2022-09-23

2022-09-23, Friday

Tonight I taught a basic self-defense class at AT Still University. I was told to expect 30-40 participants, and arrived to find 3 waiting, but the group grew to about 15 by the time I got started. That’s fine - the smaller group was easier to work with. I began with a standard disclaimer - I’m not an attorney, a doctor, or a magician, so it’s up to you to use what I teach you legally and safely, while understanding that there’s no magic “always works” technique.

Next we talked about strategies for managing confrontations before they happen: Understanding the nature of criminal violence, awareness, de-escalation, and using your presence and your voice as deterrents. Then we skipped ahead to dealing with the aftermath of a confrontation: How to preserve evidence, who to talk to, and who not to talk to. Then we talked about how to manage the confrontation itself: Narrate the scene, make it clear that you’re not going to be an easy target, etc. Finally, with the time we had left, we practiced some basic escapes from simple wrist grabs. Everyone seemed to enjoy the presentation, and I closed with a shameless plug for my karate classes at the YMCA.