Smart Abagals
Women’s Self Defense
Provided Exclusively for Abagals!
By George Rego & Jukido Academy, Palm Coast, Florida
The importance of self defense for all people can not be overemphasized in a modern and often times dangerous world; however, for women the need for realistic self defense is of particular importance.
Unfortunately, many woman with a serious interest in legitimate self defense instruction are often strayed away by many “karate” schools that offer little more then programs designed to look like self defense but offer nothing more then a cardiovascular fitness program that looks like “karate” or “kickboxing.” These programs, DO NOT, meet the needs of self defense.
As an instructor of martial arts for realistic self-defense in Palm Coast, Florida for many years it is my sincere hope that some of the information provided in this article can help in making women just a little bit safer. Although it may seem obvious, it is important to point out that this article serves only as a guide and nothing can replace legitimate instruction in self-defense (which doesn’t include martial arts for sport or fitness purposes).
At our academy we have instructed many women and have frequently provided free women’s self defense clinics for the community. In these special clinics we often begin with a lecture that outlines basic safety for woman and actually gives women the two most important rules of self-defense. Adherence to these two rules is more effective then any karate chop, jujitsu or judo throwing technique, or any fancy tae-kwon-do or kung fu move.
These two rules are best understood in the context of two important questions. These two questions must govern the modern woman’s approach to realistic self-defense – whether they intend to make an extensive study of a particular self defense method or simply want to make themselves safer in their daily lives. Let’s address these questions one at a time:
The first of these two questions is: Why should woman care about self-defense?
It seems a simple enough question, but many women can not give a straightforward answer. The answer to this fundamental question is that women are statically much more likely to be attacked – the simple fact that your gender is female means that you have a significantly higher probability of being attacked! This is an unfortunate truth, but this knowledge is critical.
There is good news though! The good news that by knowing and practicing the first two rules of self-defense woman can almost cancel out the statistical probability of being attacked! These two rules – the most important tools of realistic self defense – are: AWARENESS & PREVENTION. Practicing these two rules is the best technique of self-defense; everything else plays a very far second. More on awareness & prevention to come.
The second question that governs our academy’s approach to self defense is: What do attackers want?
Answering and understanding this second question is critical in making the first two rules of self-defense (awareness & prevention) work. So, what do attackers want? They want a VICTIM! It is important for woman to recognize this truth. Attackers, as a general rule, do NOT want a fight…they want a VICTIM.
We can compare this mindset to a predator hunting in the wild. The predator does NOT want a fight – they want prey…something that isn’t going to be difficult, something that satisfies the immediate need, and they will select the prey based on this animalist instinct. They will look for prey, making sure that is smaller, weaker, and plays the role of victim. A solitary lion doesn’t hunt an elephant or any other animal that presents a potential challenge. The lion wants a meal; the lion wants a victim – not a fight. Attackers want the same thing. This demonstrates why woman are statically more likely to be attacked by larger and stronger men.
If we understand that attackers want a victim and not a fight, we can utilize this knowledge to teach woman to make themselves a harder target – to look more like a “fight” or a challenge and less like a victim. Again, remembering that an attacker wants a victim, some easy target, and not something that is determined to be risky or challenging.
An example may help in demonstrating how the first two rules of self defense, awareness & prevention, help make woman (and everyone else who practices the two rules) look less like a victim and more like a “fight” – thus, decreasing the probability of attack.
Imagine that you own a home and are aware of the possibility of being the victim of a home invasion. Based on this awareness you decide to call ABC Alarm Company to install a home alarm system. You have now put in a level of prevention. This is a good option; however, the home-invader will only know there is an alarm once he’s already initiated his attack (presumably hearing the alarm, etc.). So although this level of prevention might encourage the attacker to discontinue his attack, it didn’t stop him from attacking the first place! Because ABC Alarm Company is aware of this, they do want most alarm companies do – they put small stickers on your windows and a small yard sign that states: “This property is protected by ABC Alarm Company.” This is the second level of prevention. Now, the attacker might be discouraged from even attacking the house in the first place. We are beginning to make our home look less like an “easy prey” and more like a challenge…an unnecessary risk.
However, you decide to put another level of prevention to make your home an even less attractive target. You decide that you’ll purchase a dog bowl or two and place them outside the major entrances of your home. On these large dog bowls we inscribe the name “Killer” – making it clear that our dog (which doesn’t actually exist – but the attacker doesn’t know that) is a serious threat. To extend this level of prevention, you purchase a few “Beware of Dog” signs and post them in your yard.
What have you done? You’ve taken your initial AWARENESS and build a defensive system based on PREVENTION. If you are the attacker looking for a home to invade, do you invade the home that obviously has an alarm system and a vicious dog named KILLER or do you pick from one of the other 10 homes on this street that you know do not have alarm systems or vicious dogs? It’s a no brainier! If the attacker wants a victim, they’ll choose an easy victim – not the challenge that our example home provides. This doesn’t mean that our home can’t be invaded, but it certainly makes it statistically much less likely due to our use of awareness & prevention.
Women can apply this in their day to day life by making awareness and prevention an automatic habit! When you walk in the parking lot, do you look like a victim by verbalizing that you don’t remember where you parked? Do you have to search for your car? Is it in the back of the parking lot in the dark? Are you fumbling to get your keys out of your bulky purse? Or, do you make a habit of already having your keys in hand – walk directly to your car, under the big spot light, and your back straight (looking confident and aware) and your eyes scanning the area – making it obvious to any potential attacker that you are aware of your surroundings, you look confident, and aren’t distracted. This easy use of awareness & prevention makes it a lot less likely for you to be a victim. The attacker will likely pass on you and wait for one of the many other woman who is obviously a lot less aware and doesn’t even remember were she parked!
Before concluding it’s important for woman to know that awareness & prevention must work together. Awareness is not enough! Prevention must follow awareness. Again, think about this in any other context. If I am “aware” that smoking four packs of cigarettes every day is going to put me in an early grave, but don’t do anything to “prevent” this from happening, then my “awareness” doesn’t make any actual change to the reality of the situation. If I’m “aware” that my habit of eating fast food for breakfast, lunch, and dinner for five years straight is likely going to give me a heart-attack, but don’t actually put any prevention in place –again, it doesn’t change the inevitable outcome. Lastly, if I am “aware” that because I’m a woman I’m much more likely to be attacked, that doesn’t change if I stop at awareness. I must take that awareness and turn it into prevention.
Take action and don’t allow yourself to be a victim! Be aware of the dangers and make transform yourself, through prevention, from the potential victim to someone who is stronger, safer, and more aware. This is the best form of self defense you could ever practice!
