Jujitsu for a one day public self defence class

[Alan Armstrong]

Wondered if Jujitsu or any grappling art for that matter is practical for a one day self defence class aimed specifically towards the public sector?

[JusticeZero]

The actual source of the techniques won't matter, because all you can teach effectively in one day is a couple of the tricks to escape common opening situations - wrist grab release, and maybe one or two basics for stability and avoiding being tackled as easily. Very general things on easy concepts.

[TJ-Jitsu]

The actual source of the techniques won't matter, because all you can teach effectively in one day is a couple of the tricks to escape common opening situations - wrist grab release, and maybe one or two basics for stability and avoiding being tackled as easily. Very general things on easy concepts.

This- as a general response to all self defense classes...

[Lupin1]

I'd focus on teaching only a few actual moves, but do a lot of discussion on common sense self-defense. Very few people can learn something and drill it one day and then most likely never touch it again and be able to do it under pressure in an actual self-defense situation.

If you are going to do a one day self-defense class-- focus mostly on common sense prevention. Don't go alone to seedy areas. Travel in groups. Don't leave your drink unattended. If you're alone and get nervous, pull your phone out and call someone, let them know exactly where you are and be talking to them (attackers are less likely to attack you if they know the person on the other line will hear it and call for help). Carry a whistle attached near the collar of your jacket and blow it to scare the guy off. If someone does try to get you, run (while blowing your whistle) the second you get a chance-- don't stay and try to fight them.

Most attackers are looking for easy targets. The riskier you make yourself to attack (talking to someone, making lots of noise, traveling in a group in a well-lit area, etc) the less likely they are to try it.

Tips like these are going to do a lot more to keep untrained people safe than training a bunch of moves.

I also think stuff like this should be required learning in the first few weeks at any school that claims to teach self-defense-- for both men and women (although the male version would focus more on deescalating people wanting to fight them as they're more likely to have people wanting to start fights with them rather than being randomly attacked [not that that doesn't happen]). The best self-defense is preventing the fight in the first place.

[LLLEARNER]

Agree 100% Lupin. Tactics like you discuss are often the best way to prevent something from even happening. It is best to have a confrontation not even begin than to try deescalating or fighting. Other options include finding a buddy if you are alone, ask the building security to escort you to your car type stuff.

[Alan Armstrong]

Interesting to see the preventative methods of self defense than the actual physical aspects.

There was one debate going on in a self defense class, that I attended. The question was put forth to the potential victims;

"Would you give your money to a person that is threatening you?"

The women answered "Yes"

The teacher continued asking the questions "What ifs"

As people were starting to wonder what was happening. The teacher was trying to get the point across that eventually you will say "No" to threatening demands, so why say O.K at the very first threat?

Because once you say yes to giving up your money, then next you will be asked to give up your jewelry and so on...

that could lead to sexual demands; a situation that is escalating with each demand.

Was mentioned earlier about deescalating a situation.

The idea the self defence instructor was getting at, was to not give in to demands, somewhat like governments have learned from past experiences.

He wasn't saying to never give in to demands, just to put the idea across that to fight in the beginning, might be the best option in the long run.

[TJ-Jitsu]

Interesting to see the preventative methods of self defense than the actual physical aspects.

There was one debate going on in a self defense class, that I attended. The question was put forth to the potential victims;

"Would you give your money to a person that is threatening you?"

The women answered "Yes"

The teacher continued asking the questions "What ifs"

As people were starting to wonder what was happening. The teacher was trying to get the point across that eventually you will say "No" to threatening demands, so why say O.K at the very first threat?

Because once you say yes to giving up your money, then next you will be asked to give up your jewelry and so on...

that could lead to sexual demands; a situation that is escalating with each demand.

Was mentioned earlier about deescalating a situation.

The idea the self defence instructor was getting at, was to not give in to demands, somewhat like governments have learned from past experiences.

He wasn't saying to never give in to demands, just to put the idea across that to fight in the beginning, might be the best option in the long run.

I think thats a relative statement. If people actually are attempting to mug you, that very well may be all they want. To suggest that just because someone is partaking in one criminal action he now is willing to do everything else has no evidence to feasibily support it.

Best you can do when someone demands valuables for a mugging is throw the wallet/valuables one way and run the other. He'll go after exactly what he wants.

[Tempest]

The teacher continued asking the questions "What ifs"

As people were starting to wonder what was happening. The teacher was trying to get the point across that eventually you will say "No" to threatening demands, so why say O.K at the very first threat?

Because once you say yes to giving up your money, then next you will be asked to give up your jewelry and so on...

that could lead to sexual demands; a situation that is escalating with each demand.

Was mentioned earlier about deescalating a situation.

The idea the self defence instructor was getting at, was to not give in to demands, somewhat like governments have learned from past experiences.

See, this sort of thing...

Look, I know that a lot of people don't really understand this, but violence, even criminal violence is a form of communication. When that instructor asked his original question, all of the women gave the correct, common sense answer. It sounds like, instead of reinforcing this and guiding the discussion in to boundaries and WHEN use of force is acceptable to each student, the instructor questioned them until they began to doubt their own common sense.

Now, I wasn't there, so I could be misinterpreting from what you said, but when teaching, especially self defense to people with little direct experience with violence, it is important to reinforce the things they are already doing correctly so they don't feel as much cognitive dissonance and as a result experience additional freezes during actual situations.

[Alan Armstrong]

I agree with Tempest.

The self defence instructor was coming from a military type background. That seemingly had a large gap of understanding for regular folk.

The class was comprised of knife attack and defence for the most part. Thing he was trying to convey that there are many types of situations, that need proper judgement of how far a person should escalate defensively.

For a nurse for example, defending against a patient. Then up scaling defensive situations from there.

Points he was trying to cover, was to react accordingly to situations, without needing to over react to situations, where people could be harmed by using more force than necessary, or not reacting at all.

[bushido_man96]

The actual source of the techniques won't matter, because all you can teach effectively in one day is a couple of the tricks to escape common opening situations - wrist grab release, and maybe one or two basics for stability and avoiding being tackled as easily. Very general things on easy concepts.

This- as a general response to all self defense classes...

I agree here as well.

I think the big thing is like what was mentioned by Lupin. Teaching good situational awareness up front is the best way to start. From there, when you get into the physical aspect of the class, very basic stuff, and a number of reps.