Like all of my Women’s Survival courses we didn’t start with “fighting” like most martial arts schools do. No, we started off with learning the Threat Zones and how to be assertive in guarding one’s distance - be it a stranger, a sexually harassing boss, or overly aggressive boyfriend who doesn’t understand the word “no.”
After that we went outside and walked to the Solingen city center where we practiced Situational Awareness and how criminals select their victims. The students soon learned who is a “soft target” and a “hard target.”
When we returned to the classroom located at 30 Shutzenstrasse we covered weapons training – the gun and then the knife. After all, many criminals use weapons to intimidate their victims into compliance. I taught these women how to use a gun against their attacker if the opportunity presented itself. At first they were a bit squeamish about using a gun (we used air guns that fire a 6mm projectile), but after a little bit of training the women were fast and hitting their target 80% of the time in stress induced scenarios. We then transitioned into Knife Survival training and learned the 10 angles of attack, how to block, and how to get away. In Germany it is legal for a person to carry a knife on their person, so I suggested that my students take advantage of their rights.
Then it was onto ground conflict since that is most likely the place a women will end up rather quickly, especially in a sexual assault. The students learned how to do “hit-and-run” tactics. I had two of my male instructors simulated realistic attacks. For some of the women this was a nerve rattling experience, but all of them reached deep within themselves and bravely continued on.
After the two-day course the women were confident, aggressive, and more aware of the dangers around them.
On Monday, April 14 to 18, were the Level 1 courses: Defensive Tactics, Ground Survival, Knife Survival, Crime Survival, and Terrorism Survival. At the end of the seminar I certified six new German instructors: Paul Lavista, Jens Kern, Stefan Tischer, Markus Weihrauch, Bernard Lang, and Thomas Tettenborn bringing the total to 71 instructors I have certified at this location. Helping me throughout the week, and refreshing their own skills, were: Bernardas Seskevicius, Dominik Klose, Alex Diehl, and Uli Rose.
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