Most of us who live in a big city have a certain amount of fear of being attacked.  Every day when we watch the news there appears to be some report of someone being mugged, stabbed or shot.  It's very scary to see these images and as a result many people are looking for self defense techniques and products.

First of all you need to try and keep away from situations where you might be attacked.  There are many common sense tips that you can follow.  Don't go out late at night on your own and if you see anyone you feel is acting suspicious and is making you feel uncomfortable then you should try and get away from them.

If someone is demanding you hand over your wallet, cell phone or anything else like that you should simply give it to them.  Fifty bucks isn't worth risking your life over.  So many people put up a fight and end up losing their life.  It's not just you that suffers but also your friends and family.

If you are being attacked by someone with a gun and you see that the trigger is about to be pulled then this is the occasion where you should act.  Basically you will put your hands up in the air as if to say “I surrender” then you hit their hand away from their body.  Be ready to hear the gun fire.  There are different techniques you can use after that such as kicking the attacker in the groin, knee and punching then in the neck.

Some people feel that the best way to protect themselves is with a gun however there are major problems with this.  Firstly, the weapon could be used against you in a tussle.  Also, you might accidentally kill an innocent bystander.  Remember when you shoot someone, the bullet will normally go straight through them and could end up killing someone in the process.

There are other self-defense weapons that are designed  to hurt rather than kill.  These are probably better options however they are not legal everywhere so you need to research the laws where you live.

Pepper Sprays - These contain oleoresin capsicum which is great at disabling an attacker for about twenty minutes or so.  If you spray into the eyes the attacker will feel as if their eyes are on fire.  It's certainly not a pleasant experience but won't cause any lasting damage.

Tasers and Stun Guns - Both of these devices are designed to put out electricity that will allow you to get away from your attacker.  They are very similar products however there are some major differences.  Some people will say that a taser is best because you can use it at a distance but with a stun gun you need to have direct contact.  However tasers are a bit bigger and more difficult to conceal than a stun gun plus they are more expensive.

Martial Arts - A lot of people take up a variety of different martial arts in hope that it will help allow them to defend themselves.  The problem is that martial arts have been created for the purpose of sport rather than self-defense so isn't perfect.  Although you should look at doing mixed martial arts which includes Muay Tha, Tea Kwondo and Jujitsu.

Finding the best way to defend yourself against an attacker is not something you should rush into.  There are many pitfalls with each method and there is no one best solution.  You could get into a lot of trouble if you try and defend yourself with a weapon you don't understand how to use.