As unfortunate as it is, we live in a world where women need to worry about their safety in both their public and private lives.
Sexual assault statistics are as high as ever, indicating that women from all socio-economic backgrounds are being attacked on the street and in their homes.
This has led many women to look for a program to teach them to defend themselves.
But which self defense for women classes are the right ones to attend? For some women, martial arts schools are very accessible, as they are prolific around the United States and are especially popular in suburban areas.
However, traditional and franchise martial arts programs are not designed for self defense, especially women's self defense.
Although programs such as Tae Kwon Do and freestyle Karate are great sports and can be great exercise, their application to real life is minimal.
Look for a program that is specifically designed for self-defense and for women.
When looking for a women's self defense program, it is important to choose a program that spends time talking about prevention of physical confrontations.
The best self-defense technique is to never have a situation escalate to physical contact; but you need to know what to look for and how to react.
A good women's self defense program will include techniques while you are standing and while you are on the ground.
Many programs put heavy emphasis on striking while you are on your feet, but the reality of most fights and defense scenarios is that they end up on the ground.
Being able to move yourself and properly contact your opponent on the ground is a skill, not something that is instinctual.
Keywords to look for are "grappling", "ground fighting" or "Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu" when shopping for a program.
Having at least one woman instructor in the program is beneficial.
Many men do not realize how big they are or how much stronger their upper body is than a woman's and, therefore, teach techniques that are not the most effective ones for a woman to perform.
If you have a woman instructor, they are more likely to teach you the techniques that work for them, for their strength and size.
Lastly, a good women's self defense program designates a lot of time to repetition and is spread out over a decent amount of time, such as a six-week program.
A one-time, two-hour seminar is not enough time or repetition to really ingrain the techniques into your body and mind, especially if you have never done martial arts before.
It is so important for women to learn to defend themselves and feel confident in their level of safety.
Do your research, grab a friend, and get started!