Rookie Tips for Attending Women’s Self-Defense Classes in NYC

Nearly 3 out of 10 women in the United States have been subjected to rape, physical violence, and stalking by a stranger or partner. Those numbers are a lot and highlight the ever-present danger women face. Learning to protect yourself from a potentially harmful situation can help. Attending self-defense classes is one way to make that happen. If you’re taking sessions for the first time, here are several suggestions to help you prepare.
It Can Be Difficult at First
If you’ve never participated in women’s self-defense classes in NYC before, the first session can be surprising, especially when you’re not used to doing exercises or stances on the mat. That’s normal. Don’t let it intimidate or scare you off. With enough practice, your body will get used to the exercises and you’ll be practicing them in no time.
The Scenarios Can Be Scary
Some instructors will recreate scary scenarios to demonstrate when self-defense is crucial. The scenarios help you imagine what might happen when you’re walking home at night and someone comes at you, attacks you, or tries to abduct you. No, your instructor isn’t scaring you. Instructors are trained to use these scenarios to familiarize students with situations they might encounter. That helps you become more aware of your surroundings and recognize potentially dangerous situations, allowing you time to escape, if not prevent them, in the first place.
Being Loud is Encouraged
When attending women’s self-defense classes in NYC, your instructor will encourage you to be loud when practicing your strikes. It might feel awkward initially, but shouting helps you release energy and alerts people around you when you’re in a dangerous situation. Calling attention to yourself can also scare or intimidate an attacker, startling them enough to give you a moment to escape. That’s an effective method, so give it a try.
Escape is the First Thing You Learn
Attending a self-defense class won’t automatically give you fighting skills. Those techniques are learned over time. Every instructor worth their salt will emphasize that getting away is the most important. If you ever find yourself in a potentially dangerous situation, don’t confront the individual. Your instructor will tell you it’s always best to stay cautious. Avoid the problem if possible. Learning self-defense techniques to defend yourself doesn’t mean looking for trouble. Unless you practice for years, you’re better off knowing enough to give you a moment to get away and escape. Anything more than that—especially confronting the individual—might prove too dangerous.
Personal Space Doesn’t Exist
Before enrolling in self-defense classes, know that you’ll be working with a partner during your sessions. Students pair up to practice techniques on each other, which often means hitting each other during sparring. You need to hold each other aggressively during the exercises, and that can be a little awkward if you’re particular about your personal space. Some of the techniques put you in close combat situations. However, once you get used to it, the awkwardness disappears. It also helps if you build rapport with your classmates. Getting to know them and building trust will make those sessions easier. Sometimes, you might even need to pull on the collar of each other’s sparring clothes, putting you in close contact with your classmates. If you’re already comfortable with each other, though, you won’t have any trouble practicing the moves or stances.
Pay Attention to Your Schedule
Many people make the mistake of booking a class without paying attention to their schedule. If you choose a slot too close to lunch or dinner time, that can be a problem. It’s better to only have a light snack before the sessions. You’ll have a harder time with the stances if you’re too full after a meal. You’ll also be uncomfortable, especially if the sessions involve rolling or falling on the mat if you’ve eaten a heavy lunch or dinner an hour before class. Time it right so it won’t affect your mealtimes and cause you indigestion.
Wear Protective Gear
You’ll see this often enough once you start going to self-defense classes. Many typically wear protective gear, and you should do the same. The techniques come naturally to you only after hours of practice. That means repetitive actions and motions, which can put a strain on your joints. Consider knee pads if you already have an old injury or don’t want your knees acting up. Some also have shin guards, wrist guards, and ankle guards. It might seem funny to walk into a session covered with pads all over your body. But if you’re a beginner, the guards help protect you, especially when you fall or make a mistake during a technique. Otherwise, you might twist your ankle or sprain your wrist. With protective gear, you can enjoy your sessions and not worry about being sore and in pain.