Self-Defense Training

Self-defense training can build confidence and physical skills.

There are many reasons why someone may decide to undergo self-defense training. Bullying, domestic abuse, physical conditioning and stress relief are all reasons why martial arts systems and other self-defense programs have maintained popularity for so many years. There are many styles and philosophies concerning self-defense, and the key for anyone pursuing it is to choose a style that best benefits his physical attributes and the situations that he is most likely to deal with.

Reasons and Benefits

Bullying is a very common reason for people to seek self-defense training. Many martial arts schools have young kids on their roster, and they address how to handle bullying behavior. Self-defense classes are also good for physical conditioning and improving overall cardiovascular efficiency. This can help raise self-esteem, which is also useful for victims of domestic abuse.

Striking Styles

There are multiple martial arts styles that place an emphasis on striking as a means of self-defense and disabling an attacker. Karate and Tae Kwon Doe both use point-fighting techniques with a lot of kicks where the ball of the foot or the heel are driven into soft areas of the body such as the sternum. Boxing uses the fists exclusively, and Muay Thai uses the shin bones and elbows as striking weapons in close quarters.

Grappling Styles

Other self-defense systems focus more on ground fighting and grappling techniques. Jiu-Jitsu is a very effective style for fighting off of your back and the legs are used to neutralize your opponent's offense. You can then manipulate an arm or a leg into a bone-breaking submission lock or vice the neck into a chokehold. Judo and wrestling both use takedowns and throws as a means for controlling an opponent and defending yourself.

Hybrid Styles

Thanks to the rising popularity of the Ultimate Fighting Championship and other mixed-martial-arts promotions, more gyms have opened that train in multiple disciplines simultaneously and blend the most effective techniques from those disciplines. This can be very effective for self-defense purposes because the leg kicks and elbows from Muay Thai can be blended with the punching from boxing, the takedowns from wrestling and the submissions of Jiu-Jitsu.

Alternative Tactics

There are other considerations to make when deciding on self-defense training. If you are at a significant physical disadvantage to most people around you, carrying an additional self-defense weapon may be advisable. Pepper spray, a small knife and even a taser are all weapons that can be effective for defense purposes if the need arises. Small joint manipulation is also useful for smaller victims since it involves taking a finger of the attacker and snapping it backward. This could be crippling to the attacker and gives a victim the chance to escape. The eyes are a good target as well for the same reasons, but only in extreme circumstances since permanent blindness can result.

References

• The Arena Mixed Martial Arts
• Grand Master Chun Tae Kwon Doe
• No Nonsense Self Defense: A Different Perspective on Self-Defense Training