There is most always an alternative, and a defensive tactic does indeed exist. There are fighting styles that can teach you certain blocks and holds to incapacitate an individual so that you may 'get away'.
If you are achieving to be physically stronger, I would also suggest a regimen of running...

[Spock gestures towards a simulation room...] Shall we try a session? If this proves useful to you, then we can schedule occurring training sessions.