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Body Map for Self Defense

This body map will help you understand the best areas to strike an attacker in self defense if you are being assaulted.

Each of these areas is sensitive or vital, making them prime targets for self-defense. The goal is to quickly disable the attacker enough for you to escape.

General Face

The general face area is one of the best areas to target on an attacker in self defense because it contains a lot of vital and sensitive parts like the eyes, nose, cheeks, and mouth.

Even if you are aiming for the attacker's nose and miss, you might still strike their eyes or mouth since they are all contained on the general face area.

Striking the attacker's general face area can disorient and surprise them which will give you a moment to escape.

Using your bare hands, a strong slap, palm strike, or fist punch to the face can cause enough pain or shock to create a window of opportunity for you to get away.

If you have a self-defense weapon like a kubaton or cat ears, a direct strike to the general face areas can equally disorient and disable the attacker to give you time to escape.

Eyes

The eyes are one of the most vital and sensitive parts of the human body and therefore extreme caution should be used.

Targeting the eyes is effective because it temporarily blinds and disorients the attacker. Even a quick jab with your fingers, a scratch, or a strike with a self defense weapon can cause extreme discomfort, forcing them to recoil and lose focus.

Throat

The throat is a highly sensitive and vulnerable area that connects the head to the rest of the body.

A direct strike with the edge of your hand, fist, or elbow can cause difficulty breathing, pain, and immediate incapacitation, while a strike with a handheld stick or knuckle weapon can inflict even more damage.

Solar Plexus

The solar plexus is located in the center of the chest, just below the rib cage.

A punch, elbow strike, or knee to this area can knock the wind out of your attacker, leaving them gasping for air and unable to continue their attack.

Groin

One of the most vulnerable areas on a male attacker is the groin area.

A strike to the groin can cause intense pain and incapacitate an attacker.

Use a knee, kick, or even your hand to deliver a quick, sharp strike.

A benefit of targeting the groin of an attacker is that it's generally easier to reach, while the face or eyes of an attacker might be harder to reach if they're taller than you.

Knees

The knees are vulnerable joints, and a well-placed kick or stomp to the knee can cause the attacker to lose balance or collapse. Striking the knee can prevent them from being able to chase or pursue you.

Feet

Stomping on the attacker's foot can be surprisingly effective, especially when you're wearing shoes, boots or heels.

A hard stomp on the top or side of the foot can cause sharp pain, making it difficult for the attacker to move or continue their assault.