Category: Self-defense

Mindfulness and personal safety

28/6/2018

In my last blog I looked at the link between martial arts and mindfulness and how the mindful practice of martial arts has made my life richer and more enjoyable. Practising mindfulness enriches the quality of our lives by reducing stress and anxiety, as well as enabling us to enjoy each present moment. It also serves another very practical and important function. Living more mindfully enhances our personal safety.

Mindfulness is a state of being, where we are completely present and living with full awareness of each moment. By living fully in the present moment, we can give our full attention and focus to our present task or activity, whether it is sitting reading a book, taking a walk, or practising martial arts.

When it comes to personal safety, mindfulness enables us to become much more aware of our surroundings. How many times have we walked along a street caught up in our thoughts or looking at our phone, unaware of what is happening around us? Or driven a familiar route on autopilot while we reflect on our day or some problem that is troubling us? Our lack of awareness can expose us to risks, which could be avoided if we practised mindfulness in our daily lives and activities.

Here are some mindful ways we can improve our personal safety.

When you are walking, put your phone away and look up and around you to observe your surroundings. If you walk the same way every day to work, try observing one new thing each day. This way you will notice any changes, including those that might put you at risk.
If you walk to work, wear comfortable walking shoes so that you can enjoy the experience of walking, as well being better prepared if you need to flee.
If you cycle, become more aware of the road, traffic, and things going on around you so that you are prepared for the unexpected. This involves using your sight and sound. Listening to music will distract you from observing and being part of the present moment. This applies to running as well.
On public transport, take the time to look at and notice who is around you. Look up regularly from your phone or book, remove one of your headphones, and take time to observe your environment and the people in it.
When parking your car, look around for well lit and busy areas. When returning, particularly at night, observe your environment and have your keys ready. Distractions, such as listening to music or talking on your phone, will make you less prepared if you need to protect yourself.
During your working day, a more mindful approach enables you to be aware of your stress, potential conflicts, or issues that may be brewing. By taking time to observe yourself and others in the present moment, you will be able to make better decisions and manage your own stress levels.
When you are at a social function or event, mindfulness encourages you to observe your surroundings and the people in it. Do you know where the exits are? Are you aware of where your drink or bag are and who might have access to them? Are you aware of the people around you? Staying focused on the present moment enhances awareness of your environment and the people in it.

While mindfulness can aid your personal safety, it also keeps us in the present moment so we can fully enjoy life.

JKN Jane Hurst
First degree black belt and school owner
Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero

Copyright © 2018. Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero. All Rights Reserved.

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The true art of self-defense

6/6/2018

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Some martial artists believe that in order to really learn to defend yourself, you have to practice full contact fighting. They maintain that it’s an essential part of the physical conditioning needed for self-defense and that by being hit, you learn what it feels like and will be better able to cope with it in a real life fight. I disagree.

There was a time in my past when I was hit hard, on more than one occasion. Fortunately I was never hit in the head so was never knocked unconscious. But I have been hit for real and I know what it feels like. I don’t need to practice full contact fighting to know that at best, being hit hurts like heck and will affect my ability to defend myself. At worst, it may knock me out or even kill me if I am really unlucky. Not long ago, a New Zealand security guard was punched in the head and killed. This shows how deadly just one punch can be.

I also know that the last place I want to be is in a stand up fight with anyone, particularly if that person is bigger and stronger than me. As a relatively small woman, that makes up a lot of the population! I might have a number of physical self-defense skills in my toolkit, but all it can take is one good punch to the head and its curtains for me.

The true art of self-defense is not learning how to fight. No matter how skilled you are as a martial artist, a real life fight is always going to be unpredictable and there is a real possibility that you will get seriously hurt. Self-defense is about never needing to fight or only using your self-defense skills as an absolute last resort.

Self-defense is about being well prepared. What we do in our everyday lives has a major influence on whether we will ever need to physically defend ourselves. True self-defense starts with:

Being alert and aware of our surroundings.
Making sure we don’t put ourselves into potentially dangerous situations.
Trusting our gut instinct about someone and not assuming that just because we know them, that they won’t hurt us.
Looking after ourselves and our friends when we go out, particularly when drinking.
Being careful with the information and assistance we give strangers.
Finding ways to defuse and walk away from confrontations, rather than getting angry and escalating them.
Calling the police rather than trying to be a hero.

Self-defense is also about physical conditioning. However, we don’t need to practice full contact fighting to condition our bodies. Our martial art of Kuk Sool Won™ physically conditions us in many ways; through the practice of forms, kicks, falling techniques, weapons training, and self-defense techniques. No or minimal contact sparring also conditions the body and improves our speed and reflexes, without the need to be physically hurt. These are all an important part of developing our body and mind to react in the best possible way if we are ever faced with a physical confrontation

There may be times when we have no choice but to physically defend ourselves. I hope that situation never arises but if it does, my focus will be on using my martial arts training to get away from the situation as quickly as possible and hopefully, physically and psychologically unharmed. However, using my martial arts skills is the last resort in my self-defense toolkit. I hope I never have to use them.

JKN Jane Hurst
First degree black belt and school owner
Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero

Copyright © 2018. Kuk Sool Won™ of Onewhero. All Rights Reserved.

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Mindfulness and personal safety

The true art of self-defense

Caroline and Jane Hurst

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