Your Newspaper - Your Health - When the Best Offense is Self Defense

Posted on: November 24, 2010

When the Best Offense is Self Defense

Women's self defense isn't just empowering - it can be lifesaving, too

By Jeff Schnaufer
CTW Features

Not too long ago, a young woman was walking down a street in New Jersey on her way to her apartment complex. As she walked, a car passed her, turned around and parked across the street. A lone male emerged from the car, following her into the complex.

But she was ready.

As he attacked her from behind, she turned towards him and delivered a roundhouse kick to his leg, sending him to the ground in pain. Realizing she had some sort of martial arts training, the attacker ran - hobbling and cursing - away.

"This art is life-saving," says Heather Bridle, 32, who recalls the tale from one of her students at the Kung Fu San Soo academy in Tarzana, Calif.

From college students to college professors, women from all areas of life are finding peace of mind - and fitness - in self-defense classes. And while there are no official statistics, some self-defense classes are even reporting an increase of enrollment of women.

"In my experience there are about two to three women per 10 men, where in past years there may have been one female for every 20 males," says Khadi Madama (Sijo, which is a Chinese martial arts title received at instructor level), 59, of Toms River, N.J.

Women have dozens of self-defense styles to learn from - including street smarts and martial arts.

Women are taught to jab, elbow, palm heel and kick to soft tissue at areas such as nose, throat, top of the foot, knee, instep and groin. And some techniques are more damaging than others.

"Spiked heels work better thrust into an eye socket than they will on a man's shoes," Madama says.

While techniques may differ, many classes teach similar philosophies.

"Being mentally and physically prepared will increase a woman's options and can lead to a successful escape," says Amy Bond, 41, a self-defense instructor, third-degree black belt in Okinawan Shido-kan karate, from Horseheads, N.Y.

"We teach that there are three ways to defend yourself: Prevention, use of your voice and physical retaliation," Bond says. "Prevention is the preferred method, don't get yourself into a situation, you don't have to get out of it."

A situation can be halted without your knowledge, simply by how you carry yourself, Bond says. "By presenting a confident image to the world and using a strong voice, you tell a potential attacker that you are someone who is not easily controlled, which is what they look for in a victim."

Indeed, Bridle says self-defense/martial arts classes can not only help women defend themselves, but they can build "confidence, responsibility, pride in themselves and what they can do, and in essence a continual build on their human character."

And don't forget the fitness benefits - enhanced by hours-long classes featuring cardio workouts, punching and kicking bags and sparring.

"We work out a lot!" says Asiah Medawar, 19, from Hesperia, Calif., who initially took a self defense class to be able to defend herself after late night classes on her college campus. "Workouts are four hours a day, three days a week. We start off by running two miles, go inside and do core workouts and then we do bag drills or gin in the ring and spar."

Medawar's classes, sponsored by the local police department, focus on boxing and teach straight punches, hooks, uppercuts and jabs. Her stamina also has gone up.

And one extra bonus: "I really enjoy boxing," she says. "You get all your frustrations out."