Self defense training for women is essential for a young woman’s personal safety. Self defense training is not martial arts training. The practice of martial arts is a lifelong training regime of ancient philosophies, physical training, and learning self defense techniques. Self defense training for women is a brief course that includes a variety of martial arts techniques to defend against an aggressor.

Self defense training for women, especially young women (girls) that are of high school and college age. Self defense classes are available through many women’s advocacy groups, private gyms and health clubs, and community organizations. Books and DVDs can also offer tips on self defense training. Self defense training can help women protect themselves from unwanted aggression and sexual assault. Short classes are often taught free of charge by local law enforcement agencies as well as at colleges and universities.

Learning how to respond to personal threats and aggressive attacks is one of the most important things young women need to learn. Personal self defense and being prepared means practicing awareness everywhere you go and no matter what you do. Unfortunately we do not live in a “nice” world where everyone has regards and respect for each other. A woman chance of being assaulted in her young life is approximately forty percent. The risk is particularly higher for high school and college age girls.

Self defense training is not martial arts training, although it could be. Self defense training for women’s training classes varies from a few classes to learn defensive techniques to several weeks of intensive training and practice of learned skills. As a lifelong student and instructor of martial arts in several disciplines, I recommend a minimum eight week training course that meets twice a week. That is sixteen training and practice sessions. Practicing self defense moves and techniques is essential to be effective in defending yourself in an assault confrontation. There are approximately only twelve moves and techniques that should be learned for a woman to adequately protect herself against a hostile attack.

Fear is the biggest obstacle to overcome when taking self defense measures for self protection. Most women, as well as some men, simply cannot inflict physical harm on another person. It does little good to receive training in self defense techniques if the training is not put to practice. With practice the student gains self confidence using the newly learned self defense techniques. With increase confidence fear is diminished. Controlling or at least diminishing fear is absolutely essential if you are going to use physical action to deal with a hostile attacker.

That is why it is essential to take a self defense course that is long enough in duration to not only learn the techniques of self defense but to practice them as well. A defensive response to physical aggression must become automatic, without thought, only action. That doesn’t mean that there will not be any fear to an assault. Fear to aggression and taking action against aggression is natural, but with adequate training the fear can be overcome and you can respond to protect yourself. In many of these altercations the perpetrator is poorly trained to deal with a victim that can provide a defense.

Practice of self defense techniques must be part of your physical fitness routine following any self defense training course. The moves, routines, and exercises taught in the training course must be practiced regularly to retain the learned skills of self defense. Practice can be with the aid of a DVD on self defense training or with another individual that has received self defense training.

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