Women’s Self-Defense Programs - What to Look For in a Good One

When choosing a quality, women’s self-defense program, first and foremost, you must ask for and thoroughly check out the instructor’s credentials. This is true regardless of whether you’re…

* a woman who wants to be able to protect herself, or…

* A Parent looking for a self-defense program for your child

This point is extremely important to remember, for, like few things in a person’s life…

… your 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…

… someone who has probably learned and practiced their skills to be used in a sport competition in order to earn a belt, trophy, or…

… a person who has a background and actual experience with having to deal with real attacks from real aggressors and had to insure that what they were learning would allow them to survive?

I think we both know the answer to that question.

Other Considerations for Girls and Women’s Self-Defense

When considering a self-defense program for women, refer to the following partial list that outlines some of the major 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 - sexual assault and rape are two of the most significant differences between men and women when it comes to what each has to worry about in an attack.

The fact that men are usually dealing with the more obvious situations (muggings and competitive (”oh-yeah! let’s go!”-type fighting come to mind). While women, and more and more young girls, are required to deal with subtle tactics like date-rape or being ambushed by a group.

Add to this the strength differential discussed earlier, and you have a very different situation, requiring very different self-protection tactics.

* Incorrect Information - I believe that the majority of teachers and instructors mean well. They aren’t out to con you. It’s just that…

… these people lack the fundamental, real-world experience to go on - they don’t know any better - and end up in a blind-leading-the-blind kind of situation.

… they end up making assumptions that, to them, seem logical and right within their own limited perspective and knowledge.

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

… self-defense for women and teen girls…

… strategies for women. As opposed to…

… alphabet soup. Where, if you screw up, you can just empty the pot and start again.

A mistake in a women’s self-defense situation, in any situation requiring defense against an attack, could be very, very costly indeed.

Tags: Martial Arts