-Awareness

[Dana Sheets]

On Robb's threat on a self-defense class, Rich posted these four concepts:
-Awareness
-Avoidance
-Evasion
-Resistance (if the first three fail)

Since Rich was kind enough to present such a simple frame, I'd like to look at each of the elements one at a time as they pertain to women in training and women's self-defense.

This thread will be awareness.

There are several key issues that come immediately to mind - some are clichés, some are urban legends, some are my own experiences.

a) Awareness in the dojo. Since most of the people who post on this forum train in a structured or unstructured group - there are shared experiences on this topic. This can be things like

- the sancity of the locker room - is it clear that when women are in their locker room that no men are welcome, the door is not to be opened and that there are no "peep holes" where the women are observed by unwelcome eyes.

-touching of the women during "sanchin checking" by others (male or female). Len Testa posted a series of guidelines awhile back that I think in general are very good - though some I don't agree with because I find them to be limited to what an instructor may need to do.

-language used on the floor. This can include rude jokes, comments, come-ons, put-downs, etc. Or things like "you hit like a girl" or "can't you hit any harder than that"

-going to and leaving the school. Often, at the end of class, students feel very good due to the endorphins released by exercise, does this euphoria interfere with student's awareness on their way to their cars, or walking home, etc.

b) awareness in daily life

-this is obviously a broad topic. But there are many things women have to distract them from awareness. We wear shoes that force us to be conscious of the terrain (i.e. heels don't go well over grates or gravel). We wear dresses that may be pushed around by the wind. We choose to wear long or "done up" hair, but take us out on a windy day and our vanity will distract us from our environment by messing up our do.

-PMS. Like it or not, belive it or not, PMS is distracting. Stomach cramps, headaches, lower back pain, making sure facilities are availalbe for freshening up, etc. Once a month we've got something else distracting us from the present moment.

-Children. This one goes for any parent or any caregiver to children. When we're out and about in the world children a big awareness vampires. They clamour to be the center of attention - at such times perhaps we're not as observant of the environment, not as observant of the people around our kids.

gotta run...
Dana

[RACastanet]

Dana: Thanks for the mention. Below is the simple outline of the SD class I put together a few years ago. Under 'awareness' is the color code I picked up somewhere. I believe it was created by Jeff Cooper but I could be wrong. The bottom line is to stay in code yellow, a basic awareness of what is around you. Code black is for when you must resist and defend yourself, a state we do not want to get into.

"Safety on the Street"

Overview and Statistics

Mindset
-The decision to resist: Make it now!
-Have a plan
-The 'Chemical Coctail' and fight or flight

- Self Defense Principles
Awareness
-Trust your instincts
-Condition White, Yellow, Orange, Red, Black!
-Don't be prey

Avoidance
-Move away from potential danger zones

Evasion
-Distance is your friend
-Tueller drill, variation scenario

Resistance
-Everything is a weapon
-Use the gas pedal in your vehicle

The 'Second Crime Scene'
-Never go there
-Do not allow yourself to be restrained
-Resist immediately

The 'Force Continuum'

-See Chart (it would not copy here)

Assaults may begin at any point on the Force Continuum, and may predictably escalate from low forces to high forces, or jump to high force encounters without warning. The self-defender must be prepared to deal with assaults with the level of force appropriate to the situation, and recognize when the level of force required has changed. The prepared defender will have alternatives in place for low force, intermediate force, and high force encounters.

Techniques (hands on)
-Keep it simple
-Do not use a closed fist - an open hand is better
-Target soft things: eyes, throat, ears, groin
-Use anything available as a weapon

References and other recommendations
-DeBecker: "The Gift of Fear"
-Strong: "Strong on Defense"
-Ayoob: "In the Gravest extreme"
-Quinn: "Real Fighting", "Bar Room Brawling"

RAC 05/23/00

Regards, Rich