Action skills

Key ideas
1. Learn the fundamentals of self-defense.

Activity
Children should also receive some instruction on basic self-defense from a qualified instructor. Every child should know how to respond in a circumstance that many of them will have to face: what do you do if a bully attempts to hurt you with no possibility of running away or getting adult help? What if the bully is bigger and stronger?

The most obvious place for such instruction is in physical education classes. Proper instruction is critical. Parents who enroll their children in martial arts classes should use caution in their choice. Does the instruction emphasize a philosophy of nonviolence? There is a significant difference between aggressive martial arts and defensive martial arts. For example, aikido emphasizes using the strength of an aggressor to bring him to the floor. Force is never used against someone. The defender is always finding ways to use minimal contact that allows the aggression of an attacker to be used against himself. This teaching requires a philosophical base and experience.

In locations without qualified martial arts instructors, your local law enforcement agency may be able to provide some instruction in fundamentals.

http://www.ksu.edu/wwparent/programs/hero/hero-action-5.htm--Revised June 15, 2005
Copyright © 1996-2005 Charles A. Smith. All rights reserved.