Saving Yourself...

Despite our society's stated emphasis on respect for individual rights, there is a profound lack of respect among some segments of the population.  Women are especially vulnerable to close-range attack, and violence toward women in America is epidemic.

  • A recent survey indicates that 20-25% of college women experience rape or attempted rape during their college years. (National College Women Sexual Victimization Survey, 2000)
  • Department of Justice statistics indicate that young women ages 16-24 experience violent victimization at higher rates than any other population group.
  • In 2004 alone, there were 1,365 rapes and 10,192 violent crimes in Washington State.

Common sense indicates that we all need some degree of preparation to enable us to have success in defending against physical confrontation and conflict.  You have to have a plan.  And face it - most of us are not going to be supremely conditioned athletes who train to high skill levels in order to defend ourselves.  Common Sense Self Defense is for 'real people,' of all ages and fitness levels.

Of course, in any confrontational situation, the element of surprise is going to work in favor of the attacker.  It is just not possible to plan for (or train for) every conceivable situation.  An inherent weakness in many martial arts programs.  "When he does this, you just do that."  The problem is that most bad guys haven't read the same script you've been studying.  "One cannot learn a prerecorded response to a spontaneous situation."

Common Sense Self Defense is different.  Based on conceptual motions, you will learn to respond to an attack using gross motor skill responses, utilizing what the human body does naturally.  Whether you choose to carry a weapon or not, the principles you learn will apply, and will give you the advantage of having a learned response which translates effectively from weapons to empty hands (or unarmed defense), to 'expedient weapons.'

Common Sense Self Defense is based on the Filipino martial art of Arnis, as taught by Grandmaster Bram Frank of the multi-national organization "Common Sense Self Defense/Street Combat."  It is practical; you won't waste time learning fancy kicks or unrealistic spins and disarms.  And you will develop and implement your own personal protection plan, based on responses that can be effected by persons of any age or fitness level.

Common Sense Self Defense classes are taught by women, for women (although we offer classes for men, too!).  Contact us to discuss how we can help meet your needs for realistic self-defense training.