What To Look For In A Self Defense Instruction Company Offering A High School Self Defense Program:
When considering a self defense program for high school students it is important that you choose the right service provider. REDZONE suggests the following questions when considering which instructional company you select to teach your high school students.
1) Does the company teach Reality Based self defense or Martial Arts? While martial arts are an excellent activity and great source of physical activity, they do not address what happens in real life situations ie. Psychology, emotions and realistic attacks on the street. Does the instructor have some real world experience or back ground working with real criminals?
2) Does the material presented place some emphasis on how to avoid danger? Most martial arts and sport based programs teaching self defense jump right into physical and violent techniques without a discussion of the legal, moral and ethical ramifications. Everyone is culpable under the law to behave in legal manner, even though you have the right to defend yourself, what you do and how far you go can result in you being the one arrested.
3) Does the company teach the student verbal skills and how to avoid becoming involved in a physical conflict? Does the company address the aspects of Detect, Defuse and Defend? Detect a possible conflict, attempt to defuse an altercation, and defend of all else fails.
4) Does the company teach defense techniques that are based on gross motor movements? In a real conflict, under adrenal stress, the student will only be able to utilize gross motor movements to defend themselves. Fancy kicks and punches will not work in a real physical altercation or attack.
5) Does the program use real life ways the student will encounter a violent situation? Traditional and sport based martial arts do not utilize real world scenarios and dynamic situations that closely mirror real life. It is important to teach real life holds, grabs, attacks and groundwork, on the street there are no refs and no mats on the ground. Life is not a competition.
6) Does the company offer a self defense program that anyone, no matter their age, physical condition or skill level, can master the skills being taught. If the techniques offered cannot be mastered in 5 minutes by everyone, all the time, then those techniques are too complicated or unrealistic. A real situation lasts 5 – 15 seconds and takes place in the space of a phone booth, extravagant techniques are unrealistic in a real world situation.
7) Does the company teach a comprehensive program that includes pre-conflict, conflict and post-conflict training? There is a lot more to self defense than the physical altercation, what lead up to the situation, how do you deal with the situation and what happens after the situation? If this entire continuum is not addressed then the training is not complete.
Click here for more information about the programs offered REDZONE for High School Girls and High School Boys.
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