| Through my years as a self defense instructor | | | | these and other variables so they are effective. |
| and consultant I have come across many people | | | | So what do you look for when it comes to |
| who have taken self defense programs and found | | | | knowing if a self defense program or school is |
| out the hard way that what they learned was | | | | realistic and right for you? |
| useless or to hard to remember when adrenaline | | | | * The self defense system is simple and is not |
| was pumping full speed through there bodies in a | | | | style based but focuses on anatomic weak points |
| real life violent situation. So I have decided to | | | | of the body to strike. |
| write an article to help educate readers on what | | | | * The self defense system is personalized to |
| characteristics to look for and avoid when looking | | | | your body type self defense should not follow a |
| at joining a self defense program. First let's take a | | | | one size fits all motto. |
| quick look at how adrenaline effect's the human | | | | * The system should focus on how to improvise |
| body. | | | | in crisis situations not focus on how to perform a |
| Self defense has to be simple, 911 operators hear | | | | certain tactic step by step. |
| it every day when a fear ridden person can't | | | | Training should be realistic meaning that the |
| remember there own address when asked so | | | | training centre is set up as an apartment or |
| police can be dispatched to there home because | | | | street setting. Learning how to fight in a matted |
| the person on the line is hearing someone | | | | wide open space is not realistic because in real life |
| breaking into there house. Bottom line they can't | | | | situations you will feel confined when fighting in a |
| remember a thing because fear and adrenaline | | | | furnished room or the back of a car and will you |
| takes over. Take another example of an actual | | | | will not know how to use your environment to |
| fire alarm situation and someone is trying to open | | | | help you take out your attacker. |
| a locked door what happens? Your hand shakes | | | | Make sure that the self defense techniques are |
| and your fine motor skills go out the window. You | | | | natural and instinctive movements and are |
| try countless times to fit the key into the key | | | | devastating upon impact to your attacker. |
| hole. A task that you have performed a million | | | | Make sure that these techniques are practiced |
| times in your life time is now next to impossible | | | | with real clothing on such as shoes, jeans, jackets |
| to perform due to the effects of adrenaline. | | | | etc., practicing while wearing loose fitting sweat |
| Now try performing a complicated self defense | | | | pants on changes your range of motion and |
| technique when you are being attacked by a | | | | speed of your techniques drastically. |
| crazed madman. Think you will be able to | | | | Make sure you can perform techniques while |
| remember step 1 then step 2 and so on of a | | | | injured, tied up and from any position. |
| complicated self defense tactic? I don't think so. | | | | You are trained in mental tactics as well, for self |
| Most self defense techniques are too complicated | | | | defense is 90% mental and only 10% physical |
| to remember, are sport or style based meaning it | | | | you need to be able to control and manage fear. |
| is taken from some type of martial art and | | | | By following these simple guidelines in finding a |
| focused around the styles techniques. Also most | | | | realistic self defense system it will be better |
| self defense systems do not consider the effects | | | | tailored to you and your body type. It will make |
| adrenaline plays on the body such as effecting, | | | | you better prepared to handle a real life crisis |
| your hearing, vision, having the sensation of | | | | situation allowing you to be ready to think react |
| heavy stiff limbs, effecting fine motor skill | | | | and respond to the situation at hand while being |
| performance plus numerous other effects to the | | | | able to improvise if the situation changes at a |
| body. Realistic self defense systems consider | | | | seconds notice if need be. |