Stats Canada tells us that, shockingly, over one-third of Canadians have been physically or sexually assaulted since the age of 15 – statistics which certainly encourage women in particular to seek out self-defense classes. But although a short term self-defense course may certainly help, enrolling in a Karate class like ours may be a better option for several reasons.
Karate classes will help you develop the ability to defend yourself from a physical attack should you ever need to. And, equally important, you will also learn a variety of skills to help you gain confidence and awareness of your surroundings, along with the physical ability to fend off an attacker if necessary.
That being said, my advice is always to run away from an attacker if you can. If that’s not possible, you’ll be able to put to use such self-defense techniques as shown in the knife-attack video below.
Karate classes will help you to develop the confidence to handle extraordinary situations calmly, while standing your ground. When you give off an air of confidence, you’re less likely to be seen as an ‘easy target’ and therefore less likely to become the victim of an attack.
The first thing you will learn in this Dojo is how to block attacks. You can learn punches, kicks and other techniques, but without blocking first you won’t get a chance to use them.
In Karate, THERE IS NO FIRST ATTACK. We never start a violent situation but seek to resolve it in as compassionate a way as we can.
“A punch should stay like a treasure in the sleeve. It should not be used indiscriminately.’ – Chotoku Kyan (pioneer of Shorin-ryu Karate)
Self defense at the Orillia Academy of Karate: Stacie Theis defending a knife attack by Gerry Ramsay:
