Self-defense courses teach basic skills to defend oneself, sponsored by women’s groups or law enforcement, and open to all. Classes vary in style and duration, focusing on simple moves and empowerment exercises to build confidence. Students learn physical techniques and personal safety measures, including communication skills.
A self-defense course is a laboratory that provides people who attend it with the basic skills to defend themselves. Typically, these classes are sponsored and led by a women’s group or by law enforcement, although they are open to all members of a community. Depending on the type of lesson, the workshop may last just a few hours on a Saturday morning or it may take the form of multiple lessons spread over several weeks. People who are not familiar with martial arts or self-defense techniques should seriously consider taking at least one general class, because it will improve personal safety and make them much more confident.
The style of a self-defense class varies depending on who is teaching it. In general, the teacher assumes that students have no knowledge of self-defense. Thus, simple defensive moves are taught, rather than complex ones that require a lot of physical strength or knowledge of martial arts principles. In addition, students are often guided through empowerment exercises to build confidence and make them feel safer on the road. Typically the student group is small, allowing everyone to practice all the moves and bonding the students together.
During a class, people will learn how to get out of basic holds, how to punch someone safely, and other basic physical techniques. Additionally, students will learn about vulnerable parts of the body so they can get kicked or punched where it counts. Students will be walked through the techniques multiple times, so they can quickly recall them in an emergency situation, and are also encouraged to try them out on each other. In many cases, the techniques incorporate a variety of martial arts disciplines, as many martial arts have strong defense moves that are also easy to learn. The classroom is usually well stocked with mats, boxing gloves, and other protective gear so students can learn the moves without getting injured or hurt.
In addition to physical self-defense, students will learn how to increase their personal safety in other ways. Students are taught mindfulness, how to assess a situation, and how to communicate clearly. As part of the communication section of the class, students are often guided in group exercises that include yelling and other modes of communication that are usually considered socially unacceptable. Students are taught loud and clear communication in emergency situations so they are prepared to say “NO!” to an attacker or to ask for help. By the end of the lesson, students should feel more confident and confident and will project that image when in potentially dangerous situations.
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