Thursday 23/04/15
I firmly believe that everyone should attend at least one basic self-defence course in their life. You might think you are too old to learn self-defence, or you might have a physical impairment that prevents you from doing some things, but that is ok. Neither of these issues should deter you from at least trying, because a good instructor can modify their techniques to cater for your ability level. I wrote a blog about nine months ago on this topic, and since then I have received great feedback from people, as well as requests for further information on this subject.
When I say self-defence course, by no means am I suggesting you need to become a black belt at any of the well-known martial arts styles, or become an accomplished MMA fighter; I mean a short course in self-defence techniques. A course (usually one night a week for a month or two) that will teach you some very basic techniques you can use to defend yourself.
There is a world of difference between combat sports and self-defence. Unfortunately, some instructors blur this line when they explain what they will be teaching their clients. To put it simply, combat sports (such as MMA) are designed for fighting in a controlled environment with rules, a referee and medical help available. Both combatants agree to adhere to a specified set of rules when they fight. The techniques they use are both practical and dependable in the ring. But on the street, MMA rules don’t take into account “dirty” techniques like biting, eye gouging, hair pulling, and other uncivilised tactics that aren’t allowed in competition. Nor do they take into account the possibility your attacker might have a knife or other weapon.
Having said that, the basic techniques used by the majority of combat styles are what you will rely on for self-defence purposes. Be aware, there is no such thing as the one technique that will win a fight for you. Self-defence training should incorporate techniques from many different styles to give you a basic arsenal:
- Karate / Jeet Kune Do / Tae Kwon Do
- Muay Thai
- Boxing
- Judo / Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu / Wrestling
A mixture of the styles I’ve mentioned above are essentially what MMA fighters use in the ring. The main differences between MMA and self-defence are:
- MMA: Organised combat where two people have agreed to fight each other under mutually agreed on conditions. Both combatants remain in the cage until a winner is determined.
- Self-Defence: Using techniques that will allow you to escape from someone who is intentionally trying to harm or kill you. Your primary concern should be to get away from your attacker as soon as possible.
Not only will a good self-defence course will teach you how to block, punch, kick, knee, elbow, head-butt, and palm-heel; it will also teach you some basic grappling techniques. Yes, you must learn basic grappling; because you have to know what to do if you are taken to the ground (including how to fall safely).
You also need to learn what to do if you are confronted by someone with a weapon (a subject that isn’t covered in standard MMA training sessions). Something else to look for is learning how to deal with people who are trying to intimidate you by yelling and swearing. It is essential that the instructor of the self-defence course requires their students to actually hit and kick targets such as boxing bags and strike shields, so you know how it feels to hit something, and how hard you have to hit something to have any effect on it. Striking empty air is fine when you are learning how to perform the a technique, but you need to actually hit something so you know you are doing the technique correctly.
The most important techniques (as I said last time) are Situational Awareness and knowing when to run away. The core principle of self-defence is getting home safely; not going toe-to-toe with an assailant until the police turn up.
If you live in an area where self-defence courses aren’t held regularly, don’t be afraid to make enquiries at your local martial arts school. The instructor might already be considering running a special class; or they might be willing to accept you as a short term, self-defence student.
If you missed the original blog post on Self-Defence, please click on the link below:
http://beaujohnston.com.au/index.php/blog/13-self-defence