Every day, people live with the risk of being physically attacked. Attacks on women are quite common. The EU Agency for Fundamental Rights surveyed 42,000 women and concluded that 31% of women have experienced one or more acts of physical violence since the age of 15.
In an attack emergency Self Defence techniques if correctly executed allows the “victim” – to possibly overcomes bear hugs, hair and arm grabs and chokes from behind etc. Techniques can be effective and readily applied regardless of size and strength if they have participated in experienced Self Defence training.
Simple techniques can be difficult to apply under real-life pressure, where there are limited chances to slip, strike or run. And attackers often behave in unpredictable ways.
Many people strike ineffectually and this carries a big risk, because it leaves a person within range of the attacker – and ineffective striking an aggressor turns the confrontation into a fight. Attacks are usually fast and committed.
Those looking to defend themselves must be able to adapt techniques depending on the circumstances of the attack. They should also be able to transition between techniques and automatically perform powerful and accurate counterattacks.
To be effective in Self Defence you need to practice regularly and have variation with partners of different sizes, reaches, strengths, personalities and motivations. Progressive scenarios should be used to simulate reality.
Training should also involve conditioning of the body.This progressive practice eventually modifies one’s mind and body, developing contextually specific techniques and creative intelligence.
There’s scientific evidence to show that sustained training has the power to improve combat reaction times, confidence, attention and alertness and cognitive function especially in older adults.
The ultimate aim of Self Defence is to minimise violence and avoid confrontation. But we should be prepared if we are attacked.