The number of attacks on police officers and emergency service personnel is increasing every year, and the issue of security in general is becoming more and more important. How should individuals protect themselves against attacks? A self-defense course helps to be able to effectively use the right tricks in an emergency and is recommended for every age and fitness group.
But which course is right for whom? And how can you recognize good courses? We offer some help in this article.
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What types of courses are there?
The principle “not all SV courses are the same” runs completely through this topic. Many self-defense courses are led by martial arts instructors, so there is definitely a sporting component here. However, an experienced instructor will also have tips for you if you need more than 10 seconds for the 100 meters. Other courses, on the other hand, are run by special SV instructors who can deal with any target group anyway.
| Who organizes courses? | Often, SV courses are hosted by martial arts clubs in karate, judo, taekwondo or Krav Maga. In such a course, you can assume that the trainer will incorporate a lot of knowledge from the respective martial art. |
| Which martial art? | There are no “good” and “bad” martial arts, because all were once created for self-defense. However, there are significant differences in the execution of the techniques. Krav Maga is the easiest to learn and was developed to quickly prepare people for emergencies. |
| What is the duration of the course? | The courses also differ greatly in scope. While in one-day crash courses only handles for typical situations are taught, in extensive courses the trainer also teaches you tricks for prevention and de-escalation. In addition, the knowledge that you can help yourself in an emergency improves your self-confidence and allows you to keep a cool head even in dangerous situations. |
You can recognize good self-defense courses by 3 points
A good SV course stands and falls with a good trainer. The belt level alone is not decisive, but the overall picture.
| 1. Black belt | In the sports Karate, Judo, Taekwondo and Kickboxing the trainer should have at least the first black belt, because he can acquire this only with intensive training within several years. However, whether you learn from a 6th Dan or an 8th Dan makes little difference, as both have been practicing martial arts for decades. |
| 2. Experience & Association Activities | Also look at the experience of the instructor and if possible his activities in clubs and associations. For example, if it is a forty-year-old police officer with a fourth black belt in Taekwondo and professional training as a SV instructor, then you can assume that this man has been intensively engaged in realistic self-defense in his life. |
| 3. Reviews & Customer Opinions | Another clue for a good training course are almost exclusively positive reviews on the internet. If it is a halfway known trainer, you will surely find one or the other anecdote in forums about him. The same applies to a large club with a long history. Here, too, you will find experience in forums or social networks. The size of the club is not necessarily related to the information content of the courses, but more to the local interest in martial arts. |
In summary, this means that you should take a closer look at the following points:
- Martial arts experience of the trainers – martial arts, belt degree, training courses
- Professional career – police, security service, similar
- Other activities – trainer in martial arts club, competition successes
- Reviews on the Internet and in forums
Are there courses for special target groups?
There are special SV courses for groups of people who find it more difficult to defend themselves.
- Self-defense for women is offered by most organizers. Women of all ages like to take advantage of these offers because they are usually inferior to their male counterparts in terms of pure physical strength. On the other hand, they have the advantage of being able to move quickly. The same applies to children.
- Self-defense for seniors is gaining in importance for demographic reasons alone. Fact is: There are more and more old people in Germany. Old people are slower and usually have little strength. Courses for seniors therefore focus primarily on being able to send attackers fleeing with a surprise at the right moment.
The advantage of these courses is that the trainer(s) can specifically address the particular characteristics of the group, because normally all people have the same disadvantages. In addition, training among like-minded people is usually more informal and stays in the mind longer.
When is one “ready”?
That depends on where your goals lie. In a few hours, you can be shown holds that you can use to defend against a choke hold. However, these tricks are useless against a haymaker. For this you need new tricks. One-day crash courses target only certain situations, because time does not allow it otherwise. For an effective self-defense in various situations you have to plan a few dates. Many organizers offer courses with increasing difficulty. An example would be that in the first hours simple punching and kicking techniques are taught and in later dates then the release from grips and ground fighting.
Our tip: Talk to the trainer about what you want to achieve, then he can give you specific help.
FAQ
| Are there courses organized by the police? | Yes, the police offer general SV courses as well as courses for children and seniors. In terms of registration and implementation, these courses are usually no different from those offered by other organizers. Just contact your regional police station, there are courses in all major cities. |
| What does a self-defense course cost? | The costs vary greatly between the organizers. Clubs usually take only a small expense allowance of 20 to 40 euros and hope for new permanent members. SV courses from well-known instructors, on the other hand, can cost up to 100 euros per date. That makes 300 to 400 Euro per month for a weekly appointment. Police courses are usually in the middle price range. |
| Can women/seniors also attend a normal SV course? | Of course they can. Many tips and holds in general self-defense courses are recommended for almost all age groups. In addition, course participants are usually mixed in terms of strength, fitness, agility and skill level, so seniors, children and women can also participate without any problems. |
| Does a self-defense course improve fitness? | Rather less. Self-defense courses are not a sport in the true sense of the word. Rather, they show you how to defend yourself most effectively with the means at your disposal. However, if you hardly do any sports, then it is of course an improvement. Furthermore, you can use a martial art with sufficient strength and endurance much better. |
| The nearest self-defense course is too far away. Can I defend myself in another way? | In principle, the carrying of self-defense weapons is possible, as long as you have reached the age of 18. However, find out beforehand which weapons are allowed in public in your area. Shady stores outside the EU also generally import prohibited weapons into Germany, which makes you liable to prosecution. In addition, you can get an insight with online courses. However, it does not replace training and a practice fight. For these online courses to be of any use, there must at least be a basis on which to build |