Abused Woman in Hiding Calls For Help

Here's another Letter to the Editor, asking for advice on finding a woman's self defense course in Sydney, Australia - which is where I live.

Dear David,

I am living in Sydney and have just moved here. Recently I fled a very violent relationship which has caused me to go into hiding here in the city. I have changed my identity in order to remain safe and I am well aware of precautions I can take to remain safe and have employed these.

However, I need to feel safe and confident within myself, and I know that learning to defend myself in hand-to-hand combat will give me that confidence.

The man who I was involved with was very large to say the least, very strongly built, so being able to get out of holds and basically just protect myself is something I feel I have to know.

If you could please let me know of any of your classes in the Sydney CBD area or close, or could recommend another form of self defense which might help me, please contact me.

Thankyou so much for taking the time to read this.

Sincerely,

(Name Witheld by Editor)


Dear lady,

Aikido is an effective self-defense, but it is not what I would call hand-to-hand combat.

Most martial arts offer some skills that would be useful to you, but the thing you need the most is probably self-confidence as well as practical self defence.

A short course in self-defense "tricks" should help give you back some confidence. Then regular training in a style of martial art which appeals to you will open doors to your mind in a social manner, and should help you mentally, physically and even in your spirit.

Use your Yellow Pages to fing "Martial Arts" and visit half a dozen different schools before you make a decision. (I also think women's self defense is handled better by women instructors, but I may be biased about that.)

I sincerely hope you can make a new life away from your abused past.

Best wishes,

David.

Note: I never did receive an answer to the email I sent to this abused woman back in 2004. I even emailed her again quite recently, but I suspect she doesn't use that email address any more. Lady, if you ever read this, I still think of your email from time to time, and I hope things worked out okay for you.