Self-Defence for Women WHY?
I believe that Self Defence for women is extremely important. Why? I hear you ask. Well! Because in an ideal world you always have a hero to protect you the reality however is rather different.
Over the last 5 years I have been teaching at the Saltash Academy and have come into contact with several ladies who have been victims of crime and abuse. It is the results of an attack or threatening behaviour that pushes them into coming through the doors to ask for some kind of self-defence for women. The abuse however is not just the physical problems but the mental scars that it leaves, the lack of confidence and self esteem that are all too apparent in the female victims of crime which remain long after the physical scars have healed.
In one instance I met a young lady who months after being attacked could not go out alone during the daytime and had virtually become a recluse. It was only when a friend said he was going to Kenpo she came with him and asked to be taught self-defence. The tremendous effort it took for her to attend class with her friend cannot be underestimated but this became the start of her healing process.
On the other hand women who come to class to learn self-defence skills but have never been a victim of crime have said they find their confidence levels and environmental awareness increases almost from lesson one and over time find themselves proceeding on a journey months/years later they would never have dreamed possible.
Women walking through the door for the first time whether victims of crime or not do not always want a male instructor and finding other females in the class greatly alleviates the anxiety for them. (For many years martial arts studios were male domains). Teaching self-defence for women means you have to get into the students personal space and this can initially be a shock to the students system. To be grab or held in a bear-hug by a man you barely know is for new students especially off putting so a females confidence is built on gradually and if she prefers a female tutor them we can and do accommodate that.
Saltash and Bere Ferrers Academies have several women training at both and a female instructor at both.
Mr. Mark Wilkins has been teaching Women’s Self-Defence since 1999 when he opened the Saltash Academy so if you feel you would like to make new friends and learn new skills why not have a go?
