We often hear about self defense exercises. However, it is difficult to understand what they are. Are they martial arts movements? Are they difficult to perform? Is it really useful in everyday life? Can we practice at any age? We will answer all these questions in this article. At the end, your vision of self defense will have radically changed!
Table of Contents
Why is it useful to practice self defense exercises in everyday life
A great activity to stay in shape
As soon as we reach our thirties, our body changes;
- Our muscles are less powerful
- Our joints become increasingly rigid
- Our heart gets tired more quickly
- Our breath gets shorter as soon as we make efforts
Yet, someone who practices self defense ages more slowly, because it is a great sport activity!
To be ready to react to danger at any time
When faced with an accident or an aggression, it is often necessary to react immediately. Acquiring defense or evasion reflexes can be achieved through self defense exercises. In everyday life, it is crucial to have reflexes to react to all dangerous situations.
Self defense exercises help build self-confidence
Fear always occurs when:
- We are confronted with an unknown situation
- We are subjected to violence from someone bigger than us
- We are overwhelmed by too many people
self defense exercises allow us to react better when faced with danger, because they allow us to be more calm and confident.
Live longer thanks to self defense exercises
Practicing self defense exercises increases lifespan. Why is this? First of all, because as they say “sport is health”. Indeed, it is beneficial for your muscles and your heart, just as any regular physical activity. Also, it helps reducing stress. Last but not least, it allows you to defend yourself in case of an attack that threatens your life.
Self defense exercises: your age is nothing but a number
Self defense exercises are not the same as martial arts exercises
is important to make the difference between martial arts and self defense exercises. Certainly, the movements are similar, but as you will see, there are some points of divergence.
Self defense is based on practical cases
In self defense, we base ourselves on practical cases, because it is important to know how to react at the right moment. On the contrary, martial arts are more “theoretical”, that’s why it takes more time to master them perfectly.
Self defense exercises are useful throughout life
When you gain reflexes from self defense exercises, you keep them for life. You can practice them at home or in the gym, even alone, so you don’t “lose your touch”.
Everyone can practice self defense exercises
Although not everyone can do a splits like Jean Claude Van Damme, everyone can practice self defense exercises. You can start at any age, even after 60.
The Tools We Use to practice Self Defense Exercises
Practice self defense exercises with our own body
Our body is our best ally against danger. Self defense exercises teach us how to use our body and its formidable weapons, among which:
- The palm of the hand
- The edge of the hand
- The elbow
- The knee
- The teeth
- Even the forehead
Les outils que l’on peut utiliser en self défense
When we practice martial arts, we learn to handle weapons like the katana or the stick. However, we do not have these weapons at hand in everyday life, especially when we walk in the street. In a critical situation, anything you can have at hand can be considered a weapon. Your purse or cell phone can be useful in self defense exercises.
The most important tool in self defense: self-control
Your self-control is your best ally in the face of danger, because an attacker who sees that you are not afraid will hesitate to act. Moreover, you are more efficient when you control the emotion that can paralyze you. In self defense, we teach you how to:
- Control fear
- Keep calm under any circumstances
- Point out your opponent’s weak points
How to learn to practice self defense exercises
How difficult is it to learn self defense exercises?
These exercises are fairly easy to learn at any age. However, watching tutorials on the internet is not enough to know how to defend yourself against a more muscular and younger opponent.
Practicing martial arts VS practicing self defense exercises
Some people think that attending martial arts training is like practicing self defense exercises. But it is not so simple. For instance, in judo, before learning how to do throws, you learn how to greet, how to fall correctly on the tatami, how to move, and even how to count in Japanese!
Where should I learn self defense exercises?
A self defense course is more pragmatic, because you dive into the subject. From the first session, we learn how to face an opponent who attacks us, notably:
- The best position for your feet to keep your balance
- Which parts of the body to watch out for
- How to protect yourself from an attack
At what age can you practice self defense?
At thirty, forty, or even sixty years old, it is never too late to learn to defend yourself. With the right technique and reflexes, you can beat a physically larger opponent. In fact, precise and well-placed strikes are more important than age or muscle mass. This is the advantage of self defense exercises.
