Structure of a womens self defense class??

[Jonathan Randall]

Remember Erik, I was consulting; running a couple of crews at a couple of different locations for 15 years - for a period of three years I had three bars for three nights minimum every weekend, with an added special event a few times a month too.

Jeff Cook

Wow, you must be good not to be so torn up!

Seriously, with the newer generation of flip lock-blades that are so easy to conceal and deploy, you're both skilled and lucky to not have been seriously hurt.

What was your experience with bladed weapons and in what ways have your experiences modified the manner in which you instruct your female students (thread topic)? Thanks.

Another point to be made here, for the original poster, this is why simply having MA training doesn't qualify you to teach women's self-defence and the reality of violence - not when there are truly experienced folks out there such as Jeff who can do so correctly.

[Jeff C.]

Jonathan, thanks for the kind words!

I teach women EXACTLY the same way I teach men. I see no reason to teach anything different. I may teach a different strategy at times, or help individuals develop their own strategy. Someone who is quick and skilled will approach a situation differently than someone who is slower but very powerful. But the techniques and principles of combat are universal, and not based upon gender.

Regarding security work, we try to control the environment as much as possible by always checking for weapons and contraband at the door. Obviously that does not guarantee a weapons-free environment.

Some rules I follow: assume everyone has a weapon. Always insist during an interview, extraction, or some other encounter that the person keeps their hands visible and/or restrained. If they reach into a pocket or purse during an encounter, make space and shout out an alarm to your partners. Don't be afraid to use your tools; that collapsible baton and pepper spray is not on my belt for looks.

If the bad guy gets his hand in his pocket before you can intervene, and if you are close and fast enough and have made the decision to close the gap instead of make space, trap his hand in his pocket while pummeling him with knees, headbutts, your other hand, or by slamming him into the wall or furniture. It ain't pretty, and it has to be fast and brutally aggressive. Again, loud verbal communication with your partner is extremely important; you can trap while your partner delivers "corrective percussion techniques" and/or restrains. This HAS happened a few times during my gigs.

A strong, well-organized, well-coordinated and professional presence may discourage knife-carriers from employing their weapon. This has happened many times. We have approached individuals who actually avoided us long enough to pull out their knives and ditch them, so as not to be caught/confronted while in possession of a weapon - in spite of the fact that it is always obvious we are not law enforcement personnel.

Frankly, every single confrontation I am involved in, which has been literally hundreds, I am EXTREMELY concerned that a knife, ice-pick, or similar weapon will come into play. We have disarmed/confiscated probably a dozen knives or puncturing weapons over the years. One of my friends and students bought an illegal weapon for me last week that is being sold locally in a convenience store. It is a refillable butane lighter with a switchblade inside. Very devious and dangerous. The pressing of a small button on the side snaps and retracts the blade in a blink. It looks like a normal lighter. It costs six dollars. It is cheap, cheaply made, readily available, and deadly. The only reason I asked him to pick one up for me is so I could show it to my personnel and students, so they will be aware. I collect such weapons for that purpose only.

So far, knock on wood, none of my people have been successfully cut or stabbed with a weapon. One in-house bouncer we were working with at a club (we were hired to augment) was stabbed in the kidney by a female during a fight, probably with a nail file. Fortunately it did not go deep enough to penetrate the kidney. None of us even knew it happened during the fight, and we are not one hundred percent sure who did it (but we recall a female hitting him with a hammer-fist in that kidney, so we assume it was her). It didn't even slow the bouncer down; he thought that he had simply been struck there during the fight. The blood on his shirt we noticed after the conclusion of the fight, and at that time we discovered the stab wound. After every altercation, no matter how minor, we do a buddy-check for wounds.

Does that about cover your questions?

Jeff Cook

[Erik]

When I was bouncing, I wish I had worked with you, Jeff.

You're my kind of professional/thug - deliberate, decisive, motivated.

[Jonathan Randall]

Does that about cover your questions?

Jeff Cook

Very well, thank you!

I figured tactics and teamwork had to be involvled because nobody, no matter how skilled and talented, is fast enough to be involved in hundreds of situations and come out ok unless they've stacked the deck in some manner.

[Jeff C.]

Only in Hollywood, Jonathan!

Erik, you are my kind of thug too.

Jeff Cook

[rgoad]

I think it's cool that we are on a women's forum and have somehow gotten the thread down to four guys talking about 'Road House'.

[Erik]

Erik, you are my kind of thug too.

Thanks, Kitten.

See you in LA.

[Jeff C.]

Love you too Snuggles!

I think it's cool that we are on a women's forum and have somehow gotten the thread down to four guys talking about 'Road House'.

See what happens Richard? We try to thread-drift in the Women's forum, and it turns us gay!

Jeff Cook

[Eliz]

Love you too Snuggles!



See what happens Richard? We try to thread-drift in the Women's forum, and it turns us gay!

Jeff Cook

Just for the record - you said that, I did not.

Now if you all start talking designer shoes.....?!

[TonyU]

Now if you all start talking designer shoes.....?!

Jimmy Choo, Gabriella Rocha, Chanel, Christian Louboutin...

[Eliz]

Jimmy Choo, Gabriella Rocha, Chanel, Christian Louboutin...

Got me!

[rgoad]

Try this for awkward: I'm at work and one of the other guys is one of our grappling buddies. We are talking about the workout the night before and one of the women in the office hears us talking about we got each other in a rear naked choke. She is young and single and so is he. She had the look like 'They are all married or gay." and we laughed till we were about to gag.