You are a walking, talking, efficient weapon. You’re not weak. And, understanding this one, simple truth, is what self-defense is all about. You can, and should, use your voice to defend yourself whenever possible. But, recognize that it’s not always enough to use verbal judo to get out of a sticky situation. Sometimes, you need to use your body to defend yourself. That’s where a solid understanding of striking comes in handy.
Ideally, you want to keep your attacker at a distance, but that’s just not usually going to be reality. So, you need to learn close quarter combat techniques that inflict a lot of pain, very quickly. (And, remember: You’re being attacked. This isn’t the time to feel sorry for the person. If you can get a KO, then do it.) Your elbow and knees are perfect for this!
This video does a great job demonstrating and explaining seven different elbow strikes. Study it. Practice it.
These are Krav Maga strikes, but you’d learn them in several martial arts, including Hapkido.
Go train.
Note: As with every technique I post, 1) you need to practice with a willing adult participant, 2) I don’t endorse any of the sites or teachers, and 3) you need to be aware of and know the self-defense laws in your state. The purpose of these posts is to provide you with information about techniques I would use in certain situations. If you really want to become an expert in self-defense, then you need to find a dojang or dojo. If you have questions about how to identify a good dojang or dojo, post your questions in the comments.