Tag: self-defense

Sexual Harassment and Rape Prevention Techniques

Posted on | by Jason

Individuals take martial arts training for a multitude of reasons. Some do it simply to get physically fit. Others prefer it as their means of attaining a better connection between mind and body. However, one of the reasons why many women look to martial arts training is to learn self- defense techniques they can use should they be attacked or assaulted. It’s a sad fact that rape and sexual harassment continue to plague American society. As a woman, it has never been more important to be prepared for such an unexpected attack, regardless of how scary it may seem. Knowing the proper responses could save your life or that of a loved one.

When an individual displays aggression towards a potential victim, if untrained, victims commonly freeze in fear – capable of neither fight nor flight, simply because they do not know what to do. Martial arts training helps individuals calm their minds during these periods, keep their wits about them, and put into effect counter-measures. Typically, a victim might have just a brief moment to perform a self-defense technique before becoming overwhelmed by superior strength. What is important to remember is that these techniques are particularly designed to provide you with an opportunity to escape the situation you are in.

Integrated training

Self-defense techniques are developed keeping in mind a number of factors, such as one’s environment, biological processes, and speed of thought. If one is able to keep these factors in one’s own control, it is possible to escape a serious situation such as rape. The first thing to realize is that if you are being attacked, the situation has already escalated beyond the point of non-violent reasoning, and you should be prepared to defend yourself physically.

Self-defense techniques need to be performed quickly, so that you are able to take your aggressor by surprise. Most self-defense techniques incorporate just two or three simple moves that work toward disabling, immobilizing, or disarming an aggressor. When performed correctly, you can guarantee a speedy escape.

Battling fear

The truth is the most difficult part about putting training into practice is dealing with the fear. Regardless of how much training you have performed, it is impossible to actually know for sure how you will react in a real-life scenario. As such, the aim of martial arts and self-defense training is to allow you to learn techniques so well, that when a situation arises, your adrenaline will let muscle memory and automatic reflex take over, leaving you with no time to think about fear.

Growing in Fitness for Self-Defense

Posted on | by Jason

Before you can understand how martial arts and combat training can help improve your fitness and health, it is important to understand what “fitness” really is. There are two essential aspects to your personal fitness.

The first relates to your physiological well-being. In order for this aspect to be actualized, it is important for individuals to adhere to the right kind of diet, do some form of physical activity regularly, get the right amount of sleep on a consistent basis, and as much as possible, refrain from harmful habits like excessive drinking and smoking. This will ensure that most or all of the systems and parts of your body are functioning at maximum capacity, which helps you avoid painful, costly, and prohibitive medical conditions in the future.

Physical and mental fitness

The second aspect of fitness actually relates to the physical capabilities of your body. This aspect of fitness is also intimately linked with sharpness of mind as well. Apart from being able to use your body to perform difficult and exhausting physical feats, your mind must also be able to assess and evaluate a threat or a life-endangering situation quickly enough for you to take measures to protect yourself. You must be able to endure monotony, even pain sometimes, to push your limits and reach your goals – which requires both physical and mental stamina. Martial arts training is particularly well-suited for self-improvement training for this reason.

An important thing to remember about martial arts training is that it is ultimately geared toward self-defense. Do not begin training with the intention to cause someone else harm; you will instead learn respect. This kind of training is designed so that you are able to properly handle yourself during a confrontation that could potentially threaten your life or those of your loved ones. As such, martial arts training is designed to help you maneuver yourself out of a violent situation in the most practical and quickest way possible.

Martial arts can be beneficial if the practitioner can use them properly in a street fight, but the real key to self-defense is keeping your body and mind healthy. Studies have shown that athletic training in martial arts can do wonders to stave off conditions like osteoporosis, obesity, joint problems, and neuro-muscular problems. The idea behind this alternating high and low impact training is not to grow to the size of a body-builder, but to allow you to control your own body weight in the best possible manner. In doing so, you will be able to build strength, speed, flexibility, and agility to extremely high levels without compromising the physiological balance of hormones and chemicals in your body.

Krav Maga is Modern, Close Quarters Self-Defense

Posted on | by Jason

Krav Maga is roughly translated from Hebrew to mean “close quarter fighting.” It is a highly effective martial art that utilizes a combination of strikes, grapples, throws, locks and holds. Krav Maga originated from street fighting techniques of Jewish gangs defending themselves in the tough ghettos of Bratislav in the 1930s. Krav Maga was developed in Czechoslovakia in the 1930’s by Imi Lichtenfeld. After the nation of Israel was born, Krav Maga was adapted and further developed by the Israeli security forces.

Krav Maga is more effective for close quarter combat than many other styles of the mixed martial art. Unlike most Asian martial arts, it was born in the modern era. This makes it a very “applicable” system of self defense. While Karate and Kung Fu were developed to for individuals to defend themselves while traveling the dangerous highways of feudal Japan, Korea and ancient China, Krav Maga was designed to be used in the tighter confines of an urban setting.

Being a modern martial art, it also provides reliable techniques for defending oneself against an opponent armed with a gun or knife.

Close quarters fighting in Krav Maga is about using simple, direct movements to neutralize an opponent quickly. It is a fighting style developed on the streets and perfected on the battlefield. There is no sporting federation or points system involved. Groin strikes, joint breaks, eye jabs are all legitimate close quarters fighting techniques that can be learned and used in Krav Maga.

Close quarters defense in Krav Maga is reliant on several factors. Technique is of course essential but so is awareness, discipline and aggressiveness. Unlike many martial arts that are embodied with a non-violent code, aggressiveness is vital in it. Close quarters fighting in Krav Maga is about ending an encounter quickly and when necessary, brutally.

Discipline is key because without it is impossible to master Krav Maga; and awareness is key because it allows you to head off or avoid conflicts before they arise. In worse case scenarios, awareness can help you determine when it may be necessary to launch a preemptive strike.

The training is meant to be realistic in nature and to prepare students in the event they should find themselves in a close quarter encounter with an assailant. Many of the techniques used in Krav Maga are popular with mixed martial arts competitors for their effectiveness in bringing down an opponent.

Close quarters defense in Krav Maga is not really something you can learn by just reading about it. In order to really learn the techniques, you need training from qualified professionals.


Get in Shape: Train Hard and Be Safe

Posted on | by Jason

One of the greatest fears that an average individual has is to be mugged or assaulted, whether in public or private. On a regular day, this is not something that really “plagues the mind,” we usually just don’t think it will happen to us! But law enforcement authorities rightly encourage taking safety precautions in order to avoid the risk of having a criminal confrontation on the streets. Martial arts are a fun, popular, and proven effective regimen to prepare yourself for the threats you might face on a regular basis.

Class drills with partners and safety “dress rehearsals” in practical combat scenarios will heighten your awareness, agility, and skills in avoiding, deterring, escaping, and winning against a potential physical attack by someone stronger or larger than yourself. However, as much as one tries, there are always situations that one cannot anticipate. To perform the techniques with maximum speed and impact, one must develop physical fitness and body conditioning through consistent practice and preferably cross-training. Setting and reaching health goals on schedule is integral to the training process.

Overcoming fear

The criminal mind can sometimes be unpredictable. We might think we’re ready, but most individuals confronted by a criminal on the street typically stiffen up, become “paralyzed,” unable to think clearly or act quickly during the tense, hazardous situation. Most people think they’d respond swiftly and bravely, having watched a lot of TV crime dramas and movies, but they lack any “actual” training and experience in dealing such encounters in person. Likewise, being physically fit, able-bodied, and clear-minded will actually deter and prevent such confrontations, and should one occur, prove very useful as you defuse and escape – perhaps poorer and freaked out, but not physically harmed!

Escape – rather than domination – is where martial arts and self-defense training can be of unique and surprising value. People do not generally view martial arts training for one of its greatest benefits – the means and will to resolve conflict peacefully – or failing that, by force. Many martial arts are particularly designed to protect oneself from violent assault. In most cases, those who are suddenly confronted by a mugger or burglar are in a very disadvantaged position. If
the assailant is armed with a blade, club, or firearm, the situation is far more threatening and imperative to escape by any means necessary.

Get physical

Martial arts training for self-defense is learned in the military and law enforcement communities, and fortunately today, this popular, beneficial, educational, athletic, and safety-focused pursuit is affordable and accessible to the general public in most countries throughout the world.

Self-defense training is highly situational in that it teaches you to deal with particular scenarios. For example, an individual will learn to defend against a knife-wielding assailant trying to cut them (with safety measures in place of course), in a variety of ways: whether the attack comes from front or back, how the blade is held, the method and velocity of the attacks, and so on. However, in order to perform a disarming or immobilizing technique, one has to be physically fit with high levels of mental acuity, core strength, speed, agility, and self-confidence. Being prepared for a wide variety of “real life” scenarios requires a special kind of physical capability. Martial arts training is the ideal way to build it up.