Self
Defense Training for Women
Overview:
Self defense training for women is
essential for a young woman’s personal safety. Self defense training
is not martial arts training. The practice of martial arts is a
lifelong training regime of ancient philosophies, physical training,
and learning self defense techniques. Self defense training for
women is a brief course that includes a variety of martial arts
techniques to defend against an aggressor.
Self defense training for women, especially
young women (girls) that are of high school and college age.
Self defense classes are available through many women’s
advocacy groups, private gyms and health clubs, and community
organizations. Books and DVDs can also offer tips on self defense
training. Self defense training can help women protect themselves
from unwanted aggression and sexual assault. Short classes are often
taught free of charge by local law enforcement agencies as well as
at colleges and universities.
Learning how to respond to personal threats and
aggressive attacks is one of the most important things young women
need to learn. Personal self defense and being prepared means
practicing awareness everywhere you go and no matter what you do.
Unfortunately we do not live in a “nice” world where everyone has
regards and respect for each other. A woman chance of being
assaulted in her young life is approximately forty percent. The risk
is particularly higher for high school and college age girls.
Self defense training is not martial arts
training, although it could be. Self defense training for women’s
training classes varies from a few classes to learn defensive
techniques to several weeks of intensive training and practice of
learned skills. As a lifelong student and instructor of martial arts
in several disciplines, I recommend a minimum eight week training
course that meets twice a week. That is sixteen training and
practice sessions. Practicing self defense moves and techniques is
essential to be effective in defending yourself in an assault
confrontation. There are approximately only twelve moves and
techniques that should be learned for a woman to adequately protect
herself against a hostile attack.
Fear is the biggest obstacle to overcome when
taking self defense measures for self protection. Most women, as
well as some men, simply cannot inflict physical harm on another
person. It does little good to receive training in self defense
techniques if the training is not put to practice. With practice the
student gains self confidence using the newly learned self defense
techniques. With increase confidence fear is diminished. Controlling
or at least diminishing fear is absolutely essential if you are
going to use physical action to deal with a hostile attacker.
That is why it is essential to take a self
defense course that is long enough in duration to not only learn the
techniques of self defense but to practice them as well. A defensive
response to physical aggression must become automatic, without
thought, only action. That doesn’t mean that there will not be any
fear to an assault. Fear to aggression and taking action against
aggression is natural, but with adequate training the fear can be
overcome and you can respond to protect yourself. In many of these
altercations the perpetrator is poorly trained to deal with a victim
that can provide a defense.
Practice of self defense techniques must be
part of your physical fitness routine following any self defense
training course. The moves, routines, and exercises taught in the
training course must be practiced regularly to retain the learned
skills of self defense. Practice can be with the aid of a DVD on
self defense training or with another individual that has received
self defense training.
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