by Jamie Clubb

Created on: February 01, 2010   Last Updated: February 03, 2010

Previously I discussed the social barriers that often stand in the way of teaching children realistic self-protection (http://www.helium.com/items/1725664-self-defencescr ipt-type). In this article we look at what I believe we should be teaching children in the context of realistic self-protection, but first let us look at how these barriers, if we let them, severely impede our honest intentions. It should be noted that these barriers are often reinforced by sound arguments and therefore should be seriously considered before anyone approaches realistic self-protection training for children and teenagers.

The three main arguments can be roughly categorized into physiological, mental and ethical debates. I have explained them in descending order of importance. Firstly there is the undeniable obstacle presented by child physiology. Put quite simply, children are not fully developed physically so they are a lot more vulnerable than adults if they engage in any form of heavy contact training. Secondly we have the mental argument over a child’s reasoning capabilities. Some argue that children do not understand the responsibility of pulling certain techniques when working with a fellow training partner. Then there is the supposed moral argument. Children are routinely instructed by well-meaning adults to never to hit first – if at all.

Okay, so if we take these arguments at face value that leaves us with light or no contact training, positional training but no potentially lethal techniques to be taught and methods only to be taught in a reaction-based way. Better still, as an extra insurance policy, how about finishing each lesson by telling the children they must never try to use what they have learned ever!

When going through these principles let us remember a few other things regarding these issues. Children have enjoyed organized and sometimes compulsory full-contact activities, such as rugby, throughout modern history and up to the present day. Rugby is a great form of attribute training for self-protection anyway. Where else do you develop such tenacity along with mental and physical strength, measured against multiple resistant participants? Furthermore its objective is focused on escape. On the subject of teaching children the hard facts of life, there is already an excellent tradition in children’s groups that lay down the general foundations for independence and responsibility: the Brownies, Cubs, Guides and Scouts. These clubs often test

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