I've always been rather skeptical of women's self defense courses. You know, the ones where they teach them a few moves and to yell and scream, etc. They usually only last about 4 hours or so and the students walk away with this new found confidence that they can "open a can" when needed and now walk safely in the dark.
Sure, many of these courses also cover awareness and avoidance, etc. but the main focus is physical self-defense covered in a very brief block of instruction.
My concern is that this can ceate a false sense of confidence. Hand-to-hand skills take an ENORMOUS amount if time and practice to truly master to the point where it is instinctive.
HOWEVER.... (you knew it was coming, didn't you?)
I've recently had a discussion where someone expressed that they didn't see how such training could hurt, and that it might help.
I explained my position that while such self-defense moves may work in some scenarios where the attacker is not determined, a true gutter fight with a hard core street thug is a hole other ball game and a "little" resistance can trun a bad situation worse.
I've never seen a rapist or robber deterred because he was scratched by someone's car keys, or got on owwie from a kuboton. These are things which might deter the drunk business man from groping you in the elevator, but they don't offer much to stop "J-Dog" who just got out of the pen on an agg assault beef.
I've always felt that quality defensive sprays were much more effective as well as being easier to learn to use.
I'm also all for women carrying firearms, but many will not choose to make that commitment and defense sprays (along with other safety/security training) are a very effective alternative. (In fact, I recommend defense sprays along with firearms.)
I am interested in hearing others opininions on the matter.
I suspect that there is a deep psychological need to feel the self-assurance of "knowing" self-defense. But, that the reality is that knowing a little can be a dangerous thing. I also feel that DT trainers genuinely feel that they are doing good things, but that folks coming from sport martial arts backgrounds and such may not have the prerequisite experience with the realities of violent crime such as rape and robbery to be able to make truly informed decisions about it.
I reserve the right to be wrong on this.
I'd like to hear the opinions of some of our non-LEO female members as well as from some of our officers and DT/combatives instructors.
Sure, many of these courses also cover awareness and avoidance, etc. but the main focus is physical self-defense covered in a very brief block of instruction.
My concern is that this can ceate a false sense of confidence. Hand-to-hand skills take an ENORMOUS amount if time and practice to truly master to the point where it is instinctive.
HOWEVER.... (you knew it was coming, didn't you?)
I've recently had a discussion where someone expressed that they didn't see how such training could hurt, and that it might help.
I explained my position that while such self-defense moves may work in some scenarios where the attacker is not determined, a true gutter fight with a hard core street thug is a hole other ball game and a "little" resistance can trun a bad situation worse.
I've never seen a rapist or robber deterred because he was scratched by someone's car keys, or got on owwie from a kuboton. These are things which might deter the drunk business man from groping you in the elevator, but they don't offer much to stop "J-Dog" who just got out of the pen on an agg assault beef.
I've always felt that quality defensive sprays were much more effective as well as being easier to learn to use.
I'm also all for women carrying firearms, but many will not choose to make that commitment and defense sprays (along with other safety/security training) are a very effective alternative. (In fact, I recommend defense sprays along with firearms.)
I am interested in hearing others opininions on the matter.
I suspect that there is a deep psychological need to feel the self-assurance of "knowing" self-defense. But, that the reality is that knowing a little can be a dangerous thing. I also feel that DT trainers genuinely feel that they are doing good things, but that folks coming from sport martial arts backgrounds and such may not have the prerequisite experience with the realities of violent crime such as rape and robbery to be able to make truly informed decisions about it.
I reserve the right to be wrong on this.
I'd like to hear the opinions of some of our non-LEO female members as well as from some of our officers and DT/combatives instructors.
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