| Working my usual weekend gig as a bouncer in a | | | | someone who has an unusual amount of joint |
| night club an attractive blond approaches me and | | | | flexibility or high pain tolerance such as someone |
| asks if I can walk her though the club because 15 | | | | high on drugs will not work. A lot of self defense |
| minutes before a male grabbed her arm a told | | | | techniques also have to be altered to work if |
| her that she had to dance with him. She refused | | | | environments change such as being in a small |
| and pulled away; the male grabbed her harder | | | | space or if there is snow on the ground causing |
| then pulling her to the dance floor, lucky for her | | | | slippery conditions. Think someone is going to |
| another bouncer spotted this and took care of | | | | remember all that while they are being attacked. I |
| her problem. I decide to give her my business | | | | don't think so. |
| card TACT SELF DEFENSE it reads, she tells me | | | | Here are some tips on finding a realistic self |
| that she as a brown belt in the martial arts but | | | | defense program |
| everything she's learned, she couldn't remember | | | | * Pick an instructor who is average or small in |
| and just blanked out. I tell her that this is normal, | | | | build they will focus on leverage techniques not on |
| it is the effects of adrenaline. Most self defense | | | | there strength, that is important if you are small |
| programs do not think about these effects when | | | | or a woman. |
| training some one that is why 95% of self | | | | * Make sure you check your instructor's |
| defense programs do not work and will get you | | | | credentials, ask to see his black belt certificate it |
| hurt or killed. I proceed to tell her most of my | | | | will state what federation he is under and when |
| clients are martial artists or had some type of | | | | he got it. If the instructor says he doesn't have |
| self-defense training in the past, she nods in | | | | one than he's a fake. There are a lot of people |
| agreement, understanding what I mean. The next | | | | who will watch self defense instructional tapes or |
| day she gives me a call for self-defense training. | | | | train in the martial arts get an orange belt and |
| That is a very high percentage and considering | | | | start up a school. Anyone can go to a store a |
| many people still believe in these systems, thinking | | | | buy a black belt. |
| they are effective, this also includes "reality based | | | | * Do you wear loose clothing and are barefoot |
| systems" or "no holds barred" people need to be | | | | when you train and wear protective gear? |
| educated. It is amazing what is being taught out | | | | Conditions completely different from the streets. |
| there in self defense schools, joint locks, cross | | | | If you answered yes find a new self-defense |
| legged arm bars which require you to go on the | | | | program. Training should be as real as possible or |
| ground. I have seen self defense instructors teach | | | | be condition stimulus training. While training wear |
| students to kick to the head or grapple with an | | | | clothing that you wear when you go out, not gym |
| attacker, step here, turn this way, twist his wrist | | | | pants, this includes shoes or boots. This will give |
| that way. Bottom line to many movements to | | | | you a realistic feel on how to move. |
| remember, which are to complicated to work for | | | | * Do you train under situation specific scenarios, |
| ANYONE in a high stress situation of a violent | | | | do they have to change if your attacker does |
| street attack. | | | | something different or if he does this than do |
| You are being lied to, ripped off of your | | | | that? And then you ask what if he does this |
| hard-earned money and given a false sense of | | | | question making everything to hard to remember |
| security. What is being taught is to complicated to | | | | and confusing |
| even work for a seasoned martial artist. It's like | | | | * Do methods consider every type of |
| going to culinary school and your instructor has | | | | enviroment? Street, bus, rain, living room in |
| never cooked or even turned on an oven before, | | | | confined spaces. |
| how is he supposed to know how to make the | | | | * Can you perform these techniques even if you |
| meal, let alone teach you. Unfortunately people | | | | are injured? |
| who have trained in these self-defense programs | | | | * Do these self defense methods require |
| learn in horror after being assaulted the hard truth. | | | | constant practice and you have to separate |
| Most self-defense instructors also do not | | | | techniques for empty hand, weapons or multiple |
| understand the effects of adrenaline and how it | | | | attackers. Bottom line techniques should be quick |
| affects the mind, or motor skill performance. Top | | | | and easy to remember. |
| it off most instructors have not even been in a | | | | * Training should be focused equally in physical |
| violent street confrontation so how would they | | | | techniques and mindset conditioning. |
| know what to do? | | | | How you train is how you will respond in the real |
| Many systems use joint locks and pressure points | | | | world, training should be as real as possible so you |
| that require years of training to properly execute. | | | | can get out alive. Stay safe. |
| Some techniques even when applied properly to | | | | |