learners practice observing their surroundings in a simulated public setting, identifying potential risks and escape routes.

De-escalation and Deterrence Techniques

• Key Concepts:
  • Projecting confidence through body language and assertive communication.
  • Verbal de-escalation techniques: active listening, empathy, and redirecting conversations.
  • Setting boundaries and managing intrusions effectively.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • De-escalating a road rage incident by avoiding eye contact and creating space.

Basic Self-Defence Techniques

• Key Concepts:
  • Basic stances and movement for stability and power.
  • Targeting vulnerable areas: eyes, nose, throat, groin, and knees.
  • Simple strikes and escapes: palm heel strikes, elbow strikes, and escaping grabs.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • Escaping an attempted mugging by targeting the attacker’s foot and ribs.

Responding to Armed Threats

• Key Concepts:
  • The importance of creating distance and escaping when faced with an armed attacker.
  • Using improvised shields and identifying escape routes.
  • Last-resort defence techniques for controlling the weapon-bearing arm.
• Examples/Case Studies:
  • Using a backpack as a shield during an attempted robbery in a public park.

Conclusion

• Recap of key takeaways: awareness, de-escalation, and self-defence as a last resort.
• Encouragement to practice regularly and share knowledge with others.

Prerequisites

• No prior self-defence experience is required.

This course is designed to be accessible and practical, ensuring learners leave with actionable skills to enhance their personal safety.