We have taught a 10-week course, then several weeks after the course was over we surprise some of the former students with mock attacks, we found they were confused and did not know what to do quickly.

We realize we could be giving students a false sense of security by having a set time frame to a class. Everyone is prepared to defend themselves at the end of the course, no more training is needed. It just isn't so.

This taught us that self-defense should be routinely practice.


2. How do you approach self-defense?
We look at a self-defense class as a great place to work-out to get and stay in shape with a lot of stretching. All of this from consistently practicing the self-defense techniques, routines and hitting of the bags.

The outcome is an improve mind & body more energy, with more instinctive ability to use self-defense when you need it, always improving as you workout more and more.

3. What do you teach?
We pull upon our many years of martial arts experience to teach a blend of various karate's techniques to suit a self-defense style of defending oneself.

4. Do I need to be a karate student then to learn self-defense?
No this self-defense class is designed for a person with no experience and little desire to become a BlackBelt karate expert.

We find many students when they were kids or younger adults, took some karate and this class is a great way to build on that past experience.

5. What type of shape do I have to be in for this self-defense?
You don't have to be in any special shape for self-defense class, part of the purpose of this class is to get you in shape and keep you there, with an outcome of knowing how to defend yourself.

The techniques and routines have been selected or adjusted for new students, taking much of the physical difficulties demanded by a regular karate class out.

6. What is the purpose of self-defense compare to karate
The purpose of self-defense is to give you the skills and confidence to stave off an attacker. You will be be able to inflect enough harm to an attacker to free yourself to get to safe place and call the authorities. It not intended to be a winner in a flight of one or more attackers.

A flight to be the "winner" would require the training of karate person at a high belt of brown to BlackBelt with many years of practice in techniques and actual fighting.

7. Will I get a good work out in the Self-Defense?
Yes we do many repetitions of the Self-Defense techniques so you get a good aerobic style workout. Example maybe 50 - 80 single punches doing warm up, for one type of punch practice.

8. What if I am in pretty good shape but I want to bring a friend that hasn't workout in years, how does that work?
No problem, we set the numbers and expectation based on the individual person's abilities. Those in good shape or have been taking Self-Defense for a while, we would push them toward the upper end of a count, using the same example above punches, to 50 - 80 punches for experienced students and with others that are new or not in as good of shape we would tell them on 20 punches to begin. Each student knows what is expected for them.

The first 20 punches for everyone would be at a nice easy pace, then those only doing 20 are ask wait and stretch. Then the final punches are faster for the other students and are completed quickly, then we move on to the next techniques with the same approach.

Everyone gets a good work, but not beyond what they can safely do ok.

9. What are the classes like?
Wednesday and Friday class at 6:00pm are  small one to two people, it a good time for new students to come to learn one on one the Self-Defense techniques.

Wednesday ,the original class, at 7:00pm is the largest with 6 - 8 people. This class goes aerobically hard with as many as 100 to 200 punches in one set. Work out practice of the Self-Defense techniques is usually 30  minutes with stretching.

 After this we go into mock self-defense practice (control fighting)  with the instructor .  Students practice how to defense themselves against different types of attackers. The instructor plays different roles acting as an attacker, always using control (safe) punches or kicks. This way students gain experience on how to react should they be confronted with an attacker.  Last part is hitting the bags with punches and kicks and stretching.

10. What are the ages?
We have many adults ranging in ages from late 20's to middle 50"s. Several in their mid-50's. Families work out together mother/farther & teen daughter as an example.

No children are allow to participate in this class. But we offer a monthly girls/women self-defense class for girls ages 10 years old and up. We encourage girls to take this class with their mothers.  Mothers are free with taking the class with their daughters.

11. Will I loose weight?
Yes, and along with loosing weight you tone up. This practice works many parts of your body shaping you up more like a well rounded athletic, than a weight lifter.

Students report much more energy, increase flexibility resulting in a decrease in life's daily aches and pains.

Comments students receive is they are looking younger more vigorous.

12. Bottom line will this Self-Defense work?
Hopefully you will never need it, but because you practice over and over the techniques they will become instinctive (auto-pilot) will kick in when you are confronted by an opponent. There is not time to think, you must react when attack, this comes only from practice.

This is a realist approach to Self-Defense, where your life maybe in danger. The techniques are the type to inflect serious bodily harm or damage to the a life-threatening attacker so you can escape to safely.

In class you practice how to react to attacks, an example the instructor will approach students with fast & strong punches to the face, students must block the punch and immediacy set up to punch back

This is practice over and over in each class. While realistic and don't be surprise by a bruise or two on your arms from blocking, it is still practice. The instructor with over 17 years of experience throws these aggressive punches at a student he can control and stop a punch to make sure no injury to your face or head.