Self-Defense

As a Martial Artist, I have thought of SELF-DEFENSE a lot! I could talk about it for hours or days. But I'll try to condense this for the sake of any reading it.

Throughout our life, we will ALWAYS be around those who seek to drag us down. The trick is learning how to deal with situations. Let’s discuss three situations.

#1) Disrespectful talk: Whether you are a teen at school or an adult at the store, you will deal with people talking smack. You have only to pay attention to your waiter or waitress and how people interact with them to see disrespect talk.

As much as we may want to punch a disrespectful person in the face (and I think they deserve it), it is not our duty to “solve” the issue with force. We have to have other ways for dealing with them. I cannot give the perfect formula for dealing with it. Trial and error will help. If you are a teen, talk to an adult if you need some help. IGNORING IT WILL NOT MAKE IT GO AWAY!

#2) Unwanted touching: Very important! Your body is yours and yours alone. It is NOT your spouse’s, mom’s, dad’s, sibling’s, or friend’s. If you don’t want to be touched. SAY SO! Here’s how I suggest handling it for teens.

• First, tell them firmly. “Don’t touch me!”

• If they continue to touch you, tell them more forcefully and tell and adult. (Also tell your parents when you get home. They want to help and it will give you someone on your side who knows what's going on.)

• If it continues, the last step is up to your parents. I can only tell you what I tell my own children: If the adult won’t or can’t help and the kid keeps touching you, punch them in the face. (If you are a parent, let your teen know exactly what you’d like them to do. Maybe walking out of class to the principal’s office or something.

• PARENTS! Please talk to your teens about adults touching them and their right to tell them to stop. So many parents have pushed obedience with authority that they do not know how to handle it.

#3) Physical attacks: FIGHT!

If you're a teen, aim to the face and head as it will end the fight faster. (Attacking the stomach doesn’t end the fight very quickly. Making a fight take longer means the attacker has more chances to strike back. You WILL get hit.)

If you're an adult in a life/death situation, aim for vital areas that cannot be strengthened in the gym. (Eyes, ears, throat, fingers, groin.)

Always remember that you have a RIGHT to defend yourself. You are worth it. You are capable. It is necessary!