Have you ever taken any sort of self defense class?

[Anonymous]

Particularly a self defense for women class.

I spend a lot of time alone at night, and I feel like maybe I should take a class, but I don't know if it will be helpful or worth my time/money.

[AJElectric]

In my opinion you won't be able to kick most guys asses but you may or will be able to strike and retreat. The first problem i learned with people is to strike with intent. Some cant, or just doesn't come naturally and is not a first instinct approach when confronted, even with a life or death situation. Even men, who can talk all the shit they want, when it boils down to it, fear may make you react in a way that will hurt you without the proper training or mindset. During my years as a marine and training in MCMAP and understanding the warriors mindset.

Adequate training can give you the proper tools to make the best decisions in the least amount of time. A key example is instant reaction techniques that will give you methods to react to hostile situations without even thinking to give you briefly the essential time to further act accordingly. In your case you would want to learn techniques that will force your opponent to react to his wound or injury taking his mind off you for a split second to give you the essential time to make your next move. In my opinion your next move would be to retreat and call for reinforcements. Trying to stick around as a women could lead to bad consequences due to the size and strength of males over women. A sneak attack will work only once and even though you may hit him in the nuts or heel palm strike him in the nose or look to punch for the throat. These are for the most part not take downs or knockouts, rage is a powerful thing, so wasted time striking an opponent may result in him ignoring the pain that u caused him to hurt you.

But to summarize this training can give you the tools to protect yourself. Even teaching you how to avoid danger and the conflict entirely. If you don't practice and prepare tour mind then you may be setting yourself up to be a statistic. Most of a fight is mental just remember that, (mind over body) being a warrior is a mental thing, not physical. The physical body is just a tool of the warrior.

[Anonymous]

I know this question is aimed towards the ladies, but I have some words to say.
Coming from someone who spends a lot of time with law enforcement, (I'm not old enough to be hired on as an officer, so I am an intern) and going out on patrol and such. I am a firm believer that people should know how to defend themselves. Especially women. Most guys can defend themselves by simply using their brute strength, but women, usually being smaller than men (Whom are the main threat towards women) need to use more technique and speed to defend themselves. The only way to learn technique is from a class. So, yes I think you should take a few classes of self defense.
Imagine if you where attacked (let's just say by someone who planned on sexually assaulting you). If you had payed the money and spent the time learning how to give yourself the chance to escape then you would give yourself the chance to prevent it. But, if you just ignored the opportunity to learn how to defend yourself then you won't have the opportunity to save yourself from that pain, agony, and emotional duress.

[Asker]

i know it seems good in THEORY which is why i'm considering it, but my question is does it ever really WORK?

[Opinion Owner]

Of course it does.
You won't be asking yourself, "Did it work?" while you're watching some creep get arrested after you kicked his ass when he tried to drag you into some bushes.

[Asker]

yeah but its just that i feel like self defense classes will mostly teach me how to get out of specific situations/holds. What if I'm not in that specific situation? What if I had a few beers? What if I'm in heels? Will I even remember my training in a desperate situation?

[Opinion Owner]

Well, you can't expect to become a hand to hand combat expert by going to 3 classes. Of course, you'll learn how to get out of certain holds during certain classes, but if you learn how to escape from 3 situations during a class, you practice what you learn effectively and often, and you attend 9 classes, then you know 27 holds and how to get out of them. The more you learn the more you can escape from. Actually, you can take certain techniques that you have learned and apply them to different holds, such as pressure points, delicate points (groin and such), and weak movements, and escape from more holds than you know.
You never know, in the class that you choose to attend they might teach you how to defend yourself when intoxicated by inducing the feeling of intoxication. Also, every little bit of experience helps, even when you're drunk.
They'll teach you how to defend yourself in practical ways. Girls wear heels, so in a female self defense class they will probably teach you...

[Opinion Owner]

how to defend yourself in heels, dresses, and various other situations.
If you practice your moves enough it will become muscle memory and would be able to do it in your sleep. Whether or not you remember it when the time comes, it is completely up to you and how you act under pressure. Most likely, if you learn how to defend yourself, it will become second nature when you're put in the situation where you need to defend yourself.

[isabellemarss]

Yes! But it wasn't a formal class. My instructor was awesome, though, and taught me a lot. It's indispensable. You should definitely try taking self-defense. The most important thing it could teach you is presence of mind! It mentally prepares you to detect potentially dangerous situations and how to react properly.

[springocelot]

I took a week-long woman's defense class in college. It taught us these vulnerable points plus some other techniques.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZNJwxJXr2jc

It was helpful. But for a short class like that you have to practice regularly so you won't forget.

[sovetskii13]

I took a martial arts class for several years. Turned out very helpful. It was a great workout which helped me gain muscle, endurance, and a great body in general. I got into several fights throughout my school years, and knowing martial arts helped me take all of them to the ground. Haven't been attacked on the street but I am not afraid of it and feel ready to defend myself if it ever happens. It's a great confidence builder. So, I think it's worth taking martial arts.

[Anonymous]

I think it's worth it. When I was young, I was a real fighter. I fought everybody, boys and girls. I was known for never losing a fight. So one day I was play fighting with my tiiiiny friend, I thought I could take her out easy because she was soooo tiny. This girl was a black belt in karate. She got me into some mad hold I couldn't get out of easily, and she blocked me very well. It was only playing, but she was my most difficult fight and she probably would of won if we carried on.

[Anonymous]

Once. It was a part of a friend's birthday party. Can't really remember much of it now. I think for it to be effective you have to really practice those moves and keep up with it.

[atomique]

I took Kendo. Although I don't think it counts as self defense

[StoneHearth]

I have taken classes.

[LightHearth]

I do have taken classes