Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/18/84; site sftri.UUCP Path: utzoo!linus!decvax!bellcore!allegra!ulysses!mhuxr!mhuxm!sftig!sftri!mom From: mom@sftri.UUCP (M.Modig) Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: self-defense Message-ID: <284@sftri.UUCP> Date: Sat, 22-Dec-84 15:29:03 EST Article-I.D.: sftri.284 Posted: Sat Dec 22 15:29:03 1984 Date-Received: Sun, 23-Dec-84 08:34:24 EST Organization: AT&T Bell Laboratories, Summit N.J. Lines: 83 >> I retract my last sentence, and will instead propose a better >> solution: Take a self-defense class. This will not only help against >> an actual attack, it will increase your self-confidence and thereby lessen >> your fears (if you have them) of the possibility of attack. Not a complete >> solution to the problem, I agree, but better than replacing constant >> fear with constant anger. >> > >BOO, HIIISSSSSS. NO, this is a well-meaning but very *bad* suggestion. >Self-defense classes can be grossly simplified to 2 forms: formal martial >arts classes and rape-defense classes. Neither of these are a good idea. > > 1. Formal martial arts classes require alot of practice and much > dedication.... OK, strike one against the martial arts. > > 2. Many formal martial arts classes will leave you totally unprepared > to deal with an actual combat situation. I speak from experience. > I was lucky enough to have trained in an "old world" okinawian > school when I first started the martial arts. They knew how to > prepare one for actual combat! Sparring was *real* in that > school! You knew what it was like to give a real punch or kick > and what it was like to receive one and still continue fighting. > (My broken arm and countless bruises lay testiment to the realness > of the sparring!). Since then I have been in and out of about > 6 or 7 other schools and I know for a fact that a very small > percent of these people could ever actually defend themselves > against anything more threatening than a 4 year old kid with a > butter knife. > > At one school they believed in "no contact" sparring. There was > a woman there that was trying to "learn how to defend herself" > and when she sparred she had her hands at her side and she lead > with her jaw. And this woman was almost a black belt!!!!!! > OK, pray continue. > 3. Rape classes aren't workable for reason #2 also but in addition > they have the tendancy to be inappropriately *ruthless*. They > take the attitude that the only way that a woman can defend > herself is by maiming or killing her attacker!!! They think > nothing of teaching ineffably dangerous techniques to be used > as a first defense without qualifying who they teach it to or > providing a moral paradigm. This is *HORRIBLY* immoral and > irresponsible!!!! In prior days such teachers would have been > hunted out and discipled or killed by more "responsible" masters. > > >It is perfectly obvious that a problem exists here but in the search for >a defense against animals, please do not become as bad if not worse than they. I don't think using every means in your power to defend yourself when you are attacked is ruthless. You have no idea what the attacker is after. He may just want to beat you up a bit and take your money; he may want much more. He may actually want to kill you. Since in most cases the person attacked doesn't have the time to precisely ascertain the attacker's goals, I see no problem with assuming the worst and basing your defense on that assumption. It would be great if we all had the time, skill, dedication, and discipline to take a real martial-arts class. Unfortunately, this is not the case. I don't know too many 90 year-old black belts stumping around town. What is needed are simple techniques that are pretty certain to be effective. I'm sure that there are other fairly simple techniques that could easily be used against a typical attacker that would be guaranteed fatal if you connected. Which of these techniques are taught. I'm not particularly in favor of using techniques that will kill someone; I'm not against using techniques that will disable your attacker to enable you to get away and get yourself out of trouble without counting on help from anyone else, since you may not be attacked during the day when there are people around. If your attacker is a black belt, you're probably out of luck either way. If there are techniques which you feel shouldn't be used, what are they and why? [I've never been to a self-defense class, and I'm not an unarmed combat expert]. Mark Modig ihnp4!sftri!mom