Year 2
Semester 1
Module 4-Week 1
Adult Self-Defense
While they are doing the exercises, your patter is any or all of the following:
1. Review what they have learned so far in terms of soft skills, not physical skills. TPM, Soft Targets, How Bad Guys Choose a Victim etc.
2. Discuss a local crime and analyze it for them and with their input. This is important as their analysis of the crime will change through the module.
3. Preview what is going to happen in this class.
Read this first
The skills and drills you are about to learn and teach are TOTALLY DIFFERENT from the other modules.
You can invite the students to come to class in their regular clothes provided they are similar to what they would wear to the gym or to school.
No jewelry. Be careful of nails scratching.
Your presentation of this is CRITICAL. Students must work as school zone speed unless you say otherwise.
This is a different world from martial arts, and one of the key success factors is your ability ignite the energy in the class.
You want to play the fine line between creating adrenaline in the class and scaring them.
Much of that has to do with your word patter, volume and tone.
Watch This Next
Kids: Self-Defense Class Orientation 1
To the class:
We can only teach you self-defense if you promise to be careful when working with a partner.
When do I need Self-Defense? You need self-defense when a person makes you feel:
- Uncomfortable
- Afraid
- Fearful
- Uneasy
- Threatened
- When someone tries to touch you.
Self-Defense does not always mean fight back.
Three Types of Self-Defense
- Verbal
- Mental
- Physical
You’re going to learn all of them in this module.
When a dangerous situation happens, you must be able to:
-
- Think your way out
- Talk your way out
- Fight your way out
The first two will get you out of 99% of bad situations.
Self-Defense also means run away, using words and screaming, and preventing yourself from being in a bad situation.
When you are with your family and/or friends
- Stay in the group. Bad guys like to get you away alone so it’s easier to take you.
- If you get lost, look for an adult female for help. An adult female with children is even better.
- Do NOT engage in speaking with an adult you don’t know. Do not get close to the adult. Use distance as your defense by running away.
Adult: Self-Defense Class Orientation 1
To the class:
“Why is self-defense the most important skill set we teach?
Because you do not want to be a victim of a criminal. You want to make sure you’re never separated from what you love most, your life. This has to be a major priority. More important than your possessions and your social life.
People insure their cars, iPhones, and houses, yet never spend a dime on ensuring their own safety. So you are doing what most want to do but never do. Congratulations.”
Each class during warm-ups is the perfect time to remind students of what they’ve learned so far. TPM is a great example. Look for local crimes you can break down to illustrate TPM.
Time-Place-Method (TPM)
Cell Phone Demo
Passive vs Fighting Stance
Teach this and follow it with the stance sequence, spearhand and elbow 2.
We all know fighting stance, but in a self-defense situation, do you want to signal the bad guy that you’re ready to fight? No. We want that to be a surprise like stepping on a land mine.
That’s why we use a passive stance. It looks like we don’t want to and are not ready to fight, but we are.
3. Video
Fencing Arm for Gauging Distance
Life Skill: First Aid
Download First Aid
Adult: Self-Defense Class Orientation 2
Define Self-Defense
People typically associate self-defense with a physical altercation or fight. We approach self-defense in a more holistic way.
- If you are not where an attack could happen, that is self-defense.
- Avoiding conflict is self-defense. Learning how to use your voice and words to persuade or dissuade is self-defense.
- Developing a Teflon ego (insults just slide off) that is not concerned about being insulted or verbally attack is self-defense.
- Learning to recognize and avoid potentially dangerous situations is self-defense.
- Staying fit so you can physically defend yourself or run away is self-defense.
- Staying away from bad people is self-defense.
- Reading and educating yourself is self-defense.
Kids: Self-Defense Class Orientation 2
Self-Defense: Threat Levels
RED: Imminent threat. You are in danger and must take immediate action to get away and out of the situation. This is the most dangerous level.
YELLOW: Medium threat. Try to remove yourself from the situation because you may get hurt.
GREEN: Low threat level. This is the same zone we spend most of our time in. Just maintain your awareness.
Who Can Hurt YOU?
Anyone! Bad guys can be anyone!
- Family members
- People you know
- Strangers
- Friends
- Animals
When you look at people, think anyone could be a bad guy and hurt you, so always be careful. You don’t treat people like a bad guy, you just have your Spidey Sense on at all times.
The What If? Game
At any time, with anybody, think:
“What if they tried to grab me right now?” What would I do?
“What if this person decided to attack me?”
What would I do?
“What if he tries to steal my bike?”
What would I do?
How Bad Guys Choose Targets
Review Skills
Review
TPM
Passive Stance
5 EKB Elbow strikes
How to Push
Elbow 2 for Self-Defense
Eye Gouge-Spearhand Street Fight Demo
Tell the kids that this is ONLY to be used if they are being abducted or risk getting a serious beating.
Action vs Reaction Demo
You can have the students do this by pairing off. The bad guy uses his fingers like a gun. The thumb is the trigger.
Student 1 points index finger gun to the head.
Student 2 disarms just like it was a real gun. This is a fun and effective way to illustrate Action vs Reaction.