When you take a class, you usually don't learn how to use self defense flashlights correctly. There are some ways to make sure that you are not putting yourself in more danger while you are defending yourself and how effective they are might depend on the type and size of flashlight that you have.
A flashlight's main purpose is to light the way and that can be your first line of defense. You can see the potential dangers that are in front of you and may even see people who are trying to sneak up on you. You can also use a flashlight to blind a potential attacker, especially if you have one that has a very bright light. If you are lucky, these things can be enough to keep you from being in danger.
If the bright light doesn't stop your attacker long enough to allow you to get away, you may end up in a grappling match. If you are a smaller person than the attacker, your goal is not just to get away, but to get away before any serious harm is done to you. Remember, if they pin you, they have you so you want to make sure that they are not able to restrain you in any way. The fight might be taken to the ground and if you are a small woman fighting a larger man, that might be what you need. Once you get down to the ground, then you can work to use the flashlight to subdue the attacker. Your strike zones should be the face, the neck, the wrists or the groin. Anything that will hurt enough to make the person let you go is a target but you must swing with enough force to actually do some damage or you may just enrage that person.
If the person has grabbed you from behind, you can use the flashlight as leverage, pushing it up and around the wrists so that the person lets you go. You can also try to swing the flashlight backwards if need be, whatever you need to do to make your attacker let you go, unharmed. If you are going to hesitate while you are fighting with this person, then all might be lost. Don't swing a flashlight if you are not able to connect and really mean it because if you are weak, the other person will have the upper hand on you. You must be ready to be a little violent if you are going to use self defense flashlights to protect yourself.
