Women's Self-Defense - Why Most Programs Are Wrong

Women's self defense issues are constantly in the news and a

'hot' topic for conversations. It seems that everyone from

police officers to karate instructors has his or her own

philosophy and theories about the how's and why's of self

defense for women and girls.



The truth is though, that many of the same techniques and

tactics taught to men for self-protection simply will not work

for a woman. Why?...



... because attacks perpetrated on women have, at their

foundation, certain inherent problems, issues, and conditions

that are often very different for men who find themselves in

defensive situations.



Women have to deal with things that, quite

frankly, men don't.



If this is something you're really concerned about, you owe it

to yourself to do some serious research to get more information

about real-world self-defense for women designed

around issues specifically related to womens self-defense.



Now, before some of you start rolling your eyes or nodding your

head in agreement, this is not a women's lib issue or anything

of the sort. It's simply the way it is.



What kind of things make self-defense for women different? I'm

glad you asked.



Well, for starters, physiologically speaking, there is a 7-to-3

strength ratio between male and female bodies. That means that

if you were to stand a man and a woman, having the same height,

weight, and build, side-by-side, and all things considered

(health, fitness, etc.)...



... the man would still be two-and-a-half times stronger than

the woman!



This is not theory or one person's belief over those of others.

It's scientific fact.



Next, women are more likely to be slapped, grabbed and pinned

than punched or kicked.



For men, it's just the opposite. The

fact is that, most of us have been conditioned since childhood

to act, play, and, yes, fight with each gender very differently.

And attackers are no different.



The good news is that more and more women are being drawn to the

life-enhancing benefits of the martial arts and basic

self-defense programs for increasing their level of

self-confidence and overall feelings of safety and security. The

not-so-good news is that...



... there is a shortage of:



* Martial arts instructors who understand scientific

self-defense, 'and' have the necessary life experience to be

able to teach from a perspective that shares that experience.



After all...



... if an instructor has never been in a real-world self defense

situation themselves, it will make it nearly impossible for them

to teach real self defense to anyone - let alone self defense

for women. It's kind of like going to a priest of counselor for

marriage counselling who has never been married themselves. They

both have information passed on by others but, neither has

anyway of expressing that information based on real-word

knowledge.



However, there is an over-abundance of.



..



...so-called self-defense experts who are of the tough-guy,

fighter type or the "This is Reality - Deal With it! macho-type.



These people, by their very nature are the "slugger-types" who

rely and depend on speed, strength and size to win. Since self

defense situations usually involve a bigger, faster, stronger

attacker victimizing a smaller, less-prepared target - and,

that'sexactly what most women are up against when they're

attacked...



... these instructors, and their

"strike-first-and-crush-them-where-they-stand mentalities, are

far from being suited, knowledgeable, or able to deliver the

necessary lessons needed by women to effectively protect

themselves from an assailant intent on dominating them

physically.



Other Considerations for Girls and Womens Self Defense



The following is a partial list of some of the other major

differences between self defense for women and men. The

important thing to remember is that...



... a self-defense situation is very different from a sport or

competition-based contest where the individuals are willing

participants. They are evenly matched to insure for a "fair

fight." I have been in contests and I have been attacked and I

can tell you without a moment's doubt that.



..



... there is nothing "fair" or "even" about a real attack.

NOTHING! And, once your personal space is invaded by another

human being wanting to beat you to your core, you will know what

I mean and never, ever, buy into the crap that most of these

so-called experts are shovelling.



With that said, please know that I have not said that every

self-defense or martial arts instructor is full of it. Just that

you must know what you need and make sure that that's what

you're getting. Remember - you're not buying a couch that you

can take back.



A mistake in this area could literally cost you

your life!



Here are some other differences between men's and women's

training that a good program must address:



* 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 - rape and sexual assault are two of

the biggest differences between the genders when it comes to

suriviving an attack.



The fact that men are usually dealing with the more obvious

situations (muggings and competitive ("oh-yeah! let's go!"-type

fighting), 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 they have no real experience to go on so they do

what everyone does when they don't know any better...



... they make assumptions that seem logical and rational within

their own frame of reference.



The problem is that we're talking about self-protection here.



..



... self defense for women...



... girls self-defense. Not...



... vegetable soup. Where, if you make a mistake, you can just

dump the pot and start over.



As I said earlier, a mistake in a women's self-defense

situation, in any situation requiring defense against an attack

from an assailant bent on damaging you, could be very, very

costly indeed.