Self-defense club...

**nasreal** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 9:53am

Ok, so here's the deal, some people at my college are trying to start a self-defense club. I'm really hoping they succeed but am also apprehensive that it might turn into a LARP fest or worse, give people bad and unrealistic ideas about techniques. Of the people who are starting it, I only know the actual martial arts experience of a few of them. Mostly TKD and Krotty, unsurprisingly... Therefore, I would like to be there as much as I can stand it, and try to help them with what limited experience I have, which is also Karate, UN-surprising once again. Everyone and his brother in my generation bought into the Karate craze, and I'm no exception. What I really want to ask is for some tips on imparting basic self-defense knowledge, and keeping people's heads on the plane of reality. What should we try to show people, what should we stay away from? I humbly ask anyone for any tips on how I could help this self-defense club get off the ground and actually be useful to people.

**Hidden Ronin** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:02am

Prevention is the best form of self defense. Stay aware, don't look like a victim, ect ect.
Even things like walking on the side of the pavment that allows you to face oncoming traffic, little things like that.
In terms of techniques; KISS. Keep it simple. Don't teach them anything elaborate, and don't teach anything that you yourself have not presure tested and worked personaly. Things like keeping your hands high and open, palms facing out when in an argument, how to disengage, escape from holds ect and make the practice realistic (Alive)
I know people who use "self defense demos" to show off thier super cool krotty skillz. These people are arrogant dicks who will get people hurt or worse.

**Diesel_tke** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:02am

Live sparring. Don't allow "compliance and situational only" training. A lot of the BS gets weeded out when you take shots to the head when you are trying to do blocks. Allow takedowns.

Don't allow tabi shoes, or black gis.

**Rene "Zendokan" Gysenbergs** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:07am

If you want to make the club useful, search for some wrestlers and Bjjers to teach the classes.

Most types of agression against women include getting grabbed, choked and being wrestled down for rape. It seldom involves punchfests.
Learn them how to brake a stranglation and how to attack from the guard.

Add some boxing techniques and some lowkicks (nothing fancy like a 360° jumped kick).

With us at the gym, we are teaching them CSW with some situational awairness and some common sense.

**nasreal** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:18am

Originally Posted by Hidden Ronin

Prevention is the best form of self defense. Stay aware, don't look like a victim, ect ect.
Even things like walking on the side of the pavment that allows you to face oncoming traffic, little things like that.
In terms of techniques; KISS. Keep it simple. Don't teach them anything elaborate, and don't teach anything that you yourself have not presure tested and worked personaly. Things like keeping your hands high and open, palms facing out when in an argument, how to disengage, escape from holds ect and make the practice realistic (Alive)
I know people who use "self defense demos" to show off thier super cool krotty skillz. These people are arrogant dicks who will get people hurt or worse.

This is largely what I am worried about, seeing as I'm not entirely sure of everyone else's skill level yet. But I am going to do everything I can to keep it alive and as realistic as it can be.

***Plasma*** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:22am

Originally Posted by diesel_tke

Don't allow tabi shoes, or black gis.

Both my BJJ gi and JJJ gi are black.

Also just to break your world. Ko-ryu JJJ students often where Tabi.

See the guy on the right:

**nasreal** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:24am

Originally Posted by Plasma

Both my BJJ gi and JJJ gi are black.

Also just to break your world. Ko-ryu JJJ students often where Tabi.

See the guy on the right:

LOLOLOL world broke'd

**baby_cart** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:29am

massad ayoob:truth about self-defense.
some marc macyoung books.
your local cop.(not very valid in my country)

self-defense is multi-faceted. most is prevention, building proper habits and mindset. the other part is when the **** hits the fan, there violence and all its related topics abound. then post-incident, lawyers, laws and such. that also includes rehab, medical(that's where I come in) and psychological(pshrinks, anyone?).

if you just want to focus on the violence part, set up the sparring sessions with someone in OBVIOUS disadvantage(that's the victim). and remember: fight or flight. if you manage to escape in a SD situation, that is a victory by itself.

to tell the truth, I don't like seeing someone bleeding his guts out. and that's from someone who assisted in laparotomies and brain surgeries.

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:31am

Originally Posted by diesel_tke

Live sparring. Don't allow "compliance and situational only" training. A lot of the BS gets weeded out when you take shots to the head when you are trying to do blocks. Allow takedowns.

Don't allow tabi shoes, or black gis.

A self defense club on a n00b level, imho, should have no sparring. Kajukenbo does a lot of (often improvisational) training and drill responding to attacks. And they wear BLACK GIS!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Fucking anti black gi ****** jerk! Anyway, I'd take the common assaults like front grab, choke, punch etc and drill soft and eventually harder and harder. A young lady I know was front grabbed and as a karateka did a inward block followed by a reverse punch to the body and screamed and the guy ran off...

*well maybe not "no sparring," but I wouldn't spend much time on it unless you have dedicated long term students. Self defense requires fast response and escape. Sparring teaches timing, distancing, striking and rolling skills and isn't self defense. Of course if you are good at sparring idiots on the street are pretty much candy, in my experience at least. But if the "club" wants to learn good sparring then get a MT, KK BJJ etc instructor and take lots of lessons.

**patfromlogan** · Posted On: 2/11/2010 10:34am

Originally Posted by Zendokan

If you want to make the club useful, search for some wrestlers and Bjjers to teach the classes.

Most types of agression against women include getting grabbed, choked and being wrestled down for rape. It seldom involves punchfests.
Learn them how to brake a stranglation and how to attack from the guard.

Add some boxing techniques and some lowkicks (nothing fancy like a 360° jumped kick).

With us at the gym, we are teaching them CSW with some situational awairness and some common sense.

No, it doesn't involve punchfests, but one good punch can end an assault (see above post). Or my fave, shove the little finger up the nose (of course as hard as you can, and any volunteers?)