What to Look for in a Reality-Based Women’s Self-Defense Program

March 25, 2008 – 11:39 am
by Jeffrey M. Miller

One of things that I’m asked for, is how to know whether or not the self-defense program being offered at your local college or martial arts school is a good one. This is a valid question and my answer is always to, first and foremost, check out the instructor’s credentials. Is he or she really who and what they claim to be? This needs to be done regardless of whether you’re…

* a woman looking to be able to defend herself, or…

* a concerned parent looking for a self-defense course for your child

This, like few other things in your life, is a very important point because…

… a life could depend on your making the right choice.

The world is full of people with barely enough knowledge, skill and common sense to get by. You know it because you probably see, interact with, and maybe even work with some of them every day!

This is not to say that a karate instructor with a xxth degree black belt cannot defend him or herself. But, who would you trust your life to…

… the person who has practiced their skills in a game or sport atmosphere for the purpose of winning a belt or trophy, or…

… someone who has actual life experience in surviving real-world attacks from real-world assailants - someone who had to really make sure that what they were learning would work to save their own life - not in a rule-laden contest with referees to make sure everything was fair?

You don’t have to answer that, we both know the who you’d choose. And so would I.

Other Considerations for Girls and Women’s Self-Defense

The following is just a partial list of some of the other significant differences between self defense for men and women.

* Cultural Influences - girls have been taught from a very early age that fighting was not “lady-like.”

Oh my god! What would people think!

* Situational Self-Defense - rape and sexual assault are two of the biggest differences between the genders when it comes to suriviving an attack.

The fact that men are usually dealing with the more competitive (”oh-yeah! let’s go!”-type of fighting come to mind). Men are usually attacked with the goal of “finishing” the victim in mind. While women, and more often young girls, however, are forced to deal with what we might call subtle tactics like date-rape or being ambushed by a group of young male attackers. Wher men are pummelled, women are typically attacked with the intent to “conquer” or dominate.

Throw in the strength differential between men and women that I talk about in books like “The Karate-Myth” and “For Women-Only!”, and you see how each gender has very different situations to deal with, each requiring very different self-defense skills and tactics.

* Wrong Information - I think that the majority of instructors teaching self-defense mean well. I don’t think that they intentionally try to mislead anyone. It’s just that…

… they have no real experience to go on so they do what everyone does when they don’t know any better…

… they make seemingly logical assumptions within their own frame of reference.

The difference here is that we’re talking about self-protection…

… self defense for women…

…girl’s self-defense that works. Not…

… baking a cake, where, if you don’t get it right the first time, you can just toss it in the trash can and start over.

No, a mistake in a women’s self-defense situation, in fact in any situation that requires defending against an attack from a brutal assailant bent on doing whatever they want to you, could cost you more than anyone wants to pay.

About the Author:
Before you get one more women’s self-defense-book, look at the great information about self-defense-for-women at Jeff Miller’s site. You can also subscribe to his newsletter.

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