'Safe For Life' Women's Self Defence Seminar - Wellington
Posted by Joanna on Tuesday, 02 Sep 2008
Although the last thing in the world that I want is for the Wellingtonista to come across like traditional frighteners media, I think we can all acknowledge that sometimes the world can be a scary place for women (and men), so here's something you can go to that might make it a little less scary.
Protect, who teach reality-based self-defense, is running a seminar entitled 'Safe For Life' in Wellington on Saturday October 18. If you don't want to take the bus out to Khandallah by yourself, how about you go with Leaf, Probably?
I haven't been to one of their courses, so I can't tell you what it's like, but I do appreciate that they advertise one of the things that they teach is confidence, which will provide a healthy reminder that no one is ever asking to get attacked or deserves it (just be wary: possibly NSFW).
A few years ago a guy came in to work to give a basic self-defence classes. After filling us with fear-mongering stories ("And they'll knock on your car window, you'll roll it down, they'll squirt petrol in your face, rape you and steal your car. It happens. It just never get into the media because the police don't want copy cats."), he taught us how to kick a bag, and then taught us how to kill someone with one simple move of the hand. Oooh.
So a reality-based self-defence class sounds like a good idea indeed.
But what if someone comes at you with a pointed stick?
The best "Self Defense" is not a bunch of moves or self confidence. The best "Self Defense" is situational awareness.
I don't care how many "self defense" seminars you go on, at the end of the day the chances of you fighting off a serious attacker are slim. People don't pick on people that they think could beat them.
If someone is coming at you with a pointed stick it is probably too late. The best thing to do is be AWARE of things going on around you. Like an angry person walking down the road with a pointy stick. If you see this, get out of their way.
And then taser them!
Totally agree with Sea Monkey.
I only got involved in violence when either I was drunk and not fully aware of the stuff going on around me, or when I was trying to ignore drunk people who always have to take it personally (being ignored that is).
Apart from that, running should always be the first option. Nothing else! Everyone who's telling something different is an idiot.
But if you want to try some special "eye poking" moves on a drunk rugbyhead who doesn't give a shit, well....good luck!
But if you want to try some special "eye poking" moves on a drunk rugbyhead who doesn't give a shit, well....good luck!
LOL
There are legitimate responsible teachers of self defense around such as richard dimitris senshido, they dont teach techniques but rather use scenario training as well as studying human behaviour. There are alot of military guys teaching rubbish ( anyone who shows you how to kill someone is an idiot). Senshido takes into account law, ethics as well as your particular situation and needs.
It's actually Saturday the 18th that the course it running. :)
I haven't ever been to one either, but everyone in my Taekwon Do class raves about how fantastic they are. That's a lot of people doing a lot of raving, so I'm inclined to believe them!
Well there is your problem. Taekwon Do is generally not a martial art that trains in a realistic manner and therefor is not that effective in real life.
For a martial art to be effective you have to spar in a realistic fashion. TMA's, don't often do this. You do find it in Boxing, Wrestling, Maui Thai, BJJ, Judo, Sambo and a few others.
Thanks, I have fixed the date now.
I haven't done a self defense course since I was about 10, so I imagine it'd be a bit different now.
hey there seamonkey, "For a martial art to be effective you have to spar in a realistic fashion. TMA's, don't often do this. You do find it in Boxing, Wrestling, Maui Thai, BJJ, Judo, Sambo and a few others."
The key differances are fear, real agression, consent, etc. Real violence has effects that "trained fighters" tend to overlook. Trained fighters can stand unable to enguage an atttacker simply becuase of fear. Would love to claim credit for some of this thinking but really there is a lot of this around Tony Blauer and Richard Dimitri (the guy that "Protect self defence " learnt from) are both very good in terms of undersntding the inhibiting effects of terror and fear on the trained fighter.
A higly training sport fighter can be overpowered but a violent highly motivated agressor simply because he is in a state of fear during which he does not have access to fine motor skills, cannot access all those fancy kicks, punchs, chokes because he is quiet simply terrifired. Dry mouth, uncontrollable shaking, crying, all good examples of normal reactions.
Real violence is differnet than sport, ive been into BJJ for a while and would accept that its just sport. You know what to expect, theres now fear, theres consent, alright will leave it there for now, what did you thik of the seminar ?
Hi Joanna and Robyn,
Did you end up going to the Protect course? If so, I would have met you there as Phil and Athena (Protect) had me help assist.
I train under Phil and Athena and support them when they run their courses in Wellington, as well as running my own courses(which of course are very much like theirs - based on the Senshido principles of Richard Dimitri). You can contact me via my site: activateselfdefence.co.nz
Would be good to see how you found the course. Thanks.
Brendan, I think your thoughts are pretty spot on; it is about learning and training responses (which essentially mean depending on gross motor skills only) during fear and adrenaline dumps. I've heard of one instructor telling participants to "just don't feel fear." Like it is an option.
D'arcy
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