Everyone should learn self defence

Last week, Blessie Gottingco was murdered a few hundred meters from her home in a “safe neighbour” as she walked home from the bus stop.  I am saddened, appalled, and angry that Blessie was violently taken away from her children, grandchild and husband.

We all think it is not going to happen to us; I don’t stay out late and I don’t live in a bad neighbourhood.  Blessie’s murder shows it can happen to anyone.   It re-inforces that everyone needs to learn self defence because anyone is vulnerable anywhere.  

I cannot advocate strongly enough for everyone to do a self defence course or to learn a martial art.  The bottom line is Blessie may still be alive if she had some self defence training.

A self defence course will teach you the basics of fighting back in a violent situation. It should leave you armed with some “you’ve picked on the wrong lady” responses, whether it be striking at the face, neck or eyes or kneeing or kicking to the groin.  It should give you knowledge of the vital spots in an attacker and it will certainly increase your chances of survival.  Most of all, it should teach you the attitude that you do not give in to an attacker who is going to rape and murder you. 

I went on my first self defence course when I was at university, now many courses later, and now an accredited self defence instructor I think self defence should be part of the PE syllabus at school.  From Primary school onwards girls and boys should have a four week module every year.  At high school girls should have separate courses from boys and this should be universally funded from our education budget.

What is the price of a life?  We recently offered maybe the best self defence course in New Zealand at the Academy. For the price of $99 for the day it was a workshop that I know could have saved Blessie’s life. I was astonished that despite print advertising, online advertising through several channels, and a mail out to our numerous martial arts databases we only had a handful of people signed up to the self defence course.

It is human nature to do the easy things, and unless forced to through fear or compulsion many of us are not pro-active in equipping ourselves for our own physical safety.  We need to be prepared before we need it. Don’t think it won’t happen to me, enrol in a martial art or a self defence course.  Act now before it is too late.  

Christine Young-Jasberg

Director

The Martial Arts Academy