What Fitness Centers Should Look For In A Self Defense Program By: Tim Rochford

Do not simply rely on the name of the organization that provides the training program. It is not the organization name that is doing the instruction, it is the individual instructor or team of instructors representing the organization, who do the training.

What parameters could be used to evaluate and assess a self defense program? The following paragraphs will highlight some guidelines, which could be used to evaluate the quality of a self defense training resource or program:

Instructor Credentials and Qualifications

What are the instructor's credentials? The instructors' own training background and abilities need to be reviewed. Have they spent years learning their craft or did they just complete a short seminar themselves, then placed as a head instructor for a program? Don't think that because a person holds a black belt in some form of martial art, they are a qualified self defense instructor. Get references from past self defense clients.

What is the instructor's training (teaching) experience? Is this their first program? Do they possess the ability to teach others? Having the knowledge and being able to perform the skills does not necessarily make someone a good teacher.

Do not simply rely on the name of the organization that provides the training program. It is not the organization name that is doing the instruction, it is the individual instructor or team of instructors representing the organization, who do the training. This person or group of people must be able to deliver the products and services needed and expected by the client.

Program Content

A. Peaceful conflict resolution techniques.
B. Mental awareness - teaching people how to be more aware of what is happening around them and how to evaluate these events.
C. Emotional awareness - teaching people how to recognize, understand and handle the emotional states of people with whom they are interacting and their own emotional states. Does it teach people how to recognize, understand and control their own emotions in order to maintain the highest possible level of personal safety?
D. Environmental awareness - teaching people about:

1. how surroundings can affect the decision-making process in a conflict situation, and
2. potential "weapons", in the environment, that could be used for self defense.
3. Recognizing and dealing with cultural and social factors affecting personal safety.

1. the physical characteristics of an aggressor, and
2. your own personal physical strengths, weaknesses and capabilities.

1. biomechanical considerations for striking and blocking technique performance - learning to generate the greatest amount of potential power in the most efficient movement pattern possible (this is critical, for example, when teaching a 120 lb female how to physically handle a 200 lb male),
2. evasion movements,
3. primary and secondary target areas,
4. what parts of the body can be used to strike with and how to strike with them,
5. distraction techniques.

1. Initially learn and practice simple skill techniques, gradually progressing in speed, power, and complexity of technique combinations.
2. Experience realistic and progressive application of physical techniques against simulated attacks by opponents of various physical characteristics.
3. Learn self defense against a variety of attacks including empty hand, weapon, multiple attackers, and ground fighting.
4. Learn self defense tactics to be used in a specific environment in which a person functions personally and/or professionally (i.e. Flight Personnel in an airplane cabin, Personal Fitness Trainer working in a client's home, Loss Prevention personnel in a retail store, Hospital employee leaving work late at night, Mom home with children alone, etc.).
5. Experience performance of physical self defense techniques while wearing street clothes or the types of clothing that would be worn in a specific environment (professional, personal, or social).

Program Structure

A. Short lecture - no physical practice (45 to 90 minutes)
B. Workshop - physical practice and lecture (>90 minutes)
C. Session classes - physical practice and lecture performed in a series of classes or workshops (1 - 2 hours each class)
D. Recurrent Training - initial participation requires completion of full course, follow-up training (annual, semi-annual, etc) requires completion of a shortened version of the course.
E. Population Specific Training - some examples of this are classes for:

Women
Teens
Young children
Men
By profession (airline personnel, personal fitness trainers, loss prevention personnel, real estate professionals, etc)
College-bound adults

This is not intended to be a complete list of criteria by which a self defense program should be evaluated. It does, however, cite some of the more important factors and core ideas to consider when shopping for or developing a program.

About Tim Rochford

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