If you find yourself caught without pepper spray, a stun gun, or any other self defense device, you'll have to resort to unarmed self defense moves. While this should never be done if you have a better alternative, unfortunately violence does happen, and it can catch you off guard. If it happens to you, you should know how to fight back even if you have no form of weapon handy.

Most people think they will simply escape and run away if someone attacks them. This is almost always impossible. In many cases the attacker will already have you in their grip before you realize what's happening. If the attacker has a knife or gun, they can seriously injure or even kill you as you're trying to run away from them. You'll have to incapacitate them before you can escape, either with an effective self defense device or by physically forcing them to let you go.

When you aren't carrying a self defense device, you should be aware of everyday objects that could be used as weapons if the need arises. Pens or other sharp objects, as well as your car and house keys, can be used to jab an attacker, particularly in the eyes. When trying to fight back against an assailant when you don't have a weapon, your entire body should be viewed as a weapon. Aim for sensitive areas such as the face and groin; your efforts will do more damage there than when aimed at their stomach, chest, back, or extremities.

Use punches and kicks aimed at getting your attacker to loosen his hold on you. Particular targets include the neck, eyes, and temple. Be careful with kicks; many people think that they kick more effectively than they actually do, and if you do not kick correctly the attacker could grab your leg, pulling you to the ground. Plus, most people are faster with their arms than they are with their legs, although kneeing the attacker can be a good strategy. When punching, aim for the face, eyes, and neck.

Learning to defend yourself like you see in the movies comes only with practice. Martial arts moves can give you confidence and a few good tips, but even if you are trained in martial arts, you should not rely on this to defend yourself against an armed attacker. Do not plan to knock out your assailant with one blow; even if you see it on TV, this simply is not realistic. You must land constant hits and not stop fighting back until it is safe to get away. Keep kicking and punching until your attacker stops fighting. As soon as you are able to, run away. Do not prolong the fight more than you have to.

Despite these methods, you should never plan to make unarmed self defense your only method for fighting back against an attacker. The truth is that most attackers come prepared, may be armed, and are usually stronger physically than those they are trying to attack, making it very difficult for you to succeed if you try to fight back using only unarmed moves. Even if your moves are successful, it is still unlikely that you will come out of the altercation unscathed. Carrying a keychain pepper spray canister, a small stun gun, a personal alarm, or a baton gives you a much better chance of escaping from such an attack unharmed.