Martial arts training and self defense tactics are comprised of three essential elements. These universals apply to everyone, male or female, young or old. They are relevant whether you study close combat training styles or competitive sport styles.
Total Awareness
You need to be self-aware and aware of your surroundings at every moment. Even if you are just walking down the street or walking through the parking lot to your car, keep these things in mind and you will be able to prevent a confrontation before it ever begins:
Look around. Keep your head up, your eyes open, and your hands free.
Check out the terrain. Is the sidewalk even? Are the potholes or other obstacles on the pavement?
Is the area remote? Are there other people around?
Is the neighborhood populated with residential homes and business or vacant lots and abandoned buildings?
Are your doors locked? Is the area well let? Are you distracted by your cell phone or looking for your keys?
Can you hear what's going on around you? Turn your iPod off and listen for other voices or footsteps.
Skills and Abilities You Need
Despite your best efforts to keep yourself from becoming a target, there may come a time when you will have no choice but to act. You can only act if you have been trained in self defense tactics. The kind of instruction you receive will determine your ability to protect yourself. You have several choices when it comes to self defense or martial arts training.
- one-day self defense workshop
- short-term course hosted by women's group or community organization
- long-term training across multiple levels with a credentialed instructor
One-day and short-term courses can teach you valuable skills in a short amount of time. However, it might be a good idea to repeat these courses or go over the elements of the instruction from time to time as it can be easy to forget the techniques and maneuvers you learn in such a brief period.
Attitude in Self Defense
Your attitude may be the most important part of your self defense plan. If you live as though you are immune to violent situations, you could be caught by surprise - compete unprepared for the world's dangers. While no one expects you to live in constant fear, you can have some assurance that you could handle yourself in the event that someone did try to cause you physical harm.
As you continue with martial arts training, you will notice that your attitude changes, your awareness is sharpened, and your skills and abilities constantly improve. For most people who dedicate themselves to training, these three elements become second nature, and they are able to act quickly the moment danger strikes.
Self defense training is not about learning how to harm someone else. The goal of training is always to equip students with the tools they need to protect themselves from physical harm.
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