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Self-defending
Dec. 15th, 2011 04:52 pmSigh.
I’ve fielded yet another call about teaching a self-defense workshop and delivered what has become the ultimate bummer comment to workshop organizers: I don’t teach throws in self-defense workshop. Yes, I say, I understand the women would like to learn throws. I’d be happy to do a class on throws, but not if it’s marketed as a self-defense workshop.
I don’t teach the use of weapons as self-defense, either. Weapons—including pepper spray—can be dropped, misused, or taken away. They must be in hand before the situation occurs to have a decent chance of being effective. This also disappoints some people, because we’ve been conditioned to believe tools are superior to self. Honestly, if someone pulls a knife on me, my first priority is not cutting my attacker with my own knife. It’s not getting stabbed.
( More self-defense opinions... )
I’ve fielded yet another call about teaching a self-defense workshop and delivered what has become the ultimate bummer comment to workshop organizers: I don’t teach throws in self-defense workshop. Yes, I say, I understand the women would like to learn throws. I’d be happy to do a class on throws, but not if it’s marketed as a self-defense workshop.
I don’t teach the use of weapons as self-defense, either. Weapons—including pepper spray—can be dropped, misused, or taken away. They must be in hand before the situation occurs to have a decent chance of being effective. This also disappoints some people, because we’ve been conditioned to believe tools are superior to self. Honestly, if someone pulls a knife on me, my first priority is not cutting my attacker with my own knife. It’s not getting stabbed.
( More self-defense opinions... )
