Self-defence courses teach you how to defend yourself physically in dangerous situations. But that's not all: they also train your awareness of yourself and your surroundings. If you go through the world with sharpened senses, you can assess situations more quickly and avoid danger more easily. The main aim of a good self-defence course is to prevent you from having to use the fighting and defence techniques you have learnt in the first place by being self-confident and careful.
The motives for a robbery are usually money, hatred or inner conflicts on the part of the attacker. Therefore, in most cases the perpetrator will choose an inferior „victim“. Very few attackers want to fight on equal terms. The term „victim“ in no way refers to the actual value of the person being attacked, but primarily to their inner attitude and outward demeanour. Anyone who feels vulnerable or afraid often radiates this - and thus makes themselves a target.
Of course, physical characteristics play a major role in the external image. While men often appear naturally tall and muscular, women, children and the elderly are easier targets. For this reason, there are self-defence courses that are specifically geared towards the needs of these groups of people:
Due to their physical inferiority, women are quickly forced into the role of victim. In order to prevent physical and psychological assaults, it is important that women learn how to de-escalate their behaviour towards (potential) attackers and how to defend themselves effectively in an emergency. Courses specially tailored to the female gender teach women techniques that will enable them to stand up to a physically superior attacker. After all, women are by no means defenceless simply because they are smaller and lighter by nature. If you learn to utilise your opponent's strength and know where their weak points are, you can more than make up for any deficits in strength and physique.
Self-defence courses for children are offered from the age of three. But why do such young children need to be trained in self-defence? Quite simply, the earlier children learn to be (self-)aware of their environment, the easier it will be for them to recognise dangerous situations and react correctly in the long term. Self-defence courses also teach children to say no and help them to consistently maintain their boundaries. From bullying in the school playground to the way home and even within their own four walls.
Very few people in old age are as agile and able to defend themselves as they were in their youth. This gives many of those affected the unpleasant feeling of being inferior to attackers. For some, this fear even goes so far that they no longer dare leave the house alone. Self-defence courses for senior citizens prevent insecurity and teach participants how they can successfully defend themselves with little effort.
As already mentioned, self-defence courses are primarily aimed at ending dangerous situations without violence. For this reason, an important focus of most self-defence courses is to strengthen the participants' self-confidence. After all, the fact is that an attacker will think twice about whether it's really worth it if they have self-confidence in their own pocket.
When it comes to self-defence, it is of immeasurable value to be aware of possible dangers and to actively avoid them. Because Better safe than sorry. If you stay on well-lit paths and avoid drunken thugs from the outset, you have already internalised the first step in defending yourself.
The ability to multitask is also a decisive advantage in self-defence. Because only those who can simultaneously analyse their opponent, control their own appearance and check their surroundings for possible helpers are optimally equipped for all eventualities. In self-defence courses, the worst-case scenario is rehearsed in role plays. In this way, personal deficits can be recognised and optimised.
Regular training in defence and martial arts techniques strengthens the body. Not only are other muscles activated and new movement sequences internalised, participants also develop a new relationship with their own body: improved fitness is considered the ideal basis for increased self-confidence and also ensures an optimised sense of self. Once awareness of the body is established, the willingness to react also increases.
Taking part in a self-defence course promises long-term, individual improvement that goes far beyond the defence techniques learned. Back in the early 1990s, researchers found that women who have learnt a martial art have a more positive self-image and find it easier to cope in unfamiliar surroundings. Those who feel safe in unfamiliar situations not only have a better quality of life, they also feel more confident if the worst comes to the worst. And since, as we have learnt, perpetrators prefer to attack victims, the loss of fear successfully puts wrongdoers to flight.
Good to knowSince self-defence training is not a protected profession, anyone who feels called to do so can offer self-defence courses. This makes quality control and, of course, selection more difficult. However, if you are looking for a good self-defence course, you can look for certificates or membership of an umbrella organisation or sports club.
Self-defence courses are available for a wide variety of target groups and with different orientations. From self-defence courses to individual martial arts, participants learn to protect their physical and mental integrity. So the goal is always the same, only the approaches are different ...
Assertiveness courses: An early and confident reaction to a possible attack often makes the use of self-defence techniques superfluous. This approach is at the centre of self-defence courses. Consciously recognising your own limits and rights is the basis - and then communicating these to the outside world is the art.
Self-defence coursesSelf-defence courses build on self-assertion techniques and go one step further at the same time. They teach simple hacks that even inexperienced people can use to effectively assert themselves against attackers in dangerous situations. The basics of individual martial arts are incorporated into the content of most self-defence courses.
Martial arts coursesIn specialised martial arts courses, participants learn and refine a selected martial art. The most popular martial arts/martial arts include Krav Maga, Ju-Jutsu, WinTsun, Karate, Kung Fu and Taekwondo.
How long does it take for a self-defence course to have an effect? How many course hours do I need before I go from being a „victim“ to a counterpart at eye level? There is no one-size-fits-all answer to these questions. Although the basic techniques can be learnt within two months, the learning curves vary from person to person. Personal progress depends above all on the intensity of training and your inner belief in yourself. Even a short course can change a lot!
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