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Self Defence |
False sense of Security In recent years the crazes of Boxercise, Tae-bo, Kara-robics etc. have swept the country. These are all fine forms of exercise and general fitness with an original theme. Thousands of people, especially ladies flock to these classes with the thought of getting in shape and learning how to look after themselves. These classes are watered down versions of Martial Arts moves that, at best, would be near impossible to make work in a live, self defence situation. I find it disturbing as an instructor, who has taught and trained in combat martial Arts for many, many years, that these ladies really believe that they can use this stuff in an attack/assault situation. Boxercise is a fantastic workout but please don't believe you can become a boxer from taking these classes. Boxing a real person and contacting with a human body is a totally different experience to 'hitting the pads'. I wouldn't give any of the ladies taking these classes 20 seconds with my hometown ladies World Champion Jane Couch, of Bristol. She has put many a man down sparring in the Spanorium gym. This the real world of boxing. There are many ladies who are under the impression that by being able to do a bit of 'kickboxing' that they are now equipped to take on anybody in a 'street situation'. Kickboxing is a fantastic sport but of little use to ladies in a self-defence scenario. Why? Ladies are attacked up close. They are grabbed by the neck, hair, body and brought down to the floor, where a would be rapist will mount their body and punch them or hold a knife to their throat. Standing up and sparring with a male attacking, exchanging punches and kicks, does not exist in the real world. Ladies who are looking for real protection would be better off spending their time more productively in a Brazilian Ju Jutsu class, learning to fight off their backs and feeling what it is like to have the weight of a male attacker on them, rather than learning a spinning heel kick. Read any book or study any survey about assaults on ladies and all attacks come from close quarters, in the most confined of spaces. In cars, pushed up against a wall, grabbed from the rear and thrown to the ground, attacked in their own bed. There is no exchanging of blows and sparing around. So why do most women opt for kickboxing classes? Firstly ladies can be very good at the technique, especially kicking. They seem to have a natural flare and ability for it. Also it gives them space to keep things nicely at arms or legs length, they are not too pressurised. I have met very few women who relish the grappling arts like Judo, Ju Jutsu, wrestling etc. Why? Because it is up close and in your face, masses of body contact, hard throwing and stiffling, ground grappling. Those ladies I have met in the grappling arts have been bloody scary and good at what they do. Because they have no fear of close body contact or grappling and the pressure it brings. Some may argue that women are not born for grappling, they are too light in bone structure or muscle mass and striking and kicking better suits them. To a degree I agree. But they neglect grappling range at their peril because, like it or not, this is where they will nine times out of ten be attacked. I believe every lady involved in Martial Arts should learn grappling and groundwork and very close quarter self defence. They should also learn effective close range striking, rather than spending endless hours on fancy kicks.
If you take Tae-bo Kara-robics for purely fitness, fine. If you practise kickboxing as a competitive pursuit, great. But if you want to be able to defend yourself effectively street wise, you should be looking elsewhere. I also find that todays young ladies have a dangerous attitude towards looking after themselves. They are much more forward and self assured, which is great as long as it doesn't border on arrogance or a false sense of security. I believe the 'girl power' crap promoted by the Spice Girls and similar has given the girls the idea that because they indulge in a little 'recreational Martial Arts' they are a match for any attacker. I think a bunch of young girls fuelled on alcohol are more than a match for a lone attacker. But the real street predator will wait for one to detach from the herd and follow her. When you are on your own, late at night, walking with a potential attacker in pursuit, suddenly 'girl power' doesn't seem much of a comfort. Now you have to analyse your options. If you can't run, out smart or out talk this predator you will have to out fight him. Feel lucky? As he closes in and grips you tightly around the throat and you see the hate in his eyes, are your kicks and punches going to work? As you are dragged into the bushes and you lose your footing on the muddy ground and crash to the floor with your attacker's full weight on you, how will you fell? Frightening scenario? I hope so, because that is the hard reality. Not some comfortable training hall scenario played out to the latest chart music. I write all this to urge girls to really think about what they practise and not to put themselves into potentially dangerous situations through ignorance, or over confidence, borne from incorrect training methods. Too many women and girls are assaulted, raped and murdered each year in the UK. If you are looking for effective self defence you will not find it in a Kara-robics class or it's ilk. I do not mean to insult anybody from the things I say, just help them to view things more realistically. May wife has been a practising Martial Artist and a black belt for many years and will echo my sentiments, as will many of the ladies I have taught over the years. I just ask - don't be lulled into a false sense of security - or you will pay for it in the long run. Ladies: check out my books 'I thought you'd be bigger', 'In your face' and 'Grappling with reality', for a view of realistic training.
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