Defend Yourself, Women!

This past Saturday Feb., 25, 2012 I headed north to the Campton Baptist Church as it hosted a women's self defense class taught by Massachusetts resident, Michael Jacobs. There were two sessions held that Saturday, an 8am-12 (woof) or a 1pm-5, so needless to say I strolled into the Baptist Church at one o'clock looking my sportiest. A little dumbfounded, I walked into a group of approximately 15 people, mostly girls from the ages of 13-17 accompanied by their mothers.

Jacobs started his self-defense class by going around to see what exactly everyone was look- ing to get out of the class. After a fairly silent few minutes and a few giggly shrugs it was time to stretch.

After about 5 minutes of lunges, quad, and calf stretches, we all seemed eager to get going. Jacobs explained that the moves we'd be using originate from Israeli style and another known as Krav Maga. The girls, mothers and myself were introduced to the session with warning and defensive stances, after all, "confidence is key to any threatening situation," Jacobs advised.

Jacobs demonstrated these stances by first placing his hands in front of his body showing physical awareness. As someone approaches you the next stance becomes a warning as he placed his dominant leg back and uses one hand up by his face to block, while making a fist down by his hip.

After mastering the stances, Jacobs taught three powerful and pain inflicting kicks. One was a quick jab at the knee with the dominant leg using the ball of the foot. The second, using the same leg, was a groin kick using the laces of the foot in an upward motion to get him right in the baby makers. And since the stance is a bit revealing as to what your dominant side is, you need a sneak attack. Using the leg that's placed forward, the kick is a quick side jab to the knee.

Jacobs prepared his students for instances where women are seized by the wrist or as extreme as being taken to the ground. Tech- niques were shown for both faced up and downward on the ground if being attacked.

For those of you who have seen Enough with J-Lo, it was straight out of the scene where her personal trainer ‘prepares her even for the impossible', So badass.

Ladies, you know those nights where you're out with your girlfriends and that guy that's been scoping you out all night comes up and tries the swift arm around the shoulder. If uncomfortable enough it can be necessary to give him a reality check by reaching across your body and grabbing the pinky side of his hand and rotating the wrist and applying pressure using both hands. You can also apply pressure behind the elbow and make him take a walk, just use caution to avoid any intensified conflict.

Granted most of the girls were a bit younger than I, we took turns holding pads and practicing our parry and block motions that helps protect your face and open opportunities for jabs and punches.

We also paired up taking turns pretend choking one another and used body-moving techniques that cleared areas of the body you should aim for on your attacker. Some of those hotspots on your attacker include the face, elbows to the side of the core, groin, scraping the shin, and the foot stomp.

Jacobs demonstrated the importance of utilizing all the different ways to fight back while under attack. One of my favorites included using the back of your head to bash your attackers face while being seized from behind. Jacobs explained the importance of using everything from head to toe to use a weapon while under attack.

After some group work and one-on-one pad exercises with Jacobs and his father, we got the chance to cool down and ask any questions. I took that time to find out more about the motivation behind Jacobs' classes and what sparked interest for this area. "I started running these in 2002, originally in Mass and one of my advanced students was eager to set something up here in New Hampshire" Jacobs responded when asked how long he'd been doing this and why here?

I was also curious as to what he as a male gets out of teaching women these classes and Jacobs responded with "it is the satisfaction of knowing it's one less victim which is ultimately why I went into law enforcement"

The mothers were greatly appreciative of his commute and willingness to provide this type of classes for their daughters. Even though this area is a little less hectic than Massachusetts, where Jacob is from, he expressed the importance of every woman being able to defend herself.

It was a great experience and Jacobs was fun and easy to work with, I recommend taking advantage of any self-defense classes that are being offered, whether it be at school or in your hometown. Men, this goes for you too, self-defense is for everyone. It's a great feeling and you truly gain appreciation for the person or people willing to help you potentially save your own life.