Thanks everyone for a great session. While I have taught variations of this in regular classes, this is the first time we did this self defense module in a 2 hour workshop format. Following are some notes that I have prepared before the workshop, obviously, there is a gap of what I wanted to include vs what I actually can cover.
Goals
- Be safe and have fun !earning
- See a viable alternative using less effort and dependency on strength & speed as compared to common approaches to self defense
- Build confidence because you know there are viable choices even when you have less muscles and speed that the agressor
Myths and common mindset errors
- I cannot (yet)
- Fixed correct solutions or a black belt make you invincible – every situation is different. The key is survival. So adapt to the situation on hand and apply the principles you learn here.
- This 2 hour workshop can make you an invincible fighter – not possible. It has to be practiced until it is yours.
- Punching, kicking and strong fast muscles are prerequisites to self-defense
Top 3 principles / pillars of self defense (abbreviated as LRT)
- Listen / Look – look for and anticipate danger, look for things out of place
- Resources – other people, flexibility and mobility you gain from exercises, attending seminars like this one and even hearing aid can help, resources of the aggressor like time, height, age etc.
- Target – move the target, don’t present yourself as a potential target, your vulnerability like balance, slower response, time. The vulnerable spots of the aggressor if you want to hit back
Hands on interactions and experiments
- Neutralize and de-escalate – Go with the flow of the force of pushes
- Line of fire (move the target)
- Get out from wrist grabs (criteria – non-escalating, using grabbed hand)
- Two hands against one (low)
- Pushed against the wall
- Hair grab
- Choke
- Defense against hits (eg. Straight punch, swings, tackle, two hand-handed pushes, charge, surprise shuffle)
- How to double hitting power
- How to overwhelm opponent
- Exploring vulnerabilities (soft/pain spots, vital spots, balance)
- Small contact area to maximize pressure and threat
- Importance of a decision to fight back
- Running away may not be a viable option
Mechanics
- Visualization – how your mind operates changes how strong you can be
- Getting out of the ambiguous state of non-decision is critical to your chances of success. Plan ahead and be decisive.
- Adapt to the scenario on hand is required. Human survive not because of strength but adaptability
- Don’t be obsessed with the obstacle, think from a different direction and things get a lot easier.