3 Simplified Tips for Self-Defense

With the ladies who floated like butterflies but stung like bees

Self-defense skills is an asset that all ladies should have, yet hope to never use. However, danger can lurk in any corner and women must be prepared. Having self-defense skills does not guarantee that you will be unhurt or unscathed in an attack, however it can increase your chance of surviving. Besides having the right skills, learning self-defense can boost your confidence level, improve your fitness level in a fight-or-flight situation (if you need to outrun your attacker), and makes you more coordinated when fighting back.

Self-defense does not have to be complicated. You don’t need a black belt to try to save yourself. Here are 3 simplified tips I learnt from today’s class at Hammerfist Fight Club, in Cyberjaya:

  • Punch with the correct technique

The knuckles on your second and middle finger is the hardest. Use that to punch instead of focusing on the whole fist.

You can also use the base of your palms to jab the upper body like the throat. The bottom part of your palms just before your wrist is actually stronger than your fist.

The tips of your fingers are powerful too. Use it to poke the eyes using all 4 finger tips. Aim for only one eye, and this is enough to distract your attacker.

Elbows are strong and sharp tools too. Keep it close to your side when punching to block kicks or attacks from the side that can harm the ribs and chest.

Getting as close to your attacker as possible to deliver the most powerful punch

  • Find weak points on the body.

They are:

Eyes, throat, the middle of the chest, stomach, groin, mid thighs, knees, shins, ankles.

These points are most vulnerable as it can inflict the most amount of pain to the attacker. So aim for these body parts when attacked.

Here is a brief video that contains information on how to use these weak points, but with slight variation from what we learnt today:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tsjXVGhDuFU

  • Act swiftly

When facing an attacker, a split second can make a difference. Hesitation gives a window for the attacker to make his next move. Plus, acting swiftly gives the impression that you are confident and not a vulnerable victim.

I hope that these tips are useful for women when they are forced to face an attacker. For a full list of skills, it is best to enroll in a martial arts class where a certified instructor can help to polish your techniques.

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4 Techniques to Free Yourself

For more info on Kick Boxing, you can read Sarah’s experience here

 

Kickboxing: The New Fitness Workout

Self-defense awareness has been widely spread globally. This is specified on women whom men look at as a very easy victim of their wrong doings. In the previous blog post, we’ve already talked on self-defense majoring in Taekwondo. Since I’ve been joining Kickboxing Class for a month, I’ll share with you my experience joining this stand-up combat sports class.

WHAT IS KICKBOXING?

Kickboxing is a type of martial arts that is based on kicking and punching. Kickboxing focuses on everything from cardio conditioning to self-defense and martial arts. Anyone who wants a perfect total body workout would enjoy this type of sports as it requires the whole body movement.

WHY KICKBOXING?

Initially, the only intention why I joined kickboxing was to just fill in my free time, meet new people, plus it’s located within walking distance from my office. The training place is called HammerFist Fight Club, Cyberjaya. As I started to watch the kickboxing lessons, I was friendly-asked by the trainer, Benny, to join the class as a free trial class. I wasn’t ready but on second thought, it’s now or never. So, I decided to join and for the first time in my life I’ve never felt like drenching in my own sweat.

With the coaches, Benny (left) and Ravshan (right)

Gearing up

Outfit wise, it’s better to wear comfortable clothing which is not to tight (so it won’t block your blood circulation) and not too loose to allow full movement in the arms and legs during training.

My fav outfit for kickboxing – Hooda Ellipse Sports, Ultra Top and Riada Active Pants

These are the gears I used when training:

Hand wrap bandage for extra protection

Bandages – Hand wraps are generally worn underneath the gloves to help support the wrist, fist and knuckles when training. It serves as an extra protection inside.

A Pro Training Glove of 16 oz

Gloves – The most essential gear during training. It protects the hands and provide some protection to the opponent against your hit force.

Shin guards – Shin guards are usually only used for training purposes. They are compulsory for amateur kickboxing bouts, but not always during professional play. I’m an amateur so I’ll be needing it.

 

Warming Up

Before we start the core lesson, 15 minutes warm up session is a must to loosen up the joints, increase blood circulations by increasing the heart rates and that’ll make you less prone to injury and will make your muscle easier to stretch whenever you’re striking or training. Basically, we start from head to toe; turn heads side to side and up and down, shoulder rotation, body stretching, and jogging and sprinting in circle.

Here are few clips of getting-fit workouts I’ve managed to share:

Cardio Workout – Legs toning

Battle Rope Workout – For arms, shoulder and abs toning

The Core Training

After the warm up, the best part begins; The Core Training. Here, I learn the basics of Kickboxing movement: Jab, Cross, Hook, Uppercut, Front Kick, Side Kick and more to go.

Here are some clips of training I did:

Jab and Cross Training

Jab, Cross and Side Kick Training

WHAT I GET FROM KICKBOXING

  • A lot of things gained from this training which I only thought it’s all about self-defense. I used to have a very low self-esteem which always keeps me holding back from what I want to do in life. Not anymore, kickboxing class has changed me a lot. During training, endorphins, a natural booster are released which boost up my self-esteem. Along the training, it helps me to stand tall and improves my self-confidence.
  • The ability to use different parts of the body together really improves my focus and coordination which I needed the most (especially at work).
  • It’s also a fun and faster way to burn fat. At least I get to prevent those monotonous routine of gym boredom. Kickboxing has the added benefit of including an exciting and unusual cross-training element to your normal workouts.

     

    “It’s an incredibly efficient workout. Kickboxing alone burns about 750 calories in an hour,” says Sammie Kennedy, CEO and creator of Femme Fitale, Ontario’s newest women’s-only kickboxing and mixed martial arts program (MMA). “Add in jump rope and conditioning drills, and you could burn anywhere from 750 to 900 calories in an hour.”

     

  • The good thing about this training is because it’s one of the ways of releasing stress by releasing those pent up frustrations with a high-energy routine. As my concentration levels improves, it also enables me to focus on stressing less.

Not much of things to share as I am just a newbie. I hope you guys get the idea of what kickboxing is. Maybe you guys should try it too. Better try than just wondering, it could be the best sports you’ve ever engaged in. Thanks for reading! 🙂

Credits:

http://www.besthealthmag.ca/best-you/fitness/benefits-of-kickboxing-for-women/

 

 

Throw Them Off With Taekwondo

Tired of feeling weak and helpless? Scared of walking home alone? Is there someone you want to tell off but don’t know how?

No need to fear, martial arts is here!

There’s karate, judo, aikido, taekwondo, boxing, wushu, and a whole lot more you can learn about just by a click of your mouse. But simply learning from a book or a website and playing it out a couple times won’t cut it. You have to get up and train for at least half an hour per week. After all, self-defense is a skill. And skills are not perfected in a blink of an eye, but by sheer sweat and determined practice.

Self-defense does not just ward off unwanted creepers, but could also potentially save your life. Places like Texas, where women are being targeted and attacked, strongly encourage Muslims to take up self-defense and learn how to protect themselves. With the current Islamophobia and hate against Muslims, it is essential that you, as a Muslim woman (especially if you wear hijab), know how to fend for yourself when encountered by any sort of threat – big or small.

In some middle eastern countries like Jordan, harassment is not uncommon. Despite women covering themselves modestly and wearing hijabs and headscarves, they are still targeted and attacked without hesitation. According to islam.ru, an islamic information portal based in Russia, some women in England are even attacked by muggers taking the pins off their hijab and stabbing their heads with it. So as we can see from here, how we dress is not the issue. It’s how we protect ourselves and how we deal with the ambiguous jaws of the world.

Among all self-defense techniques and martial arts, let’s zoom into one particular art: Taekwondo.

Kick as high as the sky. Reference: Edward Lim, (2016), Wallace Lai Yen Theng [ONLINE]. Available at: https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=10210164033279633&set=pb.1302833662.-2207520000.1499930670.&type=3&theater [Accessed 13 July 2017].

Kick high to the sky.
Reference: Edward Lim, (2016), Wallace Lai Yen Theng [ONLINE]. [Accessed 13 July 2017].

Taekwondo, as the name distinctly provides, is a Korean martial art. The word can be broken down into three: “tae”, “kwon”, and “do”. The definition of “tae” is foot, “kwon” is hand, and “do” is art. It generally can be broken down into two categories: poomsae, and sparring. Poomsae is a series of moves – both defense and attack – put together in one. On the other hand, sparring is your typical two-minute fight on the training mat.

This martial art consists of many moves and techniques. The few basic ones are kicks, blocks, and strikes.

Here are a few examples:

The basic kick in Taekwondo: front kick.

 

Basic blocks and strikes: punch, higher-section block, lower-section block, inner block, outer block, ridge hand strike, and knife hand strike.

Sparring technique: Chopping kick.

 

There are some centres available in Malaysia:

Other places to learn self-defense around the world:

Don’t be afraid because you are small and frail or physically unfit. With determination, comes great results. Remember: we are not inferior to men, but a sole equal. And sometimes, we may be even better.

– Nukey

The Weekend Runner: Never one over the other.

Over the years before I was bitten by the running bug, I was into loads of different types of sports. Back in my school days I learnt how to swim, did a few martial arts (Karate, Taekwondo, kick boxing), then when I was in university I went to the gym and track regularly (that’s when I started running), and was briefly into horse-back riding during summer breaks and skiing in the winter.

10639540_10204538712697635_4573004107510729320_nSwimming was one of the most valuable skills that I have learnt.

It has never crossed my mind that what I wear is a limitation to what I wanted to do. Sadly, it is quite common to hear excuses from ladies who are not interested to lead an active lifestyle because they claim to have nothing suitable to wear. However, I was determined to make things work for me. Before I discovered Nashata, I learnt how to adapt with what is available in the current market. For swimming, I would buy a surfer’s long-sleeve rash guard with separate tights and put a swim cap on. I would make a short-sleeve t-shirt wearable by layering to go to the gym. I used many pins to ensure that my hijab stays in place when I kick, punch, and jump around. All of these are done to ensure that I meet 2 important criteria in sports: I dress modestly, and my performance is not compromised.

 

OLYMPUS DIGITAL CAMERAIf everyone can do it, why can’t I do it too?

Nowadays thanks to Nashata and the booming modest activewear market, you are spoilt for choices. There are innovative designs for swimwear if bikinis are not your thing. Layering and heavy fabrics are replaced by sweat-wicking, ventilating fabrics. I dressed up for the gym in the past, but now I look even better. I did my best, but now I could push myself harder. Modesty and performance that went hand-in-hand has never left, but now it is enhanced thanks to improvements which was driven by the market demands for modest activewear.

 

‘Performance’ is a very loose term being thrown around, as ‘performance’ might mean getting a medal while others are satisfied with being able to complete a work out. Until you have experienced or knowledge on a type of sport, it is hard to determine what is suitable or unsuitable. For example, after participating in numerous running events I have learnt the hard way that the wrong fabric, seam, and design has caused chafing. It hurts, your skin bleeds, and you are distracted from performing your best. But with Nashata’s team, I am assured that their products have undergone testing. Similarly, I am very sure that athletes, coaches, and their supporting team can come up with solutions to meet the sports standards and requirement while still adhering to modest dressing and performing their best.

 

11146195_10206339796283599_5473430040822880718_n

Nashata from head to toe and no chafing after 21KM!

 

I plan to expand the list of sports initially mentioned above. There is so much to discover and do. I want to complete an ultramarathon, learn how to surf, get a scuba diving license, master pilates and yoga, conquer Mount Kinabalu, and many other mountains in the future. And I plan to do all of that while still dressed modestly. So ladies, your old excuse “I cannot learn how to swim/ run/  because I do not have a proper attire” is so yesterday.

534948_4185488125314_1775782184_n We cannot do whaaa because we have to wear whaaa? Sorry can’t hear you, having too much fun in the water.

 

Until next week,

The Weekend Runner.