Is your daughter equipped to defend herself in case of an attack? Surprisingly, given the times we are living it, the answer in most cases is NO.
A woman's greatest weakness is her lack of physical strength and it is this weakness combined with sexual desirability that makes women prone to unwanted overtures and attacks.
We all know that it is relatively easy for a man to overpower a woman, especially if she is taken by surprise. Even though your daughter may never find herself in danger of rape, an act like molestation, even if it lasts just a few minutes, can be profoundly disturbing, more so if she finds herself completely helpless in the situation.
So how do you prepare your daughter to cope? No matter how much you shelter and protect her, realistically you will not be there to shield her every minute of the day. So, teach her to fend for herself. One of the ways you can do this is by enrolling her in a marital arts course. You can then teach her to run if she can, fight if she must.
Help her learn to strike
Although most women know that a kick in the right place is a great self-defense move, few, other than in movies, are able to orchestrate the move when most required. The act of physically assaulting a stranger is overwhelming, and women are usually paralyzed with shock and fear, and unable to let out a sound louder than a whimper during a sudden attack. These fears are addressed in a self-defense class, and women leave feeling much more emboldened and empowered.
Don't instill unnecessary fears in her mind, but don't block out reality either. Times are not safe, and even walking on deserted streets in daylight can be a risk. Learn self defense yourself, so you can become a role model for your children. Teach them some moves, do light practice at home, and make it fun. In addition, learning a martial art is great exercise as well. It will make your child fitter, physically and mentally.
Most forms of marital arts require the use of mind and body, with the result that your daughter will not only be more equipped to whip anyone trying to act funny with her, but she will also be a more focused person - a quality which will no doubt help her through her life.
Better rude than sorry
If your daughter ever has anyone sit next to her in a public place, either in a cinema or a park or anywhere, who made her feel uncomfortable, tell her to MOVE. Surprisingly, not many girls move away, as they don't want to appear rude. Teach them not to bother about these niceties with strangers who make them uncomfortable, even if they are seemingly respectable. They don't have to give them a dirty look or anything, just move away.
Teach her confrontation
Teach your daughter that if anyone moves close to her in a public place, she should not be afraid to look the person in the eye and ask him to move back. If someone is following her on a busy street, she should go up to that person and confront him at the top of her voice. The public will be on her side, and this is certainly not what he would be expecting. If she wants to appear even more threatening, she could fish out her cell phone and say that she is going to call the police. Provide her with a cell phone.
Name:
adilenekate,
Country: Australia
Hi,nevertheless that a women need to know more than this for her security when she is alone...all that she needs is how to tackle the situation and face the attackers,here we have a lot of info. and every woman should get trained up with all the basic skills to protect herself..take up classes from the best martial arts schools and be at the top,you can also get more information at http://karateforki ds.com.au/...why late just feel the difference to be the toughest.
Name:
Jaya,
Country: india
good article on self defence. i think every girl should know the art of self defence. you may never know when you will be in need....
Name:
Daniela S.,
Country: usa
i do not agree on the last posting telling children to turn and confront someone who may be "following" them. this is not a good idea. the correct approach is for the child to know to get immediately to a public area, neighbor they know, etc. i recently purchased a very good video called the bully factor . it is a video for kids and made by kids to educate children on how to get out of these potentially threatening situations using very basic techniques. the company who created this video did a great job. my children enjoyed it, learned from it and it also opened a conversation about strangers and bullies and dangerous confrontations. there is even additional information on their website about the second video that is coming out called "not me!". this next one will be about techniques your child can use in an abduction/aggressive stranger situation. i highly recommend purchasing these tapes if you are a parent with children ages 5-15yrs! you wont be disapponted! your child only has one life---give them the information they need to stay safe and protect it!
Name:
Leena,
Country: U.S.A.
for little girls, the training should start early. not in physical self-defense, but start teaching even 4-5 year olds how to walk away from strangers who are offering candy, trying to enlist them to go with them, etc. i teach my 4yr old girl to shout loudly if someone ever tries to handle her, "help, this is not my mommy! this is not my daddy!" at her age, she should never be far from my sight, but i want her to be ready just in case we get separated. she likes to practice shouting! :)
Name:
macho,
Country: India
learn karate
Name:
latrice,
Country: usa
i think
Name:
sapna,
Country: india
someone was following me once, and it was a boy of around 20, and i was around 25, and i was with a friend. both of us walked up to him and started shouting at him. he was a piddly servant somewhere. of course, it was in a public place, and he got really frightened bec he didnt expect this. children should not confront, but i think young women, who are older, should assess the situation and then decide if they should confront the person or not. the 20 year old was a short, skinny little thing, and there were 2 of us in a crowded, well lit place, so i didnt feel threatened at all, and he totally just ran away.
Name:
Suresh,
Country: India
ms.daniela s., if possible could u post some important points of that video of the bully factor / not me. the readers & myself can come to know and get interested. though i am not having a daughter, still i like this concept/idea and that every girl / lady / woman should be equipped with this martial art / self-defence techniques. to start with, every female / girl can start simple / basic exercises and/or yoga if possible.
thanking you,suresh
