Women’s Self Defense Course:
After Action Review By: Andrew L. Patterson Patterson’s Martial Arts held a Women’s Self Defense Course on January 18th and 19th, and then again on the 26th. This was an 8 hour course designed specifically for women to heighten their awareness level, and train them in a few basic self-defense concepts and techniques. The goal here was not to create expert Martial Artists. Our goal was to increase the self-confidence of these women, give them effective options in case of an attack, and to teach them how to be vigilant. Overall, this course was extremely successful. The Instructors sustained bloody noses, a good bruise or three, and had a great time teaching the Ladies. The Ladies had a blast. We started the course with a “Risk Self-Assessment.” This is a 25 point questionnaire which walks one through possible risk behavior. After the completion of the questionnaire, there was a discussion on what behavior was likely to increase their risk profile, and what could be done to shrink that profile. After the Risk Self-Assessment, we went over the Crime Statistics for Medford, and Jackson County. We discussed how someone could research actual crime facts, rather than rely on the news media. Everyone in the class was excited to learn that they could go to a web-site, or the courthouse and find out what our crime rate was in any given area. It seemed to personalize the curriculum to their needs. After a brief arm-up and stretch, we began with actual Martial Arts Training. The Instructors began teaching the ladies how to punch correctly, and gave specific instruction on where to punch. We covered many different applications of the punch, kick, elbow and palm-strike. This was all applied on the punching bags. The real fun began when we (the Instructors) put the pads on. Basically, on the 18thand 19th, we (the Instructors) got abused. We went step by step through basic attacks that they could perform in especially vulnerable areas of the male anatomy. As the training progressed, so did the level of intensity. There came a time when the ladies being attacked (and I mean we were going after them!) responded so quickly and violently that the instructor attacking could not continue. Nor did he generally want to. We varied our attacks and made it random, and for the most part, the ladies responded very brutally. It was great! On the 26th of January, we reconvened the class for the final 4 hours of training. We began with our warm-ups and stretching, and then moved into a re-cap of the entire curriculum we had previously covered. After an hour or so of taking abuse, we moved to take even more abuse. Wrist turns and leverage based strikes and breaks are a great tool for women. Typically, women are smaller and not as physically strong as their attacker. We covered this by informing them that a criminal is going to be bigger, stronger, and get you at a time when you would least expect it. This is why vigilance and awareness are two absolute keys in protecting yourself! But since your attacker is going to be larger and stronger, leverage is a great tool to use. Thus, we were thrown hither and yon, our wrists were torqued, and our joints were pressurized into submission. We covered 8 hours of improvised weapons, Taser use, pepper spray usage, use of force laws, and use of deadly force laws. This course really stressed that confidence and awareness are going to be your best tools in defending yourself. We stressed primary goals (create distance and alert people), how to lessen your risk profile and how to be the most effective with your striking if you had to. We wanted to ensure that all because you take a course, or were enrolled in Martial Arts, does not mean that you can be successful in defending yourself. It is a step in the right direction, however, to reduce your chances of being attacked, and to increase your chances of being successful in your defense. If you have any questions, please contact us for details! We are located at 352 Second Avenue, Gold Hill, Oregon-97525.
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Is “Women’s Self-Defense” Necessary?
Andrew L. Patterson Godan/Head Instructor-Patterson’s Martial Arts I will be conducting a Women’s Self Defense Class in January. This is a class designed to help Women become aware of their surrounding, gain knowledge of weapons improvisation, and take some skills home that they can practice to become proficient in self defense. It is not a cure all, NOT a class to guarantee success in defending oneself. It is known by my Students, and will be made known to any future Students, be it in my Women’s Self Defense Class or in regular Karate Classes that Martial Arts takes a LONG time to become proficient in, and all because one knows Martial Arts, that does not mean that they can effectively defend themselves, or win in a hand to hand combat situation. Martial Arts training provides the person defending themselves with Martial Training, and thus a distinct advantage against the person being the aggressor. These things are apparent to myself and my Students. The question remains, however; is Women’s Self Defense even necessary, relevant, worth-while? The short answer is yes. Women’s Self Defense is important, relevant, and effective for the target audience- Women. Women and men, for the most part, differ in strength and physical ability. Women’s Self Defense Classes should, first and foremost, identify that, and work with the perceived disability of the female in a physical confrontation with a male, or even a larger female. In our classes, we first identify what risks may be in the Lady’s daily routine. We provide a written Threat Assessment Form that each Student fills out, then we discuss identified habits and behavior that the Student may be doing, and ways to become more aware of the situation, and ways to lessen their daily risks. Our Instructors then train the Student in Basic Self Defense Techniques. Then we get right into the Student beating the Instructors, using proscribed, basic self defense techniques. The point is to practically apply these few techniques, to the (well padded) Instructor. This will help the Student feel what it is like to use these techniques and how effective they can be in an intense situation. Other topics we cover is improvised weapons, safe use of non-lethal/less-lethal weapons, “What-if” situations, and escape and evasion. This is all catered for women. Still, some people are of the opinion that providing training specifically geared for women is useless, even dangerous. I completely disagree. Providing a Self Defense Class especially for women is important because there is a special need, and abilities which women have that men do not, and these abilities need to be capitalized upon! I think that providing Women’s Self Defense Courses to first help specifically women become aware and more able to defend themselves, and also generalized Martial Arts Instruction to a mixed Student Body to help all people become better individuals is absolutely necessary. I think that neglecting either of these aspects of Martial Training is dangerous and even irresponsible. The point of Martial Arts is to live better through Martial Arts. Not having to ever defend oneself, but having enjoyed the healthy benefits of Martial Arts is my goal as a Kenpo Karate Instructor for my Students. I never want to hear of, or see a fellow person being hurt in an assault. But if a person is assaulted unjustly, I simply LOVE to hear that they successfully defended themselves using Martial Arts and “sent the assailant home with a rupture”. Patterson's Kenpo Karate is a compilation of various Martial Arts, centered on American Kenpo Karate. It adds TaeKwonDo for Distance Fighting, JiuJitsu for Ground Fighting, and many other styles for philosophical and traditional values, giving the Student of Patterson's Kenpo Karate, an ecclectic view and practice of Martial Arts. Patterson's Kenpo Karate is effective training for any venue of competition, or for any person who seeks to expand their knowledge of Martial Arts. Patterson's Martial Arts has entered into a Partnership with Fort Knoxx Gym and Fitness to add MUCH more to the training options for the Students! We will offer an MMA Program, CrossFit Training, Brazillian JiuJitsu, Boxing, a full Gym, and more hours! We hope o interest you in coming down and trying out the program for a wee FREE of charge. You can email us at [email protected], Or you can come by the Studio @ 352 Second Avenue-Gold Hill, Oregon-97525. Hope to see you here!!!!!
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AuthorMy name is Andrew Patterson. I compiled the curriculum for Patterson's Kenpo Karate, and am the Head Instructor and Owner of Patterson's Martial Arts. I am also theState Representative for the International Kenpo Karate Academies. 541-292-9784 Archives
April 2017
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