I taught a self-defense class for women at the Gem of the Hills Center in Blanco last Wednesday evening. ( gemofthehills.org ) The class was from 6 - 8 pm and we had eight women participants, all of them very interested in learning or enhancing their defensive skills.
I used to shy away from doing stand-alone self-defense classes. I felt that I would be responsible for falsely inflating a person's idea of their abilities after a two-hour session. Generally, self-defense is a skill that requires repetition over time, coupled with some stressful training meant to make you "lose your mind" in order to become proficient.
I still believe that. But in light of the growing meanness in our society and danger in the world at large. I also believe that having rudimentary skills is better than having no skills at all when it comes to self-defense. It is amazing what you can recall when you have to recall it. Many of my karate students don't think they know as much as they do until I have them teach. Then they are amazed that they can recall almost everything Sensei has taught them in the past, down to the smallest nuances.
This has made me re-think the value of even a two-hour defensive skills class. I keep the techniques basic and effective, because under duress that is what you might recall when the big adrenaline dump happens. Primarily I teach awareness in these classes, but if you are attacked, how to increase your odds for survival.
This impressive group of women decided they wanted to have more time to practice their new skills and have asked me to teach a month-long series of once a week classes so they can truly assimilate their new skills. That's being proactive and I am happy to oblige their request. Maybe some will have enough fun and like the confidence they acquire to even join my karate classes taught at Core Fitness in Johnson City. ( www.corefitness.fit )
Stay tuned for upcoming seminars.
