With more and more stories coming to light in regards to people being attacked or involved in some sort of altercation, would you be prepared in the event it happened to you? Odds are the answer is no. If you have never trained in some form of martial arts or self defense training, you’re at risk in the event of a physical altercation. According to Cornell University social psychologist David Dunning, PhD. (2003),
“People overestimate themselves,” he says, “but more than that, they really seem to believe it”.
This phenomenon of an overestimation of ones skill set can lead to disastrous results if the situation involves an attacker. Knowing how to defend yourself and thinking you know how to defend yourself are two different things. There is a quote that says:
“When the time to perform arrives, the time to prepare has passed” – Author Unknown
Truer words have never been spoken. The time to prepare for a self defense situation begins long before that situation occurs. But why not be prepared and ready if it ever comes to that point? If you have made the decision to prepare, be sure the self defense program you chose encompasses the following things:
#1 Physical Interaction
While there are a number of online self defense and martial arts programs on the internet that are great to learn new techniques from time to time, they are worthless if you are not training inside a reputable gym with others. Why is training with others so important? Because you will have no way of testing your skills in a practice situation. Without training partners and someone to correct your mistakes, you could unknowingly be doing something completely wrong that will be ineffective when the time comes. Online training can be used a supplement, but can never replace the knowledge and experience you will receive working on self defense with like minded individuals.
#2 More Than One Martial Arts Style
Focusing on one martial art is absolutely better than nothing, but it is not ideal. A gym that offers classes in varied martial arts such as Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, Kickboxing, Krav Maga, Judo, Wrestling or the like will better serve you than a single discipline, if your goal is self defense training.
#3 A Structured Curriculum
Have you ever attended a class or seminar (self defense related or otherwise) where the person you paid to teach you seems scattered or like they are coming up with things at random? This is a telltale sign that they do not have a structured curriculum in place. We refer to this as the shotgun approach, and it is a terrible way to learn how to do anything. Having a path to success is one of the most important elements of self defense training. Without one it can take you much longer to see the same results. As Ben Franklin said,
“If you fail to plan, you are planning to fail!”
The last thing I’d like to touch on in regards to self defense is the element of common sense. Often times, people find themselves in an altercation that could easily have been avoided. Yes, there are times when you have no choice to defend yourself. However, sometimes walking away is the best course of action. If you find yourself in a situation where taking the high road isn’t an option, wouldn’t you rather know what you’re doing in a bad situation? Self Defense Training has saved lives across the country, and it may just save yours or a loved ones.
If you’d like to try out our #1 Self Defense Class (Kickboxing) for Free in Monongahela, PA, click below and fill out the form. We’ll get in touch with you and discuss everything we have to offer.
Kickstart My Self Defense Journey with a Free Kickboxing Class