From time to time people ask me about self-defense. When thinking about defending your personal safety, there are a number of approaches that are important for you to consider. Self-defense instructors will most commonly talk about the physical side of self-defense techniques. While studying how to use your body to protect yourself from a violent attack can be very effective in keeping you safe, it's also important to be aware of another side of self-defense: the non-physical techniques that you can use to keep an attacker from attacking you in the first place.Physical 1. There are some weekend workshops that you could attend, and hopefully remember the techniques if that dreaded situation occurs where you need to physically defend yourself.
Physical 2. Another approach is long term training. I teach an old Japanese martial art where I have my new students on a six to seven month introductory course that is geared toward modern self-defense scenarios. After that period we not only practice those modern applications, but also go into great depth into our old martial tradition.
With both of the physical approaches you'll likely learn to bite, eye gouge and kick people in the groin. Many classes won't concentrate on these approaches, but will focus on the sorts of escaping movements you might need if someone is trying to hold you in place, pin you to the ground, or bring you somewhere you don't want to go.
Voice approach
Here is an alternative way of looking at your own self defense. The use of voice. I'd like you to imagine a situation where you are walking along the street, it's not too crowded, but someone you hardly noticed is suddenly near you. He seems to bump into you and then says, "Hey, watch it!"
