<p>Please urge your children to take one of these classes, which are offered by many colleges and universities. As a pediatrician and the father of a diminutive ballerina, I am concerned about the potential for violence directed against more vulnerable people. In a better world this would not be necessary and we should certainly strive for such a world, but in the meantime we must equip our young people with the knowledge and skills they may need.</p>
<p>But how fast can she run?</p>
<p>This is hilarious. </p>
<p>7 years in the Army and 4 years as an Infantry officer, my suggestion would be to get a handgun and learn how to use it. It is the only quick and fast way to neutralize an opponents greater size, strength, experience and endurance. A few self-defense classes here and there is like myself getting certified in Combatives Level 1. You know just enough to get your @ss handed to you at a bar.</p>
<p>Over the last few weeks, several attacks have occurred in Gainesville, on campus (UF). By fighting back, the three women where able to get away or call for help, before being sexually assaulted (the fourth was a false report).</p>
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<p><a href=“http://www.cnn.com/2014/09/08/justice/florida-university-assaults/”>Police hunt for University of Florida attacker - CNN;
<p>I don’t discount self-defense classes in the least. Yes, your attacker may be bigger or stronger but that doesn’t mean you can’t fight back effectively. And in some cases that is all you need–to fight back. Knowing even simple actions and learning not to be afraid to use them is well worth it. The knowledge and experience of practicing “pretend” attacks helps you keep your head together if the real thing should ever happen. </p>
<p>I think that there is a serious risk in using “self-defense” techniques if you aren’t extremely experienced in live fighting. And against the type of opponent that you expect to confront. Most women are literally clueless about what it would feel like to be in a fight against a young male in his prime, say between age 15 and 45. The stuff you see in the movies isn’t what fights are like. Most men of that age could do at least ten pushups and five or six pull-ups, and most women can’t do any of either. If you’re not in the same strength (and weight) ballpark, physical confrontation is likely to be very one-sided. </p>
<p>If there is no choice, then perhaps thats different. But I think attempting to strike or striking someone as opposed to just pushing away opens the possibility for even more harm to come to someone.</p>
<p>If you’re determined to do something like this, I’d get involved with a good judo program and enter some competitions. In adult judo you will learn choking and submission holds, and you’ll fight a lot on the ground (mat), which is where almost all fights end up anyway. It will give you a realistic gauge of your ability to handle a physical assailant. </p>
<p>Self-defense classes can be really useful considering half of a good class focuses on being aware of your surroundings and making smart choices. It can help build body confidence which makes a person a less attractive victim. I think this is something parents already know though. At least in our circles, girls go to self-defense prior to college to yes, get some fight-back skills but to also understand what can make them a target. My D has been going since she was 8 and she did have a college specific class prior to leaving. My S is a black belt who continues his studies but he’s taken a few general self-defense classes as well.</p>
<p>Half of a good class is learning to case your surroundings and NOT BECOME a victim. How to stay alert. Nobody is picking fights in a self-defense class. I would hope a self-defense class means you leave a bar fight immediately–not start one. (And knowing how to appease someone who WANTS to start a fight would be good info also).
Simple things do make a difference–staying in a group if possible, walking to your car with keys ready, checking back seats, watching for vans (my cousin in fact was almost abducted outside a small market), remaining aware of your surroundings and who is around.
What do you do if you think you’re being followed on foot? In your car? What if you’re pulled over and you’re suspicious of the cop?
Walking in town and you inadvertently find yourself in a less savory part?
What if you can’t just run? (and for goodness sake, high heels are horrible–lose them). Can you bite, scratch, get their eyes? Learn how to keep your hands free? There are some good simple moves that may come in handy–but only if they come to mind in a high stress situation and taking classes is one way to help make that happen.
True,brute strength and mass will overcome a lesser person without that person having extensive training which won’t happen in a few classes. But fighting back and NOT being afraid to do so may save someone in a whole lot of situations.</p>
<p>Interesting responses. Several people seem to have some familiarity with and appreciation for self-defense courses.
One person thinks all young people should go around armed with glocks. Another, ucbalumnus, seems to find humor in the danger of abduction, rape, and murder, although he would no doubt claim now that his clearly facetious comment had some serious underlying intent.</p>
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<p>The comment was not meant to be humorous or facetious. I have no idea why you would get that impression.</p>
<p>The point was that (assuming an attacker not using a gun) if you can outrun your attacker, you merely have to get out of reach, then run away. But if your attacker is faster than you, then if you fight, you must fight to win.</p>
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<p>^^This.</p>
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<p>Eleven million Americans already do.</p>
<p>To the degree that the course persuades people to avoid dangerous situations and circumstances, I’m in favor of that. Otherwise not so much. </p>
<p>Seems like very few colleges allow CCW on campus though.</p>
<p>My Ds both take martial arts, and they are taught basic self-defense in addition.
When my D does go off to college I have no doubt H will make sure she has and knows how to use whatever defense weapon the school allows (pepper spray, probably, and maybe a kubotan or tac pen).</p>
<p>dadx–why not in favor? what would be your concerns to learning self defense moves?</p>
<p>The distinction would be between the “art” of separating yourself from the attacker and getting help/running away and standing and fighting. Any self defense instructor teaching smaller females to stand and fight a larger or stronger opponent when they have a good chance of escape is helping put them in danger.</p>
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<p>I had a long winded answer, but this is the basic gist of my thoughts. There’s nothing wrong with knowing/mastering skills, and making sure you’re fit and strong, but my fear would be the chance for an escalation of a situation where there was a chance to escape it. </p>
<p>don’t forget personal alarms</p>
<p>For the sake of clarity: these classes teach students how to avoid dangerous situations, how to be aware of their surroundings, how to avoid confrontation, how to call for help, how to escape, and–only if absolutely necessary–how to use physical means to facilitate escape. The instructors are fully aware of the physical limitations of their students.</p>
<p>Both my kids have martial arts training but that doesn’t mean they would stand and fight rather than take the smart approach of avoiding conflict. I’m not sure why anybody would be afraid to learn self-defense thinking you’ll be stupid later on thinking you’re super man or wonder woman. Simply having that physical experience of being thrown to the ground, being in a fight (even simulated) makes one more clear headed if that should ever happen.
A poster above commented on this–most women have NEVER had anything close to an experience of a physical fight and while everyone hopes that never happens it is a good experience to have and know that you are not powerless if that ever (hopefully never) happens.
Training is everything–personal alarms, mace, whatever are all nice devices-do you carry it with you? Know how to use it? Have it handy in iffy situations? How easy is it to really use? Have you actually tried it out and practiced with it? Or is it in the car, bottom of the purse, desk drawer at home beneath the pens and old papers? Still in the plastic? Been laughed at by your roommates as being paranoid? Just saying.</p>
<p>My daughter is driving then tacking the “T” to a concert in Boston near Fenway tonight, then reverse home. She’s going with just one other girl. I’m more than a bit nervous. When my son did this, he went with a little gang of his friends.</p>