Every training hall is full of men with only a few ladies amongst the lower grades, so obviously instructors tend to teach fighting methods aimed at the needs of their male students. This creates a dangerous sense of security amongst female martial artists. More applicable training is required to help those who need it the most-the average female student who has to live under the constant threat of rape and sexual harassment from people close to her.

Rape can be divided into two...

ashiharakaicho

Closer to home, lets have a look at a technique series given as an example by a well respected Karate instructor on her website, which is dedicated to self defence workshops (not Karate instruction). To me this illustrates why assuming that your clear expertise in a traditional art makes you an expert in self defence might get your students killed.

Right. Photo 1 shows the attacker grabbing her one wrist with both of his hands. Her response is as follows: Her first technique is to...

ashiharakaicho

Self Defence Nonsense

Ask nearly any martial arts instructor whether his art is superb in a self defence context and you will get “absolutely” as an answer. From Tae Kwon Do sports practitioners who leave their arms dangling by their sides in sports competition to Tai Chi instructors who have never sparred in their life and move at a snail’s speed, everyone thinks they have the answer to a life-or-death street confrontation.

And they fully believe in what they are doing...

ashiharakaicho