"Rape Escape" system

[man thing]

Spirit At Choice:

Ever heard of the Bao Way? I believe thats what its called. Sensei Bao introduced it to us at a Cuong Nhu meeting in Chatanooga: its a series of videos that deals with such subjects. They seemed to be very well-made, with maybe some influence from ju-jitsu.

[SubGrappler]

I am VERY busy

Just remember that what ever it is that you choose to take up is going to take time and dedication to learn. If anyone tries to sell you a technique that you can learn overnight, dont bother with them.

Make sure that you can train against resisting partners too- if you learn how to escape locks, holds, and from being on your back, work the techniques first on non resisting opponents (say for like 50 reptitions a day for no less than a few weeks). Then, ask the person to resist you- to not let you get up, not let you get away from them, or not put them in a submission hold.

[Fenris-wolf]

Good on you for making an effort - and being strong enough to survive your experiences in the first place!

Pretty much what everyone else said. Personally I really think it's important a woman learns how to take a punch (other kind of assault). It's amazing how even a "tough" guy flinches when they are first hit properly. And as SubGrappler said, a resisting partner! It's scary how many women take "self-defence" courses and then try and demonstrate... "No, not like that, grab me like THIS!" *fear*

Good luck - the fact you're taking this first step is a great sign!

[Spirit At Choice]

Thanks to all.

Man Thing, I looked up the Bao Way. I will look at that further. If I'm going to learn from a DVD I may as well keep it in the Cuong Nhu family.

Sub Grappler, "VERY busy" was in response to carrying a weapon. With my lifestyle of go-go-go, I would eventually relegate a weapon to my glove box. Part of what keeps me busy is that I train daily. It sure does take a fair chunk of time!

Fenris-Wolf, you are kind to acknowlege my strides. It is one of those things that is hard to admit, primarily because I don't want my past bad experiences to define me. Those experiences have lost their hold on my daily life, but under stress old patterns re-emerge.

That's why I feel the need to reinforce and reinforce and reinforce the SD training. Neurologically speaking, I have "hard wired" neural pathways that were forged in childhood. (We all do-- just some of us were raised in a way that forged healthy stress coping!) Stress responses travel those pre-determined pathways naturally (for me that means dissociating, "blacking out," compliance).

So (as a neuropsychiatrist once explained to me) I have to "re-wire" my brain by creating new neural pathways. If I stop using the old neural pathways, they will disappear, just like an unused path will soon succumb to local flora and disappear.

[Blackbeltblonde]

When asked to teach other girls self defence techniques.. I refuse. And here's why... simply showing someone how to do something offers a sense of security that the person does not really have. I talked to a friend in NYC who was shown how to back kick a guy in the knee.. and when she got attacked.. did it.. wrong.. and missed... She was so upset!

So, when someone asks for tips, the tip I give them is to do martial arts.. not join some 6 week course.

The most dangerous students are the ones who know the techniques but don't have the muscle memory to pull it off, or the training to know when NOT to use something.

~BBB

[Spirit At Choice]

When asked to teach other girls self defence techniques.. I refuse. And here's why... simply showing someone how to do something offers a sense of security that the person does not really have. I talked to a friend in NYC who was shown how to back kick a guy in the knee.. and when she got attacked.. did it.. wrong.. and missed... She was so upset!

So, when someone asks for tips, the tip I give them is to do martial arts.. not join some 6 week course.

The most dangerous students are the ones who know the techniques but don't have the muscle memory to pull it off, or the training to know when NOT to use something.

~BBB

You make excellent points. You are absolutely correct in everything you've written. But...

A good self-defense course does more than teach a few techniques. It also empowers a woman; it gives her permission to fight back-- effectively or not, granted. But that "false sense of security" might also be perceived as an increased sense of confidence, which in and of itself is a detterant to many attackers, who primarily seek out the easy victim.

No, there is no substitute for martial arts training. And even having been at it for a whopping six months , as opposed to your six-week SD training, I know that up against a skilled fighter or determined attacker, I'm toast. No two ways about it.

[NothingsShadow]

A good self-defense course does more than teach a few techniques. It also empowers a woman; it gives her permission to fight back-- effectively or not, granted. But that "false sense of security" might also be perceived as an increased sense of confidence, which in and of itself is a detterant to many attackers, who primarily seek out the easy victim.

No, there is no substitute for martial arts training. And even having been at it for a whopping six months , as opposed to your six-week SD training, I know that up against a skilled fighter or determined attacker, I'm toast. No two ways about it.

I couldn't agree more.

A lot of people see Self Defence training as a way to learn how to get away for a variety of attacks, a way to defend your self against anything. A seriously dedicated martial artist has definitely placed themself on this path but for most people, the overwhelming majority of people, a life dedicated to martial arts isn't the life for them. This being the case everyone still has the right (and unfortunately in a lot of cases the need) to know something about how to defend themselves.

The short courses you are all sceptic about are aimed at the majority of the non MA people of the world to do exactly what "Spirit At Choice" has said (well not all of them do, but the good one's do). A good short self defence course shouldn't teach you a range a techniques, it shouldn't really teach you any real techniques (that the average Joe won't already know), it will teach you to be confident, to feel that you have a sporting chance if push came to shove and very importantly to show you what it really feels like to get attacked so when it happens your not shocked by it.

I agree "Spirit At Choice" you are taking a step well and truly in the right direction, my Sensei has always told me "there are no victims only volunteers", don't be a volunteer, hold your head up high, and my biggest advice would be to seeks someone out who will teach real down and dirt basic self defence that has nothing to do with technique and everything to do with a state of mine that we all have but most of don't know that we have let alone how to use it.

[Sohan]

I wanted to second the BJJ program. Very effective by my understanding.

Respectfully,

Sohan

[danbong]

I also think the BJJ would be excellent to learn for rape defense. In Sacramento some youngster tried to rape a PE teacher who did BJJ and he ended up running for his life.

[Cat Nap]

I never bother with these things. Seen them, heard about, couldn't care less about them. The only valuable training you'll receive is in daily practice once or twice a week with a teacher, not a two or day long seminar. Seminars are just for show, not real instruction. Save your money.

Laura