No one can predict when they might become the victim of a physical attack. If you watch the news or read the newspaper regularly, then you hear about attacks and even murders all the time.
This is why it’s important to do whatever you can to be prepared in case an attack was to occur.
One way to prepare for possible future attacks is to learn self-defense, and here is why you should learn self-defense and practice it as often as possible.
You should learn self-defense and practice it regularly because then you have the ability to protect yourself – and maybe even save your own life.
It’s easy for a person to take a self-defense class, excel in it, and then forget everything that they learned because if you don’t use a new skill regularly, that’s what happens.
That is why you need to not only take a class to learn self-defense initially, but you also need to ensure that you practice the skills regularly and remain up to date with tactics.
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How to practice self-defense once your class is over
You can practice self-defense on a regular basis by choosing a partner who is as interested in maintaining their new skills as you are.
While taking the class, you will likely meet some new friends since it’s necessary to work closely together to learn physical skills, so you two should discuss possibly getting together once the course has ended.
If possible, you should gather up a group of four or more people so you can all practice once or twice on a weekly basis.
You might even opt to take refresher classes online and practice through certain videos.
A lot of this material is free, and it can keep your skills fresh and ready to use at any time.
What if a person freezes up and doesn’t fight back during an attack?
It can be frightening to think about a possible future attack, especially when you will likely have no idea when that might happen.
You might imagine yourself failing to react and possibly becoming injured or worse in the process, but this would likely not be the case.
Don’t allow your imagination to get the best of you, as most people, especially those with self-defense training, will quickly jump into action if they’re ever in a situation where they need to fight off an attacker.
Becoming an instructor is a great way to keep your skills fresh
If you have considered becoming an instructor for a self-defense class, know that doing so would be very beneficial.
Not only would you be helping others to learn to defend themselves, but you would be keeping your own skills fresh simultaneously.
You don’t even have to teach an official class, as you could teach one in your basement or garage.
However, you might find that you’re interested in becoming a certified instructor, which is an excellent way to get paid to maintain high-quality self-defense skills.
Can self-defense moves really fend off an attacker?
Yes, self-defense moves really can fend off a prospective attacker, as you don’t need to be a black belt in karate to effectively fend off an assailant.
Most attackers don’t expect their victims to have advanced fighting skills, so you might take them by surprise, causing the attack to end as suddenly as it started.
While not all attackers will be deterred by a person who knows self-defense, many of them will be, especially if they feel that you have the potential to overpower them.
Should a person use self-defense skills on an assailant who has a gun or other weapon?
It is important to be especially cautious when an assailant has a gun or another type of weapon because there is an increased possibility of sustaining a serious injury or even getting killed.
Learning self-defense skills also includes the ability to effectively diffuse a situation verbally, so hopefully, you can put those skills to use to get the assailant calmed down enough to put away his or her weapon.
While most attackers are very unlikely to put away their weapons, you never know when some good deescalating skills might come in handy.
Where to find a self-defense class in your area
If you aren’t sure where to find self-defense classes in your city or town, you should perform an internet search that can help you locate possible classes.
However, there is the possibility of finding an online class where you can learn the same skills that you would learn in person.
So, you need to determine if you would prefer to take a class online or in-person and then take things from there.
Is self-defense the same as karate?
Self-defense and karate are two totally different forms of fighting, as self-defense is a combination of basic moves to thwart an assault from an attacker.
On the other hand, karate is an Asian system that teaches you unarmed combat that people earn belts for depending on their specific skill level.
Karate often takes years to excel in and master, while self-defense can be learned in one course.
What exactly does self-defense entail?
There are different types of self-defense, both unarmed and armed.
Some of the moves in unarmed self-defense include martial arts moves that could render a prospective assailant unconscious depending on the situation.
Armed self-defense includes the use of various weapons to make self-defense moves even more effective, such as batons and even everyday items that you might choose to weaponize, such as car keys, flashlights, and utensils from your kitchen.
Children and self-defense
Although most parents want to refrain from teaching their children to handle situations through the use of violence, self-defense can help children to ward off possible kidnapers in some cases.
As long as the parents explain when the child should and should not use the skills that they learn, then there shouldn’t be a problem with the child bullying other children or otherwise using the skills inappropriately.
If it is ever discovered that the child has been using the skills inappropriately, then the parents need to deal with their child accordingly.
Can you get hurt in a self-defense class?
If you’re hesitant to take a self-defense class because you’re afraid that you might get injured in the class, then you shouldn’t be afraid.
You should be more afraid of not knowing self-defense and being completely helpless if you’re ever in a situation where you’re physically attacked.
Although people in self-defense classes sometimes sustain very mild injuries, these injuries usually just include soreness from using certain muscle groups that you’re not used to using.
What is the average cost of a self-defense class?
The cost of a self-defense class will vary significantly, depending on the exact type of class you opt to take.
On average, you can expect to pay about $30 to $40 an hour for a self-defense class.
However, you might even luck out and find a free class, or if you start a new job that entails working with potentially dangerous individuals, then you will learn self-defense as part of your pre-employment training for no cost.
How long do self-defense classes last?
A basic self-defense class lasts about 2-3 hours and during this time period, you will learn approximately 20 different moves that can help you to effectively fight off an attacker.
There are more advanced classes that you can take. This is because some attendees complain that they’re not able to adequately practice all the necessary moves in such a short period of time; however, it is possible to go home and practice the moves.
Most facilities only offer basic classes, so if you’re interested in more advanced classes, you may have to go elsewhere.
How long does an advanced self-defense class last?
Advanced self-defense classes will vary, and you must check with the local classes that are being offered in order to inquire about the time.
However, on average, you can expect an advanced class to last about an hour or two longer than a basic one.
If you’re going to be taking an instructor’s class, then you can expect it to last even longer.
An advanced class might teach you how to use weapons during your combat and allow you more practice time, but every class is different.
One-on-one self-defense classes
If you’re not interested in taking a group self-defense class because you want the instructor to focus on teaching you some serious self-defense skills, then this is certainly possible.
While a one-on-one self-defense class is typically more expensive, individuals are able to learn more effective skills and they’re able to participate in much more actual practice.
If you’re really interested in learning self-defense for life, then you might want to take an individual and a group self-defense class and see what you learn in each.
As you can see, it’s very important to learn and maintain adequate self-defense skills because you never know when they may help you save your own life or the life of another person.
As long as you ensure that you practice the skills that you learn regularly so that you don’t forget them, you will be able to easily use them should an unexpected attack ever occur.
You can stay fresh on your moves by practicing with friends, family, or even with videos online.