Self-Defense Tips For Kids In Wake Of Broken Arrow Kidnapping Attempt

A convicted sex offender on Thursday grabbed a girl on her way to school in Broken Arrow.

She was able to get away.  

05/09/2013 Related Story: Residents Concerned After Sex Offender Arrested In Broken Arrow Neighborhood

Having a plan is key. Kids need to act immediately if something happens, because they're more likely to survive right then, than if someone takes them into a car, house or other secluded area.

Few things are more gut-wrenching than for someone to take a child. Kids are smaller, weaker and taught to listen to adults and not to fight. But kids can be taught to protect themselves, even against bigger, stronger adversaries. It just takes practice.

• First, attack the assailants’ fingers to pry them off your arm, especially the pinkie finger.

"Take that pinky, like you're going to take it out of that joint, and they're going to let go," Steve Whitaker said.

• Next, rather than try to jerk or yank your arm away because they're stronger, turn your entire body away and pull as you run away, because then it becomes the strength of your entire body versus their finger grip.

Steve: (Yank away) "Okay, there's no way I can hold on to you."

Reporter: "That's true. I'm surprised, because you're strong and I'm not as strong, let me do that again. See, there's no way I can hold on to you."

What if it comes down to a fight? Steve recommends three basic strikes that children can try against people who are bigger and stronger and all involve using the heel of their hand.

• Hit up under the nose, forcing back their head.
• Hit the area just above their stomach, to take their breath away
• Turn your hand down and go for the groin and with each strike, yell no as loudly as possible.

Here are some other tips to get away:

• Run around a car to put space between you and the attacker.
• Crawl under a vehicle, belly up and hold on to the underside so you can't be dragged out.
• Always make noise, scream, blow a whistle, anything to get attention.
• If on a bike, hang on to it and wrap your legs around because it's harder to take you and the bike.
• If in a car, use your legs to kick the person, grab the keys out of the ignition and jump out as soon as the car stops.

If you want to see a knee strike kids can use, click the video above.

radKIDS is a reputable self-defense program for children, and you can learn more by clicking here. radKIDS is taught at these Oklahoma agencies:

Cherokee Nation Marshal Service

Daniel King | Phone: 918-316-4369

Tahlequah

Claremore Police Department

Robin Blair | Phone: 918-341-1212

Claremore

Northeastern State University

Cari Keller | Phone: 918-444-3514

Tahlequah

U.S. Army

Nancy Jo McLeod

Lawton, OK, 73505