Beginner's Guide to Self-Defense Training

Self-defense may sound like training in physical violence or weaponry, but it doesn't necessarily have to be that way. Sure, there are certain martial arts programs that can aid in defense of one's own life, but for a beginner, it is better to start with an understanding of self-defense and possible situations and learning to recognize, avoid and escape those situations. Beginner self-defense can simply be a lesson in prevention.

Self-defense by prevention takes little more than common sense, but for a beginner, reviewing common sense measures of self-defense is a good place to start. Following certain rules to ensure your safety may be all you need in self-defense, even as a beginner. Never travel alone at night. Even beginners have heard this. This is a lesson taught repeatedly, especially to young women and girls, yet individuals continue to ignore this ounce of prevention, and inevitably, criminals are given the opportunity to commit crimes. If you find yourself in a situation where you are alone at night, find some sort of escort. Ask the store clerk to watch you to your car or wait for a group of people that are heading your direction and walk nearby them. Practice simple self-defense from a potentially compromising situation.

Always be aware of your surroundings. Even during the day, we tend to travel along without giving much thought to what or who is around us. This is not only a beginner mistake. In self-defense, it is important to know at all times where you are and who surrounds you. Look around you when you enter a parking garage or subway station. Look behind you as well. As a beginner at self-defense, you may feel silly, even foolish, looking down alleyways and around barriers, but if it's the only measure of self-defense you ever have to take, it is worth that much and more.

Beginners may call it paranoia, but anyone whose instincts have kept them from a dangerous situation will agree: trust your instincts. For beginners of self-defense, that means first learning to cue into your natural instincts. Beginners, listen to the voice in your head that tells you when something doesn't feel right. If the voice is saying a situation is dangerous, then get out of it. If you are talking to an individual and the voice comes through, do not try to explain your way out of it politely, simply get out of there as fast as possible. Just be sure, you are running toward safety and not toward an area where the criminal can follow or trap you and your level of self-defense must be increased.

Along the same lines, and especially important for beginners of self-defense, don't allow a questionable person to approach you. Most likely, if you have labeled them questionable in your mind, your beginner self-defense instincts have already sent the self-defense sign that the situation is dangerous. If so, don't feel the need to play it cool. It's a beginner mistake. Insist that the person stay where they are and move if they come closer. Even if the person is asking for a simple favor, directions or change, insist they stop. Best-case scenario, you feel a little silly when the person walks away shaking their head because you seemed strange. Worst-case scenario if you don't do anything is unthinkable.