Myths Debunked

The self defence system does not require any pre training, physical ability or size. In fact, that’s exactly what the art of self defence is for; it is for people who lack the physical strength or muscles, but they have more agility, co-ordination and speed, which can often make up the differences and more. You don’t need any experience or pre-training, you don’t need to be fit or flexible, it is for everyone; every woman, man and child.

It gives you a better chance during an emotional or physical attack and a sense of empowerment and confidence in your day-to-day living.

‘A few research studies have shown that taking a self-defense class may be able to reduce the incidence of violence especially on women.’ – ‘Self Defence for Runners: Tips and Tools to Stay Safe – How to Defend yourself.’ www.verywellfit.com

A meta study in 2016 undertaken by the European Parliament Policy Department concludes: ‘these studies provide powerful evidence that where Empowerment self Defence offers a range of strategies women and girls are able to use them to avoid/limit/escape violence. Self Defence is not always successful, but it offers tools and increases capacities in those who take it up.’ – P 30, “knowledge and Know-how: the Role of Self Defence in the prevention of violence against women.’ Directorate-General for Internal Policies, Policy Department Citizen’s Rights and Constitutional Affairs.

Its in fact the opposite, if you fight back, a lot of the times, you will be able to get out of it or less hurt. An extensive study by the Department of Justice in US found that those who resisted versus those who did not resist and concluded that those who resisted were NOT hurt more severely – Opray Winfrey podcast ‘How to protect yourself against an attack’ dated 3rd March 2020.

The Empowerment Self Defence Global organization claims, ‘women and girls do frequently resist violence and it does not increase the risk of injury.’ – www.esdglobalselfdefense.org/what-is-esd

Your instincts are an excellent tool to help you, but it is always useful to know a few more tools. Like everything else, you can try to teach yourself, but it is a lot faster and more efficient if you are taught using the techniques and mindset that have been developed over centuries and adapt them to the contemporary settings. If you have never played chess, how do you expect yourself to win a chess game?

It’s better to have the power and not need it, than to need it and not have it.’ – Nadia Telsey, Former Co-Founder, Director at Breaking Free, Oregon Sexual Assault Task Force and Centre for Anti-Violence education speaking and explaining the Fundamentals of Empowerment Self Defence Global.

You can if you want to but you don’t have to, as the techniques are relaxed and we do not do weight training or any form of muscle building. The body will be drilled and trained for combat but it does not require you to become masculine. The training, however, will increase your fitness and muscle tone, it will also improve your reflexes, flexibility and co-ordination.

Of course you can! Femininity is not synonymous with submission nor is masculinity with resistance. Women can express their femininity, wear glamorous dresses or stilettoes and be autonomous and have a strong voice at the same time. If they choose to be feminine and glamorous, so be it and the sheer fact that they can embody all that that they choose and still be assertive and confident is the essence of gender equality.