For a woman, being mentally alert is greatest weapon (Special to IANS)

What should a woman do if a knife wielding man demands her mobile phone when she is alone? Surprise him by offering it to him. Or fling it as far as away. As he runs for the phone, you run in the opposite direction.

Remember you can buy another phone. But you have only one life to live.

Common sense is a powerful weapon that can fell any opponent. It helps you to come out of potentially dangerous arenas without a fight.

Unfortunately, this lesson is not imparted to most women in India. Naturally few use it when they are faced with piquant situations.

What should a woman do if she finds herself alone in the company of a strange male as she prepares to enter a lift in a high-rise apartment late at night?

There is nothing to fear.

Enter the lift. If you need to reach the 13th floor, press all the buttons up to your destination. No one will dare attack you in a lift that stops on every floor. Simple.

The examples are endless.

Most women I have met in my 30 years as a trainer in self-defence techniques harbour the illusion that one needs to be powerfully built to take on a male aggressor.

Many also feel that without knowing judo or karate, they can be easy victims to lecherous men.

Nothing can be farther from the truth.

In Bangalore (where I live) and in several other cities, my team holds workshops to explain in detail to women how they can come under attack in the most unexpected circumstances.

So it is good to learn and understand simple but effective self-defence methods. These need not be based on a rigid set of rules.

Rather, your safety lies in your habits, attitudes and activities. It is also learning what handy tools you can convert into powerful weapons for your protection.

How to stay safe while traveling in a cab or a vehicle? How to use every inch of your body to develop devastating power? How to address real street situations? How to protect yourself from a much stronger attacker?

One can learn all this in a matter of hours.

If a stranger tries to attack you when you are alone in your house, run into the kitchen.

You alone know where the chili power and turmeric are kept. And where the knives and plates are. All these can be turned into deadly weapons.

If nothing else, start throwing plates and utensils all over. Let them break. Scream. Remember that noise is the greatest enemy of a molester. He does not want to be caught.

Before getting into an auto at night, note down its registration number. Then use the mobile to call your family or friend and pass on the details to them in the language the driver understands.

Even if no one answers your call, pretend you are in a conversation.

The driver now knows someone has his details and he will be in serious trouble if anything goes wrong. He is now bound to take you home safe and sound. A potential attacker is now your de facto protector!

What if the driver turns into a street he is not supposed to - and you feel you are entering a danger zone?

Use the handle of your purse or your stole (dupatta) to wrap around his neck and pull him back. Within seconds, he will feel choked and helpless.

What if you don't have a purse or a stole? Just pull him back by his collar. The top button of his shirt would then do the same trick.

If you are stalked at night, enter a shop or a house and explain your predicament. If it is night and shops are not open, go inside an ATM box.

ATM centres always have security guards. They are also monitored by close circuit television. Fearing identification, no one will dare attack you.

What is important is to stay cool at all times. When you have spare time, think of everyday situations where you can be in trouble. And how you can save yourself.

After all, being mentally alert is the greatest weapon you can ever have.

(The author is a VII Dan Black Belt in Tao of Jeet Kune-do, Bruce Lee's School of Thought, and a II Dan Black Belt in Sankukai Karate. He is founder and chief instructor of Protection Mania. He can be reached at senseimenon@protectionmania.com)

Last updated on Sep 6^th, 2009 at 12:02 pm IST--IANS