Former Navy Seal Gives Tips To Stay Safe In Close Quarters

Stairwells and elevators are two places women can feel vulnerable.

So, in order to help you stay safe, we asked a former Navy Seal to show a few simple moves that women can use to protect themselves in case of an attack.

Scenario 1: Face to face, his hands around your neck.

Bring up your arms on either side of one of his, use your arms as a bar, then, use your entire body to twist toward the middle to break the hold.

"From here, we can use elbows, use hands, closed fists, palm strikes. You want to do as much damage as you can that we can get away as quickly as possible," said former Navy Seal, Dustin Merritt.

It's not about going toe to toe with someone or beating them up, but doing enough to escape.

Men are generally bigger and stronger, so using the leverage of your whole body is key.

"The first thing we want to do is be 100 percent committed to whatever we're going to do. Second thing, be decisive in our actions and we want to be aggressive," Merritt said.

Scenario 2: Being attacked from behind.

Get a good base, with your feet shoulder width apart, lower your center of gravity then use one arm to throw it up and over his arm toward his face to break the grip.

Lori: “Most people will think ‘I don't have any options right here,’ but, get your base, go above the arm."
Merritt: "Throwing hard, hopefully catch them with an elbow. If not, just trying to break that grip, continue to turn, fighting for my life."

Fighting back takes the element of surprise away from them and gives it to you.

Scenario 3: He's followed you down the stairs and has you in a bear hug.

Drop into your base, throw both arms up to break his grip, throw elbow strikes, then, grab one of his arms with both your hands and twist it away from his body.

Lori: "What's most important about that base?"
Merritt: "What that does, I keep you from getting picked up off the ground and it starts to break."

Keeping it simple in that moment of fear - surprise and adrenalin is key.

Scenario 4: A man passes you in the stairwell and grabs your arm.

Immediately, strike him in the face, then, pull your arm away using the leverage of your whole body if needed.

Merritt: "That strike should help.”
Lori: "Use my body weight, sink into it and  pull my arm away and now I make my escape."
Merritt: "People will naturally bring their hands up to cover their face, so, if I get a couple of good strikes in I can pull away and create that escape."

You can learn more about his training here.