Self Defense

Each class will be drawn and constructed from the following general topic list:

  • General concepts of self defense
  • General concepts of martial arts
  • Awareness training and development
  • Warm up, limbering, coordination and stretching exercises
  • Breathing, Ki and Qi Gong exercises
  • Conditioning and skill development exercises
  • Aikido and related Japanese martial systems such as Swordsmanship, Aiki Jo and Aiki Jujutsu
  • Chinese martial systems, such as Taijiquan, Shing Yi Quan, Shaolin Ch’uan, Chin Na and Shuai Jiao
  • Filipino martial systems, such as Arnis and Eskrima
  • Integrated concepts of unarmed, armed and group situation self defense

All class and course topics will be selected and addressed at the discretion and judgement of the Professor. Questions and situational analyses by students are highly encouraged.

It is important to note that this class is NOT inclusive of martial art sports, games or competition. There will be no “free sparring”, boxing, wrestling or other such mock armed or unarmed duelling.

Learning Objectives

Areas of advancement for each student are intended to include:

  • Increasing personal awareness in the immediate, short and long terms
  • Development of correct practice habits
  • Development of a regular (daily) personal training routine based on topics from the major course subjects
  • Increased personal relaxation, balance and confidence
  • Identification of the individual student’s concerns and needs regarding self defense, and the means to address those concerns and needs.

It is intended, and hoped, that this course be repeated regularly by those truly interested in the topic. The topic is complex, the course subjects are vast. Martial arts and their applications are best approached as a life long endeavor.

Recommended Readings

Reading and other class topic related media will be discussed and suggested as appropriate during the semester. Self Defense students are highly encouraged to become aware of, and familiar with, local and state law and regulation through readily available sources, such as city, county and state websites.