Self Defense at School   You study in order to ace your exams at school. You practice your jump shot in preparation for basketball tryouts. So why wouldn't you bone up on ways to protect yourself in the event of an attack or sudden danger? It's much easier to follow a plan if you've already had a few dry runs. The last thing you should be thinking about during an attack is "can I really pull this self-defense tactic off?" Common Techniques Using your intuition (inner voice) and voice are two common self-defense techniques. Have you ever been in a situation that just didn't feel right? Perhaps you were walking home alone one night from the bus stop and you had a weird feeling inside. That was your intuition at work telling you to be careful. It is also important to understand the power of your voice. If you ever feel threatened, you should shout or scream to draw attention to the situation. It's even a good idea to practice speaking loudly (or yelling) so if you were ever in danger, you wouldn't freeze up. Commands like "No!" "Go away!" or "Back off!" are excellent attention-getters if you feel threatened and teachers or other students may hear it as well. De-escalation and redirection are other common self-defense techniques. These strategies involve calming down a bully by agreeing with her and then changing the subject. For example, if that girl taunts you at your locker for the fifth time this week, say something like, "Yes, I know I'm a loser," (de-escalation), then redirect the conversation: "But I'm in a rush to get to class. Aren't you late?" Although this method won't always work, it can only help matters if you remain calm. Do not give bullies or would-be attackers any extra ammunition. Your goal is to get away. See these sites for more information: School Bullies Going to and from school safety Self Defense for Adults and Teens Enter a door for Police Officers, Kids, Teens, Parents, Teachers, Articles, Special Offers Free counters provided by Andale.    Clipart Credit: Clips Ahoy