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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We are moving forward with the expansion of our School. I have been working on a deal with Ft. Knoxx Gym and Fitness, and it looks like we will be making signifigant additions here in the next couple of weeks. Not only that but I am working with Mr. Hicks on our Distance Education Program. We are going to be offering White through Black Belt Training via DVD's. The package will be a DVD and a manual for each Belt. We are going to be offering an affordable way for people to experience our style of Kenpo WORLDWIDE! We are going to offer a valuable alternative to the "Belt Factories" and "Degree Mills" out there. I think that people are going to flock to our Distance Education, as it will be cheaper, and will offer more for their money! The way one would test is through video. They would videotape themselves, send that data to us, we would grade it and either pass, or fail them. If they are to pass, we would list their names and rank on our site and send them a Certificate of Promotion. I think that there will be a TON of interest in this!
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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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