A considerable segment of my martial arts training involves learning Filipino martial arts along side traditional Shotokai Karate. As with any art, it is an incredibly deep subject to which people have devoted their entire lives to studying, but for the purposes of this post, I'd like to consider a major empty hand (or panantukan) technique known as gunting.
Many people start martial arts for self defence purposes, but I believe that many, even after several years of training, find themselves with little confidence and even little practical ability to defend themselves should they be threatened 'in the street'.
Gunting (a scissor motion) is a technique whereby the practitioner attacks the limb which is attacking them. I see this idea as a general philosophy in the Filipino arts, and it is an extremely effective self defence method. There are of course many variations, but I practice gunting as a painful bicep strike. Hitting the muscle with either a fist or knife-hand while holding my opponents arm in place with my other hand. This may sound awkward and of course everything takes place in a fraction of a second, but it does fall into place during training. I believe holding the arm in place is important. If you have ever hit your thumb with a hammer you'll understand. Compare hitting it in mid air, to hitting it when it is resting on a surface.... exactly.
These techniques are rapid and sharp, they will stun your attacker and put his/her limb out of commission. Naturally, possible throat and eye strikes follow on from gunting. To women especially, I recommend eye strikes, and being close in to your attacker, a traditional old knee to the 'mid-section' of any man... You don't need any strength...!