As with all of these blog posts, I can only answer this question with a personal opinion and how these terms are defined within the Kensho dojo.
Self-defense is what would be required when someone puts their hands on another person with an intent to do harm. Self-defense programs include hitting, kicking, disarming, escaping and all of the physical skills that are taught in the many competent schools in our area. These techniques can be for defense against both armed and unarmed assailants. They are often against very specific attacks. Done in the correct context, these skills are highly effective.
Personal Safety is how a person prepares themself BEFORE a safety emergency. This involves creating mindsets, strategies and habits that will hopefully diminish or avoid the need for physical techniques altogether. Personal Safety techniques are intended to have an effect from the first element of surprise from any threat of conflict or attack. All people, especially those who are smaller in stature, have less physical prowess, kids, teens etc can use these skills in their everyday lives.
Learning self-defense techniques both past and present, I am given what are sometimes complicated sequences to learn and practice. To get these sequences "just right" takes tons of repetition. Nothing new about that, good training always includes repetition; we want muscle memory, right? Find our zen? "Do this against a right-hand-straight-punch, do that against a right-hand-grab of your left shoulder". I love it, its fun. I teach this stuff too... Manipulating another persons anatomy by having a mastery of ones own is pretty cool and empowering. For me, working on self-defense skills with a trusted partner is one of life's true pleasures. Does that make me an invincible bad-ass? Someone who could handle a violent attack? Nope. Big nope... What is left out of the equation are some things that have a huge effect on ones ability to perform: CONTEXT and FEAR. Fight? Flight? Freeze? It is what happens to normal people during an emergency. What happens when someone has a true intent to harm another? What if that person is huge and much stronger?
Personal Safety training tries to bridge this gap; recognizing fear and what it does to us biologically. Context we can practice with role play.... but creating real fear? We can only put so much pressure on someone in the dojo, its never real. Never. For this reason, we work from known fear responses, with (you guessed it) repetition. Soldiers, firefighters and highly trained LEO react without hesitation to emergencies because dealing with chaos is what they face every day. They face emergencies constantly. They serve and protect others. Us regular citizens? Not so much. In the dojo, developing personal safety skills to protect oneself and family members deserves the same attention as working physical skills. Train hard but foresee and avoid conflict. At Kensho, we incorporate flinch reactions, using voice and more as we role-play situations; learning to understand how awareness, recognition and decision are steps to staying safe. Safety is having a plan before an emergency happens. Guiding students to manage their own safety is our mission.
All classes are FREE on the Third Thursday of each month. if you or someone you know would like to practice some Personal Safety skills with us, consider yourself invited!
Self-defense is what would be required when someone puts their hands on another person with an intent to do harm. Self-defense programs include hitting, kicking, disarming, escaping and all of the physical skills that are taught in the many competent schools in our area. These techniques can be for defense against both armed and unarmed assailants. They are often against very specific attacks. Done in the correct context, these skills are highly effective.
Personal Safety is how a person prepares themself BEFORE a safety emergency. This involves creating mindsets, strategies and habits that will hopefully diminish or avoid the need for physical techniques altogether. Personal Safety techniques are intended to have an effect from the first element of surprise from any threat of conflict or attack. All people, especially those who are smaller in stature, have less physical prowess, kids, teens etc can use these skills in their everyday lives.
Learning self-defense techniques both past and present, I am given what are sometimes complicated sequences to learn and practice. To get these sequences "just right" takes tons of repetition. Nothing new about that, good training always includes repetition; we want muscle memory, right? Find our zen? "Do this against a right-hand-straight-punch, do that against a right-hand-grab of your left shoulder". I love it, its fun. I teach this stuff too... Manipulating another persons anatomy by having a mastery of ones own is pretty cool and empowering. For me, working on self-defense skills with a trusted partner is one of life's true pleasures. Does that make me an invincible bad-ass? Someone who could handle a violent attack? Nope. Big nope... What is left out of the equation are some things that have a huge effect on ones ability to perform: CONTEXT and FEAR. Fight? Flight? Freeze? It is what happens to normal people during an emergency. What happens when someone has a true intent to harm another? What if that person is huge and much stronger?
Personal Safety training tries to bridge this gap; recognizing fear and what it does to us biologically. Context we can practice with role play.... but creating real fear? We can only put so much pressure on someone in the dojo, its never real. Never. For this reason, we work from known fear responses, with (you guessed it) repetition. Soldiers, firefighters and highly trained LEO react without hesitation to emergencies because dealing with chaos is what they face every day. They face emergencies constantly. They serve and protect others. Us regular citizens? Not so much. In the dojo, developing personal safety skills to protect oneself and family members deserves the same attention as working physical skills. Train hard but foresee and avoid conflict. At Kensho, we incorporate flinch reactions, using voice and more as we role-play situations; learning to understand how awareness, recognition and decision are steps to staying safe. Safety is having a plan before an emergency happens. Guiding students to manage their own safety is our mission.
All classes are FREE on the Third Thursday of each month. if you or someone you know would like to practice some Personal Safety skills with us, consider yourself invited!
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