Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site stcvax.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!clyde!burl!ulysses!allegra!bellcore!decvax!genrad!wjh12!talcott!harvard!seismo!hao!stcvax!jps From: jps@stcvax.UUCP Newsgroups: net.women Subject: Re: (public anger .. attacks/harrassment) Self Defense (long) Message-ID: <343@stcvax.UUCP> Date: Wed, 19-Dec-84 11:47:48 EST Article-I.D.: stcvax.343 Posted: Wed Dec 19 11:47:48 1984 Date-Received: Sat, 22-Dec-84 01:46:24 EST Organization: Storage Technology Corp. Louisville, CO Lines: 63 > > 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. You probably shouldn't/couldn't feel confident with you ability to defend yourself for at least six months to a year of intense training. Sure they can teach you a trick or two in the first couple of weeks but the willingness to actually do it and the presence of mind required to not f**k it up take *MUCH* longer. 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!!!!!! 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. -- Chapter-11/Multiple-Mega-Layoff Survivor (for now...) Jeffrey P. Snover - STC StorageTek (Disk Division) uucp: { hao, ihnp4, decvax}!stcvax!jps { allegra, amd70, ucbvax }!nbires!stcvax!jps USnail: Storage Technology Corp - MD 3T / Louisville, CO / 80028 DDD: (303) 673-6750