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From: ken@ihuxq.UUCP (ken perlow)
Newsgroups: net.women
Subject: Re: Self Defense - comments on Spafford article
Message-ID: <701@ihuxq.UUCP>
Date: Thu, 23-Feb-84 11:26:10 EST
Article-I.D.: ihuxq.701
Posted: Thu Feb 23 11:26:10 1984
Date-Received: Fri, 24-Feb-84 02:13:46 EST
References: <278@hlhop.UUCP>
Organization: AT&T Bell Labs, Naperville, IL
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--
Spaf's suggestions have a lot of merit, and his comments about
psyching yourself up to really hurt someone are absolutely
correct, but consider:

(1) The techniques won't work unless you have trained sufficiently
    to be able to do them instinctively and can focus your blows
    accurately.

(2) You have to NOT PANIC when one OR MORE of the meanest
    motherf***ers you've ever seen is trying to maim you or worse.

As for (1), the throat and knees are the most vulnerable and
damagable even if your aim is bad.  Everyone says "kick 'im in
the nuts", but it ain't that easy.  First off, if you miss, you
hit the thigh or hip, which may be the least vulnerable targets.
Second, men instinctively protect their groins.  Don't go for it
unless you know you're fast enough.

As for (2), in my karate school we practiced 2, 3, and 4-on-1
sparring.  It's not like tournaments.  You have to keep moving,
and even so, you get hit.  WE did it to help prepare MENTALLY
for a bad situation.  Keeping centered, collected, in control--
that's the real martial arts lesson.

So, the only quickie suggestion I have--the only one you can
practice up on fast--is: YELL!  Not a high-pitched, from-the-chest,
out-of-control scream, but a low, loud, from-the-gut, focused
bellow.  This is the "ki-i" you've heard karatekas do, if only
in the movies.  If you do it right, you will look fierce because
you will be centered.  And your attacker will have to contend with
the possibility that you know martial arts, or are insane.
A good ki-i may give you the few seconds you need to get away.

A better solution is to get martial arts training.  It doesn't
matter which variety, so long as it stresses mind and body
conditioning.  A number of schools are into tournament sparring.
This is not good training for self-defense unless you know that
you'll be attacked only by someone who fights by tournament rules.
-- 
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