If de-escalation techniques (which we will teach you on our Courses) fail, shouting aggressively at your attacker could be enough to make them change their mind about attacking or mugging you.

Combine shouting with a defensive stance – arms out in front of you with open palms facing your would-be attacker, feet shoulder-width apart with left foot forward and right foot back – and the chances are, your potential attacker will move on to an easier target.

So what do you shout?
We recommend shouting “GET BACK”.

First of all, it’s a Police term used when they draw their batons. It’s clear what you want your potential attacker to do – get back, stay away. Plus, phonetically, it can’t be confused with anything else, for example, “Get off” may be confused with F*** off” and aggravate the situation even more.

Still not convinced?

We will give you 4 good reasons to shout “Get Back”:

1. It will give you witnesses. If you keep quiet and only shout as you’re being attacked, the people turning to see what’s happening will only see two people fighting. If you shout “Get back”, all your witnesses will turn and see you in a defensive stance before the person attacks you. It will then be obvious who the attacker is and, more importantly for you, who the defender is.

2. It complies with the Law. The law regarding self defence asks whether it was possible to prevent an attack by a ‘non-violent means’ before you defended yourself. This could be running away, leaving the room, crossing the road, trying to reason with your would-be attacker, or simply shouting “Get back”.

3. Your attacker will think twice about attacking. Attackers and muggers like easy victims. They don’t want to fight someone that may hurt or beat them. By adopting a defensive stance and shouting “Get back” at them as aggressively as you can, they may pause for thought. Surely there are easier targets than the one you now represent?

4. You will feel less afraid. It’s not fear, it’s adrenaline. Adrenaline will flood your body as an attack escalates from verbal to physical. Shouting out helps reduce the adrenaline to a manageable level, leaving you more in control of your actions. That’s why adrenaline sports, like bungie jumping and parachuting, get you to shout “Bungie” or “Geronimo” before jumping, and martial artists Kia before striking.

Four good reasons to shout “Get Back” if you are about to be attacked. Four good reasons that could save your life.