The most important thing you develop in Self Defense training is confidence!

Posted: Sunday, April 11th, 2010 at 3:50 pm

The most important thing you develop in Self Defense training is confidence!

Sarah Fox
Certified Krav Maga Self Defense & Fitness Instructor

One of the best things that can happen to any type of teacher is to hear from a student how they helped to change a person’s life. When I started to teach self defense lessons I was hoping to help teach people a valuable skill and while that has happened I got an unexpected surprise in just how much it can change people on the inside. Most people come in and know already that it would be ‘good for them’ to be able to defend themselves, even though they really don’t know what that means or entails. They also say they want an exercise training program will make them more physically fit. No one ever walks in and says ‘I want to feel better about myself and my abilities or I want more self-confidence.’ But that’s exactly what happens. Martha Schill of Strongsville has only been taking Krav Maga self defense lessons for a few months but already can see what it has done to her attitude. “Now, I have been taught to look at my fists, feet, elbows, knees, even my teeth as weapons and have been taught how to use them.” When someone is walking, especially alone, and they know that they are armed and ready to fight if they have to, it gives them a sense of self-confidence that wasn’t there before. They know the vulnerable parts of the body and can use that information to their advantage, in targeting them on an attacker or protecting them on themselves. Being in better physical shape, increasing their endurance, even having a great stress outlet all come with the training as most people expect it too but the confidence building that it provides is usually the most pleasant surprise of all.

We have all been taught as children not to hit, punch, kick or bite, especially women, its certainly not very lady-like. What Krav Maga self defense classes will tell you is that when someone wants to hurt you the ‘lady-like’ attitude needs to go out the door. When you are under attack you have the right to defend yourself. Property, such as cars, money, jewelry, etc… certainly isn’t worth risking your life, if someone wants those things let them have it. But if someone wants to hurt you, that‘s a different situation and your life and the lives or your family is worth fighting for. Unfortunately, many women freeze motionless when attacked not knowing what to do. Of course, every situation is different and choosing to fight or not to fight is a split second decision that only the individual can make for themselves in one terrifying moment. Different situations call for different reactions. The reaction that saves your life is the right one, no matter what that decision might be. Sometimes that’s choosing to fight, sometimes it isn’t. But self defense training can provide women with the option to fight with the skills and aggression to back it up.

The particular type of self-defense that I teach is Krav Maga which is Hebrew for ‘Combat Contact’ and was designed by the Israeli military to teach their soldiers in hand to hand combat. Most people are drawn to Krav Maga for two reasons; the first being that it doesn’t take years to learn or utilize. Some other martial arts take a very long time to feel as if you have master them to a reasonable degree and even longer to learn how to apply what you learned in a Dojo or gym to being attacked on the street. Because the Israeli military has a very short period of time to teach their drafted soldiers (everyone in Israel is drafted into the service after high school – both men and women) they had to develop a system that could be learned quickly. People like the idea that they are going to learn things in the very first class that could save their life. Another reason people take this particular type of self-defense is that this system has a great cardio benefit. The philosophy is that endurance training can help you survive an attack which is always Krav Maga’s goal, to survive, get away, escape, stay safe. If you run five blocks to get away from someone but then have to turn and fight you want to have the cardio endurance to do it and do it strong. Any good self defense program should include endurance training as part of its program. Krav Maga uses different types of drills and realistic scenario training in the attempt to create real life situations and teach you how to handle them. They don’t just make you punch; they make you punch after you get tired because on the street that’s probably what will happen. Being able to handle your own adrenalin, fatigue and fear should be a part of any self defense training program but in an environment where safety is controlled by a licensed professional.

Women who are looking for a self defense program should consider the methods that are being taught and the mechanics behind them. Because women are generally not as strong physically as men, self defense should not rely on muscle strength but on techniques that can be learned by anyone and that win out over strength so that women are not at a complete disadvantage.

Martha has decided that her teenage daughter will be coming in for lessons. “I want her to also have the self-confidence that I now have to be able to handle herself if she needs too. Now that she is in high school and unfortunately our schools aren’t as safe as they use to be I think she needs to be able to protect herself if something were to happen. I don’t want her walking the halls terrified. She knows she has the right to defend herself now I want her to know how.” Experts say that criminals and bullies are looking to attack someone they think will not fight back, an easy target. The confidence you receive from self defense training already puts you at an advantage by translating that into how you carry yourself – enabling you to walk tall, stride with a purpose, head up and able to look people in the eye. And if that confident attitude you have doesn’t deter someone, your front kick to the groin followed by an elbow to the face – will!

Get started today! Find out more by calling us at (440) 234-KRAV or request information online.