and strengthening your body so that one day you might really know how to defend yourself. This is not something the average person has an appetite for.
During a self-defence course most instructors will fill the time with so much“ stuff” to justify their existence and the price of the course and to prove to you how good they are. There are many exceptional martial artists who have really not given this“ self-defence” course concept much thought and are really just looking to make money. Or they misunderstand the psychology behind the fighting art they have learnt over many years of practice. Their skills cannot be taught in any less time than it took them to master. references to the head of a well-known private school, requesting a meeting to present our offering. I was initially told they had a teacher on staff who had done a“ self-defence” course, was an expert and did courses with the learners. I was then forwarded on to the head of extramural activities. Since when is a life skill this important nothing more than an extramural activity?
When you mention“ self-defence course”, everyone has a perception of what it is. Most of us have done one at some stage in our life and yet remember very little because, in reality, they effectively don’ t exist …
Maybe one day we will see one of those elusive, magical unicorns. Until then, self-defence courses, as we know them, remain the stuff of fairy tales.
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All they are doing is giving people a false sense of security, to make them think they can do something effective when they can’ t. Teaching students to take guns and knives off people after only a few lessons is insane. It will probably just get the student killed.
It’ s not about“ self-defence”. It’ s about the choices you make!
ALSO READ: On Guard: It’ s a choice
There is no quick fix, no silver bullet, no shortcut. There is no substitute for regular training if you want to learn to defend yourself. Why must I show you what I know if you are not going to do what I have done?
Recently I was made acutely aware of the realities of this, as we do a lot of work with schools throughout the country, often with life-changing feedback. I sent an email with
Personal protection guru Mark Grobbelaar is the Founder of INpowered, incorporating WIP( woman INpowered) and GRIP( Guy Responsibly INpowered). He holds a 6th dan in karate and has over 45 years’ experience in the personal protection field. He does talks and hosts INpowered programmes for corporates, schools and small groups.
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