by Karen Moore

Created on: June 20, 2010

There isn’t one good reason why some women shouldn’t take self defense classes.  Bad guys don’t care who their victims are, just as long as they are an easy opportunity.  Self defense begins long before an actual attack, but attacks do happen on a daily basis – just look at the statistics for rape.  Studies have finally shown that the sooner one resists in an attack there is a higher chance for escape unharmed.  Physical self defense is a mind set backed by determination.  Let’s dispel some of the myths out there as to women and self defense.

 Strength

Many would say that women do not have the strength to ward off a physical attack.  Have you ever tried holding a two year old who didn’t want to be held?  Have you ever tried holding onto a wet cat?  Size has nothing to do with determination. 

Every body has vulnerable areas and pain demands attention.  Two fingers thrust into the notch directly above the collar bone at the throat do not take strength.  Thumbs jabbed into the eyes do not take strength.  The list goes on and on, but if sight, breathing and mobility are targeted immediately, with 100% conviction, the chance for escape increases dramatically. 

 Reality and Preparation

Some say that there is a big difference between what really happens and what one is taught in a class.  Would we want our police officers not practicing how to shoot because they won’t experience in practice what they will when it happens?  Absolutely not!

The classroom is a safe place to practice learning and is a much better environment to find out what works or does not work for someone.  It is also the place to overcome anxiety, learn how to control adrenaline and develop some muscle memory.  Bad guys count on gaining control, both mental and physical.  What the mind has practiced for the body is better prepared to deal with.  Any good self defense class will incorporate the physical with the mental.

 Past Baggage

Then there’s the old standby of the past emotional baggage that may come into/be brought out of/or result from taking a self defense class.  A good self defense instructor is fully aware of the emotions that come with any female walking into a self defense class and what a better place to safely dispose of that garbage?

Truly working out pent up frustrations releases that anger, hurt, self doubt and blame, which

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