Learning Basic Self Defense

Many self defense techniques in a person’s toolbox to employ in about any given situation is a good thing.  They may be highly sophisticated martial arts techniques but it is mastery of technique that wins out.  Any martial artist has heard at some time that it’s better to have a few techniques mastered than a whole array of techniques that they can simply “perform”.  I agree largely with that saying if it includes more than a “few” but rather “several” techniques.

It is quite simple to purchase a hand gun for instance but the consequence of having to use one is very grim and can harm not only the assailant but the shooter or anyone in the path of that bullet.  Police officers including SWAT units train vigorously in using/gaining mastery with their weapons – and they’re armed to the teeth!  If such specialized training is mandatory, it would simply be the practice of using a few weapons/martial arts techniques to the point that it is mastered and a part of you - as stated in the first paragraph.

The highest levels of excellence can assure you a chance of a positive outcome in a self defense situation.  It’s difficult to say but in my opinion, there would be a lot less young women’s bodies turning up on a weekly basis, if more ladies would have some self defense training, gaining mastery of a few techniques and were also willing to fight their attackers to the death.  Carrying and getting very good with a handgun would be my choice for my college aged daughter but for her that’s not happening.   Women, largely don’t think about self defense as much as they should IMO.  Women continue to fall prey to some really crazy looking killer/rapist types or are even victimized by people they mistakenly placed trust in and thought them to be safe with.  Whatever led up to the actual brutal turn of events is not as important – what’s important is their response to a man using force to beat, rape or kill a woman.  Too many daughters, wives and sisters have been lost already!

It doesn’t take a lot to learn how to escape most “grabs”, to duck a swing or learn to punch and kick to the areas of the face and body which will produce the greatest amount of pain and damage to the perpetrator.  Add a few more little goodies (proper stance and delivery) then train religiously to use these few basic kicks and punches and you’re getting your game up – good job!  Ladies – you don’t have to train to be a Black Belt for years.  I guarantee that my 18 yr old daughter would have a decent chance at fighting out of the grip of a grab and snatch situation.  She has only taken perhaps, a dozen self defense classes in a formal setting, but has spent her short lifetime around brothers, father and their friends who all are dedicated martial artists and has been used as our little “uki” to kick or punch at us so that we can try a technique – all very slow and certainly nothing that would cause her pain.  We always made her try it out on us – always.  Also, we’d bought several sets of foam rubber eskrima training batons for the youngsters – she won’t like to at first – but after a bit of cajoling can be gotten to do some “sword fighting”.  This was how we eventually taught her a basic system of eskrima and she never knew it was happening – it rubbed off.

I encourage any woman who can to find someone who teaches self defense classes – as specialized and abbreviated women’s self defense courses to jump on the chance.  It cuts through all of the stuff a full time student would be required to do and gets right down to the easy stuff, the basics, which when practiced at home or refreshed with another seminar or 6 – 8 week self defense course – you’ll produce confidence in yourself, good judgment when in pressure situations and some simple, but hard-core defense - blocks and escapes, followed by an effective and powerful counter attack of punches and kicks.