Gedanate

Laura wrote to ask the best way to get into martial arts and learn to defend herself.

I’m 5′10″ and around 160lbs. So I’m not small, but not large. I want to study a good self defense form of martial arts that can be applied in the real world (street fights). I’ve heard Kenpo karate is excellent for this. What do you guys say.
If it’s important I’m a [...]

When a woman kicks a guy in the crutch, does it matter to her that her kick could damage him for life?

Self defense in the movies has nothing to do with self defense in real life, and martial arts have little to do with real self-defense either.

If you have never been attacked for real, it is easy to build up all kinds of scenarios and to worry about them. But asking a million ‘what if’ questions does not help. This is what does help…

What can you do when you don’t have a school or a teacher and you want to defend yourself?

What is the best way to learn how to hit the body’s vulnerable points accurately and affectively?

What do you think is the best self defense weapon?
I am planning to make a gift and was thinking about buying any of self-defense weapons. I know that they are all designed to give you time to escape, but anyway, what is the best? Pepper spray doesn’t look as a serious option, maybe a stun [...]

I am interested in learning boxing for self defense.
Is it hard for someone with no fighting experience to learn how to box?
How effective is boxing in a real confrontation, and how hard is it to learn?
Where do I go now to find out more?

Learning to breakfall safely is your first step on the long road to learning Aikido, Hapkido or any throwing martial art such as Judo or Jujitsu.

My young children and I would like to learn a martial art for self defense. What is the best martial art for this?
If there are no martial art classes in my area, does anyone know any step-by-step instructions on line somewhere?
We just need to learn how to get out of a bad situation [...]

(In the U.S) I’m young and I’ve been thinking about having my Mother and Sister take a self-defense course and then have them carry a non-lethal weapon (for self defense) in case anything were to happen.
What are some self defense weapons other then tasers and stun guns? and how much would a self defense course [...]

Packing a firearm is good self-defense any place it’s allowed, but what to do when you travel abroad to places where guns are frowned upon?

Some police officers just love playing with their expensive toys, unfortunately.

What is a good self defense method for someone with no experience in martial arts, and who is somewhat unfit.

An Aboriginal man has burst into flames after Australian police shot him with a taser gun.
The incident occurred at the Goldfields Aboriginal Community in West Australia, where W.A. police officers had been trying to arrest the intoxicated man for petrol-sniffing. (Drug and alcohol abuse is common in these remote villages where there is little employment [...]

You don’t have to be in a fight for breakfalls to be useful. They can save your life under many circumstances.

A man who died after being Tasered by Australian police had been stunned up to 28 times, according to reports made public today. But the acting president of the Qld Police Union, Ian Leavers, said he wants an end to public speculation, and that the coroner’s inquest should be allowed to run its course.
Antonio Galeano [...]

There is a big difference between real self defense and choosing to be in a fight. Real self defense is when you cannot get away, and you are in fear of your life.

Picking a martial arts school and getting started are big first steps in what is a whole new lifestyle for most people. Here’s what worked for me over the years.