8 Myths about Self-Defense Training

*Never assume anything about your attacker. Never assume they are untrained or stupid. No one is going to attack another person unless they think they have a clear advantage to "Win" unless they are whacked out of their mind on something which presents other challenges like the op mentioned one of his posts.

I am very thankful for my self-defense teacher. Instead of fancy moves or wishful thinking, he taught us things that are hard to face, for instance, that being able to defend yourself doesn't necessarily mean you won't be injured (he told us a story about a woman who grabbed a knife blade to prevent the attacker from piercing her heart or lungs, and ended up with lacerated hands but ultimately survived the attack). We also learned legal issues, for instance, the fact that an attacker can sue you if you injure him/her while defending yourself, as crazy as that is.

I still like kickboxing and martial arts based workouts though. I don't pretend they make me invincible, but I like releasing some stress by imagining I am thumping someone's butt while I burn some calories. Beats a treadmill.

I am very thankful for my self-defense teacher. Instead of fancy moves or wishful thinking, he taught us things that are hard to face, for instance, that being able to defend yourself doesn't necessarily mean you won't be injured (he told us a story about a woman who grabbed a knife blade to prevent the attacker from piercing her heart or lungs, and ended up with lacerated hands but ultimately survived the attack). We also learned legal issues, for instance, the fact that an attacker can sue you if you injure him/her while defending yourself, as crazy as that is.

I still like kickboxing and martial arts based workouts though. I don't pretend they make me invincible, but I like releasing some stress by imagining I am thumping someone's butt while I burn some calories. Beats a treadmill.

THIS!

Fabulous teacher you have and most excellent post too!

Thank you for sharing this info. My kickboxing teacher (karate) also teaches the COBRA self defense system, he incorporates some things into the regular class, but always says the goal is to get away, not deliver an *kitten* kicking.

That is the hardest thing to get most men to realize. Men often want to "whoop *kitten*." In my classes I not only teach the techniques, I also teach the legalities of when "self-defense crosses the line to assault."

As we've seen in recent very recent past, doesn't this depend on state specific laws with regards to the use of deadly force as well as responsibilities of registered martial artists (ie the concept of your body as a deadly weapon?)

Either way - thanks for posting. I'm usually for the avoidance and being careful/aware method - but have taken a few self defense courses and martial arts styles. I don't feel overly confident, but I'm glad I took them.

"Registering yourself as a deadly weapon" is a fictitious, movie thing. There is bill before congress that would force people to wear a label that details the amount of awesomeness they possess.

[Insert egotistical awesomeness joke here]

Radical *kitten* Demolishing?

Rape Aggression Defense ... but yes, that too.

One time I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.

One time I shot a man in Reno just to watch him die.

So... were you two dating? Or...

So I could cut my chances of being attacked, by not knowing anyone? I've have been in many serious situations all of which were with men that not only did I not know personally, but I had never seen before in my life. The people who actually touched me were men I was serving at restaurants.

Thank you for sharing this info. My kickboxing teacher (karate) also teaches the COBRA self defense system, he incorporates some things into the regular class, but always says the goal is to get away, not deliver an *kitten* kicking.

That is the hardest thing to get most men to realize. Men often want to "whoop *kitten*." In my classes I not only teach the techniques, I also teach the legalities of when "self-defense crosses the line to assault."

As we've seen in recent very recent past, doesn't this depend on state specific laws with regards to the use of deadly force as well as responsibilities of registered martial artists (ie the concept of your body as a deadly weapon?)

Either way - thanks for posting. I'm usually for the avoidance and being careful/aware method - but have taken a few self defense courses and martial arts styles. I don't feel overly confident, but I'm glad I took them.

"Registering yourself as a deadly weapon" is a fictitious, movie thing. There is bill before congress that would force people to wear a label that details the amount of awesomeness they possess.

[Insert egotistical awesomeness joke here]

Thank you for sharing this info. My kickboxing teacher (karate) also teaches the COBRA self defense system, he incorporates some things into the regular class, but always says the goal is to get away, not deliver an *kitten* kicking.

Self-Defense is NOT about toe-to-toe “Chuck-Norris-Walker-Texas-Ranger” karate fighting.
Self-Defense is the utilization of fundamental, easily learned verbal and physical techniques, employed to effectively dissuade an attacker and leverage a 5-second window of escape.

“Tae Bo,” “Cardio-Kickboxing” and “Aerobics” are NOT forms of Self-Defense training, and believing that they are is an excellent way to get killed.
Aerobics classes and videos are great ways to get into shape and look good in a bathing suit. However, they are fundamentally worthless when it comes to fending off a sexual assault or abating a life-threatening confrontation. The only way to learn to Self-Defense, is to study combative techniques from a qualified instructor, and repeat those techniques until they become second nature (more specifically “muscle memory”).

Self-Defense is NOT about “karate chops and groin kicks.”
True Self-Defense encompasses the development of a personalized system of self-protection that incorporates proactive planning, situational awareness, verbal skills and reflex-based muscle memory development that deter attackers and discourage criminal assaults.

Self-Defense is NOT about which martial art style is the “bad-assiest.”
Self-Defense is specific and paramount training designed to develop skills and muscle memory around approximately 10 to 20 core, easily-to-learn techniques that can be employed to establish a 5 second “window” of lead-time on an attacker, so you may escape danger and avoid being victimized.

Self-Defense is NOT about being an 'action hero' on a mission to save your hometown from renegade evildoers and zombies.
The purpose of Self-Defense training to protect yourself from unlawful attacks, assaults, rape and physical confrontation.

“Magic Touches,” “Secret Moves,” “Killer Chi” & “Vulcan Never Pinches” are myths, and completely f*cking asinine.
Despite what is portrayed in the media, real-life fighting is raw, chaotic and in most cases, absolutely terrifying (even for those with years of training and experience). The core fundamentals of practical Self-Defense are verbal deterrents and physical techniques used to thwart attacks by targeting vulnerable areas of your attacker's anatomy. Not "whoopin' *kitten*."

“If I'm ever attacked, I'll just shoot them.”
This sentiment absolutely infuriates me, as it is dramatically naive and potentially catastrophic.

Utilizing any type of weapon during a confrontation is extremely difficult and dangerous. “Shooting” someone is much easier to say, than it is to do. Once the shot is fired, your actions, methods and decisions will be judged not by you; rather they will be judged by homicide detectives, district attorneys and juries who will likely not see the circumstances in the same “light” that you do.

If you doubt me on this point, ask George Zimmerman how he personally feels about the inane idea that one should “just shoot your attacker. It's your word against a dead man's.”

The biggest issue with this dumbass myth is that weapons do not have a conscious nor any sense of reason. “Fight or flight” will force you to be nervous and flood your body with adrenaline, causing you to make mistakes. Those mistakes can you ruin your life, and/or the innocent lives of others.

Thinking you don't need Self-Defense training because you own a gun, is like saying that you don't need butter knives, because you own a chainsaw.

“What are the odds I'll ever really need Self-Defense training?”
1 out of 3, according to the US Justice Department's reports on criminal assaults on US citizens. Another shocking statistic that of the women attacked, 80% of them will know their attacker, personally.