Episode Length: ~12 minutes

Episode Summary:

In this episode of the Pretty Deadly Podcast, founder and martial artist Susie Kahlich breaks down the violent attack that changed her life—and launched a global self-defense movement.

Rather than sharing a typical survivor story, Susie walks listeners through the assault as a tactical case study, examining how her instincts kicked in at the time—and how she would respond now, with 25 years of martial arts training behind her.

Stage by stage, she reflects on the positions, the physics, the fear, and the missed opportunities—offering insight into how small, practical movements can be the key to surviving and escaping violence.

This episode is both a personal narrative and a valuable educational resource for survivors, self-defense instructors, and anyone curious about real-world applications of martial arts in high-stress environments.

Highlights & Key Moments:

[00:02:22] Beginning of the assault: shoved and pinned against a wall and "scratch your back" defense
[00:03:30] Pushed to the ground: using push-pull and momentum philosophy from martial arts to turn a fall into a throw
[00:05:32] Hair grab and punch: wrist manipulation and how to absorb a punch
[00:06:38] Crawling toward the kitchen and why "grab a knife" is a dangerous myth without training
[00:07:43] Introduction of shrimping (from martial arts like BJJ and Kung Fu) to turn around leg grabs
[00:08:54] Vulnerability of attackers in moments of distraction—and how to exploit balance points like knees and ankles
[00:11:25] Final thoughts on learning to use space, momentum, and balance in self-defense situations

Key Takeaways:

You don’t need brute strength to defend yourself—just leverage, awareness, and a few basic tools.
Survival is not a clean, choreographed fight—it’s messy, instinctual, and often improvised.
Martial arts can reframe fear into focus, giving you usable strategies in real-world scenarios.
The body remembers, even when the mind doesn’t—and that memory can be retrained to protect you.

Learn the Techniques:

Explore Pretty Deadly’s trauma-informed, body-aware approach to self-defense at PrettyDeadlySelfDefense.com, or join the conversation on Instagram @teamprettydeadly

Keywords: self defense for women, martial arts case study, personal safety, trauma-informed training, Pretty Deadly Self Defense, shrimping technique, hair grab defense, wall pin escape, real-world martial arts, violence prevention for women, survivor strategy, how to escape an attacker

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S9 Episode 135: What I'd Do Different | Pretty Deadly Podcast