NIOSH Integration with Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills

NIOSH Integration with Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills

by | 16th May 2023 | Self-Defense

Integrating Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills into NIOSH Training

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) is dedicated to promoting occupational safety, not only limited to accidents but also encompassing workplace violence. It is crucial to recognize that safety extends beyond accidents in the workplace, as incidents of workplace violence can pose significant risks to employees. In addition to addressing physical hazards, NIOSH should also consider incorporating Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills into their safety module training to empower individuals with the ability to protect themselves against workplace violence.

Beyond Physical 

Self-defense encompasses more than just physical combat; it emphasizes prevention, threat diffusion, and understanding citizens’ rights to self-defense, particularly in countries like Malaysia where law enforcement availability may be limited during critical incidents.

Understanding NIOSH

NIOSH, as a leading organization in occupational safety, strives to eliminate workplace hazards and ensure the well-being of workers. While accidents are a primary focus, it is equally important to address workplace violence as a potential threat that can compromise employee safety.

Expanding Safety Training:

By incorporating Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills into NIOSH’s safety module training, individuals can acquire the necessary tools to protect themselves effectively, not only in accidents but also in the face of workplace violence. The expanded training should emphasize the following aspects:

Prevention: Self-defense training should prioritize proactive measures to prevent workplace violence, including recognizing warning signs, fostering a culture of respect and communication, and implementing security measures. By equipping individuals with prevention skills, NIOSH can help create a safer work environment.

Threat Diffusion: Self-defense training should provide individuals with techniques to de-escalate potentially violent situations, diffuse conflicts, and promote non-confrontational resolutions. By emphasizing effective communication and conflict resolution strategies, NIOSH can empower employees to defuse tense situations before they escalate.

Last Resort Response: While prevention and diffusion are paramount, it is essential to prepare individuals for the possibility of violence. Self-defense training should cover basic physical defense techniques as a last resort to protect oneself in a violent encounter. The focus should be on self-preservation and employing minimal necessary force.

Citizen’s Rights to Self-Defense in Malaysia: NIOSH training should also address the legal aspects of self-defense within the Malaysian context, ensuring individuals understand their rights and responsibilities when confronted with workplace violence. By educating employees about the boundaries and legal implications of self-defense, NIOSH can empower them to make informed decisions.

Collaboration and Implementation:

To effectively integrate Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills into NIOSH training, collaboration with experts in self-defense instruction, workplace violence prevention, and legal authorities is crucial. These partnerships will ensure that the training programs align with best practices, legal requirements, and address the specific challenges faced by Malaysian workers.

Conclusion:

By acknowledging the potential threat of workplace violence and incorporating Basic Realistic Self-Defense Skills into their safety module training, NIOSH can provide a comprehensive approach to employee safety. By focusing on prevention, threat diffusion, last resort response, and understanding citizens’ rights to self-defense, NIOSH equips individuals with the tools needed to address workplace violence effectively. This proactive stance aligns with NIOSH’s mission of reducing injuries, illnesses, and fatalities while fostering a safer work environment. Through collaboration and a holistic approach to safety training, NIOSH can contribute to empowering individuals to protect themselves against workplace violence and ensure their well-being beyond accidents alone.

Learning To Swim On Land

Learning To Swim On Land

by | 23rd April 2023 | Self-Defense

Learning How to Swim on Land

Learning how to defend oneself is an important skill, but some approaches to learning how to fight may not be as effective as they seem. The idea that one can learn how to fight by simply memorizing moves and techniques is a flawed approach, much like learning how to swim on land. In this article, we’ll explore why relying solely on forms and memorization is not enough to prepare oneself for a real-life altercation, and why it’s like trying to learn how to swim on land.

Memorization of One Thousand Steps

Moves memorization are often used in martial arts training to develop muscle memory and coordination. While they can be useful in some aspects, they are not sufficient to prepare someone for a real fight. Memorization alone does not prepare a person for the chaos and unpredictability of an actual assault, much like how learning the movements of swimming on land does not prepare a person for the feeling of being in water. In addition, moves memorization do not teach a person how to react in real-time to the unexpected movements of an attacker.

Training with Limitations on  Where You Can Striking: An Incomplete Approach

In some martial arts training, there are limitations on where one can strike during practice. While this may help develop control and precision, it can also create an incomplete approach to training. In real-life situations, there are no rules governing where one can strike. Practicing only on a limited set of targets can leave a person unprepared for the violence and unpredictability of a real fight, much like how practicing swimming movements on land will not prepare a person for the sensations and reactions of being in water.

Training Without Exposure to Real Violence: A Dangerous Gap

Training without exposure to real violence can create a dangerous gap in a person’s training. Without experiencing real violence, a person cannot fully appreciate the chaos and unpredictability of an actual altercation. This can lead to a false sense of confidence, as they may believe they are prepared for a real fight when they are not, much like how a person who has only learned swimming movements on land may believe they are prepared to swim in water.

In conclusion, relying solely on moves memorization, and limited training can create an incomplete approach to learning how to fight, much like how learning swimming movements on land can create a false sense of preparedness for swimming in water. To fully prepare oneself for a real fight, one must train with the understanding that real violence is unpredictable and chaotic. By recognizing this, a person can develop the necessary skills to react in real-time to unexpected movements and attacks, much like how a person who learns how to swim in water can navigate the unpredictability of waves and currents.

 

Recipe For Disaster

Recipe For Disaster

by | 23rd April 2023 | Self-Defense

A Recipe for Disaster: Training Self Defense Without Knowing What an Actual Attack Looks Like

Self-defense is a critical skill that everyone should possess. Unfortunately, some self-defense training programs may be ineffective or even dangerous. One of the biggest mistakes that self-defense programs make is failing to teach their students what an actual attack looks like. This lack of understanding can lead to a recipe for disaster, as students may not be able to recognize an attack and respond appropriately. In this article, we will explore why it is essential to understand what an actual attack looks like in self-defense training.

The Problem with Unfamiliarity

Self-defense is all about defending oneself from harm. However, when a person has no experience with what an attack looks like, they are likely to be unfamiliar with the warning signs that precede an attack. This unfamiliarity can lead to a false sense of security, where the person believes they are safe when they are not. Without the experience of what an actual attack looks like, they may not recognize the warning signs and therefore not be prepared to respond.

Misunderstanding the Dynamics of an Attack

Without understanding the dynamics of an attack, self-defense training can be incomplete and ineffective. The dynamics of an actual attack can be quite different from what one may expect.

Here are some common Misunderstandings that lead to unrealistic training are as such: 

1) Attackers always come from the front: Many self-defense training focus on training a student to face attackers from the front. However, this is not always the case. Attackers may approach from behind, from the side, or even from above. 

2) Attackers only strike once and freeze: It’s a common misconception that attackers will only strike once and then freeze, allowing you to defend yourself. However, in reality, attackers don’t pause to give you time to react and use your martial arts techniques. Despite this fact, some schools still teach students to strike their partner only once and stop, expecting the other student to execute their techniques. This approach fails to prepare students for the real-world dynamics of an attack and can be dangerous in practice.

3) Single Directional Striking:  One common misconception is the assumption that attacks will be one-directional. In other words, the attacker is expected to strike only in one direction with or without weapon.

4) Wait Till Sunrise: Assuming that one should only respond to an attack after the attacker has struck. This passive mindset can lead to hesitation and delay in responding, making it dangerous.

Effective self-defense training must address these misunderstandings by incorporating realistic scenarios and simulations. By practicing with full-speed, unscripted attacks, students can develop the skills and reflexes necessary to respond quickly and effectively to real-world threats.

The Role of Simulation in Self-Defense Training

Simulation is an essential component of realistic training in self-defense. By simulating real-world scenarios, students can experience what an actual attack looks like and how to respond. Simulation can also help students understand the dynamics of an attack and how to respond when they are caught off guard. By practicing different scenarios, students can prepare themselves for a wide range of situations, increasing their chances of survival in the face of danger.

In conclusion, training self-defense without understanding what an actual attack looks like can be a recipe for disaster. Without experience with the dynamics of an attack, self-defense training can be incomplete and ineffective. By incorporating realistic training and simulation into self-defense training programs, students can prepare themselves for a wide range of scenarios and increase their chances of survival in the face of danger.

 

 

How Effective Are the Women’s Self-Defense Classes near me?

How Effective Are the Women’s Self-Defense Classes near me?

by | 10th March 2023 | Community, Self-Defense

Knowing The Law – Your Rights To Self-Defense

From a young age, many women are taught to prioritize politeness, accommodation, and conflict avoidance. While these qualities can be positive in many situations, they can also leave women vulnerable to those who seek to do them harm. That’s why self-defense training should include educating practitioners their rights to defend themselves within the boundaries of their country’s law.

The importance of Practicality & Stress Test

 If you’re looking for women’s self-defense classes in KL or near you, it’s also important to find a program that focuses on realistic scenarios and practical techniques, because not all self-defense training is created equal. Many programs focus on teaching women to defend themselves against unlikely scenarios, such as hand grabs or wrist locks. They may also rely on memorizing a series of steps to follow in case of an attack. While these techniques can be helpful in certain situations, they are not always practical or effective in real-life scenarios.

 Realistic and Targeted Approaches

In order for women’s self-defense training to be truly effective, it must be based on realistic scenarios and stress testing. This means training women to defend themselves against common types of attacks that they are likely to encounter in their daily lives. It also means putting them in realistic, high-pressure situations so they can learn to respond quickly and effectively. At the same time, it’s important to avoid relying on overly complex techniques or memorized sequences of moves. In a real-life situation, there may not be time to think through a series of steps before responding to an attack. Instead, women should be trained to target the most vulnerable areas of the human body, such as the eyes, throat, or groin. By focusing on these high-impact targets, women can quickly and decisively defend themselves against single or multiple attackers.

 Everyday Objects as Self-Defense Tools for Women

While physical techniques are certainly important in self-defense, it’s also crucial for women to understand how to use everyday objects as tools to help defend themselves. In many situations, women may not have access to traditional self-defense tools like pepper spray, but they can still use the items they have on hand to their advantage. For example, a set of keys can be used to scratch an attacker’s face or to strike them in vulnerable areas like the eyes or groin. An umbrella can be used to strike an attacker from a distance or to create space between the woman and the attacker. By teaching women to think creatively about the objects around them and how they can be used as weapons or tools, self-defense classes can provide them with a sense of confidence and preparedness in any situation.

Beyond Physical Technique

 Effective women’s self-defense training also goes beyond simply teaching physical techniques. It should also cover important topics like situational awareness, verbal de-escalation, and boundary-setting. By learning to recognize potential threats and avoid dangerous situations, women can minimize their risk of being targeted in the first place.

 Urban Street Defense: A Reality Based Women’s Self-Defense Program

If you find it time consuming or having difficulty in looking for a comprehensive women’s self-defense training program that covers everything from prevention to response, look no further than Urban Street Defense. Our program is designed to equip participants with the knowledge and skillset they need to face life-threatening situations with confidence. At Urban Street Defense, we understand that time is precious and finding a training center that offers everything you need can be difficult. That’s why we offer a range of courses and workshops that cater to different needs and schedules. From short courses that span 1-3 months to longer-term weekly programs, we have something to suit everyone’s needs.

 Our program is based on simple and realistic techniques that are tested against real-life attack situations. We also cover the law of self-defense in Malaysia so that participants are aware of their rights and responsibilities in dangerous situations. We believe that prevention is key, so we also teach participants how to diffuse potentially dangerous situations before they escalate.

 In addition to providing short or long term courses, we also offer workshops that are HRDF claimable, making it easier for companies to engage us. Our aim is to empower women to protect themselves and feel more confident in their daily lives. Join us today and learn the skills you need to stay safe and secure.

 

Beyond Styles: The Importance of Training Focus for Effective Self-Defense

Beyond Styles: The Importance of Training Focus for Effective Self-Defense

by | 9th March 2023 | Self-Defense

 Which Style is the best? 

 When it comes to self-defense, there is a plethora of martial arts styles to choose from, but the question is whether Wushu, Jiu Jitsu, Karate, Taekwondo, or any particular style is effective for self-defense. Let’s explore this topic further. Throughout my years of teaching self-defense, I often come across questions such as, “Is Wushu good for self-defense?” “Is Karate good for self-defense?” “Is Jiu Jitsu good for self-defense?” “Is bjj good for self defense?” and “Is boxing or MMA better for self-defense?” Although these are valid questions, the effectiveness of any martial art style for self-defense depends on various factors.

Training Objectives

Martial art styles are like any other form of exercise or sport. They have techniques, training methods, and objectives, but what matters most is the application of these techniques in a self-defense situation. As Bruce Lee famously said, “Styles separate men. It’s a process of continuing growth.” This quote highlights the issue of people sticking to one style and ignoring other forms of martial arts. Styles may differ in their approach, but the end goal is the same – self-defense.

Superiority

Having particular style does not make one superior or weaker than another. No style is superior to another, but the learning objectives can make a difference in a person’s skillset. WE just need to ask ourselves, what are my learning objectives? Is it to win in competitions, to perform, or strictly defend oneself during times of crisis? Once we can identify our reason for picking up a particular martial arts, then we have to see whether that particular style is training you to achieve what you wanted to achieve.

Expectations Vs Reality

For instance, my primary purpose for learning self-defense is to protect myself and loved ones. However, the training school I enrolled in focuses 80% of the curriculum on teaching memorization of Forms and patterns, primarily for winning competitions and achieving higher ranking belts. Consequently, this emphasis may cause me to neglect the practicality of the techniques in real-life situations, rendering my learning objectives misaligned with the training school’s approach. Therefore, this training approach is unlikely to help me achieve my ultimate goal and objectives.

Another example. Mr. Alex’s goal for learning self-defense was to win a competition that was bound by fixed rules. However, his school taught techniques that were not bound by rules. Despite this, Mr. Alex went ahead and participated in the competition, only to lose to an opponent who had been training specifically for years with those competition rules. In light of this situation, can we say that Mr. Alex’s school taught a less superior style than the other?

Based on the given examples, it becomes apparent that the effectiveness of self-defense training is not dependent on the style but rather on the alignment between the individual’s objectives and the focus of the training school.

Category based on training objectives

Therefore. training schools can be categorized based on their focus into four types:

    1. Performance-Based – Training focuses on the aesthetic aspect of the martial art. It involves choreographed moves, displays, and exhibitions.
    2. Art-Based – Training emphasizes the history, culture, and philosophy of the martial art. The objective is to learn the art form and appreciate its values.
    3. Sports-Based -Training involves competition and rules. It is more geared towards winning tournaments and medals.
    4. Reality-Based – Training focused on practical self-defense techniques that work in real-life situations. Most of the training will be stress tested based on how real situation will happen. The objective is to train for scenarios one may face in the streets.

Conclusion

After gaining insights from this article, if someone were to ask you, “Is jiu-jitsu the best self-defense?” Will your answer be a simple YES or NO? The effectiveness of any martial art for self-defense depends on how the training school focuses on training its students. If a BJJ or jiu-jitsu training school solely emphasizes grappling techniques on the mats, it may not be practical in real-life street attacks. It is unrealistic to think that one can roll around on the pavement during an attack. Not only can this result in serious injuries, but the attacker’s accomplices may also kick or hurt the person on the ground while they are focusing on a single opponent. It is crucial to find a style that suits your needs and tailor your training accordingly. Remember, no style is superior to another, and the ultimate goal is to learn practical self-defense techniques that work in real-life situations.

The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Program formed in 2016

The Origins of the Women’s Self-Defense Program formed in 2016

by | 18th September 2018 | Community, Self-Defense

china-migrant-worker-beats-wife-for-not-listening-01-560x437 During Raya Festive Season, most of us will head back to our hometown, looking forward to visit our loved ones, and re-visit some places that bring back good or bad memories. For me, as I was travelling back to my hometown, not only did I re-visited some places in my hometown, I  re-visited my past and the origins of the formation of The Women’s Self-Defense Community Program. I reflected on what triggered the idea and passion within me to form the Women’s Self-Defense Community and specially tailored program that continues to develop the community. More and more reasons began to unfold, as I revisited my past and met up with my friends and relatives. Some may be curious about the motivations and reasons behind my efforts. If you are curious enough, I encourage you to read on. It is a common thing to hear from my family members and friends about their relatives, friends or even family members who were victims of crimes at some point in their lives. Crimes such as snatch theft and robbery in broad day light. But among all the crimes, the most common cases are wives being abused by their own husbands, both physically and verbally. Physical & Verbal Abuse usually come in one package and the consequences and impact on the women and family is great. Every time I hear of these incidents, a surge of anger will rise within me but at the same I feel helpless as I could not do anything but to just pray. For the past 2 years, I have heard of increasing incidents happening to the people around me, I even witnessed a few incidents which involved road bullies and snatch thefts in front of my very own eyes. A lady driver being bullied with insulting words, yet another lady was screaming for her life as she was dragged along by a motorcyclist as her hand was still holding on to her bag. Her hands and face were scarred. It may be temporary but the emotional effect can be permanent. On another occasion, a group of robbers managed to robbed one of my neighbor’s car. I rushed out and tried to stopped the robbers but it was too late.  The car was no where to be seen. They escaped. Apart from the above, my worst encounter was  a wife that has fallen victim in the hands of her own husband, experiencing and bearing the pain of physical and verbal abuse.  Husbands are supposed to protect and love their wives at all costs, and not become headlines for domestic violence. In fact, no man should ever hit a woman. The feelings of injustice and anger are indescribable. There are two incidents I wish to share here. Case #1: A man owned a business, and whenever his business was not doing well, he will then return home to lash out his anger and disappointment by beating up his wife and verbally abuse her.  It eventually became a frightful routine. Despite all the sacrifices the wife had made for the home, this man thought he had every right to throw his temper on her, just because he was the sole provider for the family. Worst of all, he encouraged their son to abuse the mother together. The wife, being a foreigner, had no relatives or family to turn to for help. Sometimes, the husband will just throw her belongings out and command her to get out of the house. Where do you expect your wife to go to in the middle of the night? At wits end, she sought shelter at the nearest Motel, not knowing what her future holds. Overwhelmed by fear, anger, injustice and at the same time torn by the love any wife or or mother would have for her husband and child, she just could not comprehend why all these are happening to her. Abandoned by her husband and her very own flesh and blood, she had no where to go, no one to turn to. Despite all odds, she knew that she must stand up and fend for herself. Eventually, with the minimal resources she had, she took up the challenge to set up a food store selling noodles and was determined to earn her own living expenses. When her husband came to knew about this, he started to demand money from her to sustain his business. She refused and the beatings started again with her precious belongings often thrown out onto the streets.  It has then became a norm for her to head back to the same motel to stay for the night. But I admire this woman, because of her courage to step up and start a business of her own and having the endurance to overcome the struggles she faced, and despite the painful circumstances that she has been subjected to by her own beloved family, yet she remained strong. Physically and emotionally bruised, but her spirit was not beaten. Case #2: A man with criminal record was released from jail, and currently living with his wife and child who is in his early teens. Despite serving time in jail, his lazy and undisciplined attitude remained the same. Not willing to search for a proper job, always seeking the fastest route to earn a living with the least amount of effort. It didn’t take long for him to return to his old ways of distributing drugs and gambling. He often gambles off the money he took from his wife, and ends up beating his wife whenever he feels like it. Left with no options, the wife took up two jobs, one in the morning, one at night to make ends meet. There was once they were unable afford a place to stay, one of her friend willingly offered to help and manage to find a temporary place for free for a duration of 6 months.When it was time to move out, her friend took the initiative to find another suitable place for the family. Eventually, by God’s grace they found an owner that was willing to take them in. Due to their financial constraints, her friend offered to pay for their deposit and some minor repair cost for the house. To the wife’s astonishment, the husband not only did not appreciate the effort, he REFUSED to move out from the previous house he enjoyed for free. But this is not for him to decide, he was forced to pack his bags and shift to the new place. On that very day when they were due to move in, the husband had a heated argument with the wife. He complained that the house did not have air condition, and his family is not fit to be staying in such a house. Consumed with anger, the husband slapped the wife’s face several times until it was was swollen. He then had the guts to drive the wife to the police station, challenging her to make a police report, because he knew that her love for him was so great that she will surely not press charges against him. With a swollen face, tattered clothes and slippers torn apart, she was left abandoned and stranded at the police station by her husband. She then approached the police officer to lodge a police report, but the officer told her that this station does not take in husband and wife cases. She was told to report at the Headquarters which was quite a distance away.  Armed with grit and determination, she walked for 40 minutes under the scorching hot sun all the way to her friend’s house to seek help. Her friend immediately took a cab with her to the police station HQ to lodge a report, followed by medical check ups and all the tedious procedures she had to patiently go through. Eventually, the husband was called back to the police station. When he arrived, again he and his wife were hurling insults and blaming each other for causing the arguments. The police lady officer stepped in and stated that regardless of who is at fault, under the eyes of law, as long as a man hits his wife, the wife has every right to press charges against the husband. The man then retaliated that his wife would not dare take such drastic action as she loved him so much. And yes, sadly, the husband went free. His wife did NOT press charges against the husband. As a wife and a woman, to protect your own dignity and your future, would you not make a stand ? The choice is yours. So, why did I bring up these 2 cases? From these 2 cases you can see and appreciate the differences of their characters, their response and the choices they made in life. The stark contrast in these cases had greatly impacted me to continue my efforts and work in this society. One of the main reason for the existence of the Women’s Self-Defense Community is to build up women’s confidence, increase their ability to defend themselves and also EMPOWER other women to do the same. I cannot do this alone, I need more women to step up against violence. I am not concluding that physical self-defense or learning martial arts is the solution to all abusive relationships or crimes involving women. But it is part of a necessary skill that is able to condition the mind and body to step up and stand firm on your ground in life, without fearing and allowing anyone (not only men) to take advantage of you and abuse you (whether physically or verbally). Everything starts from the mind, and it flows to the way we present ourselves to others. Confidence begins from your mind. If you think that you are one of the women who supports the Mission and Movement of the group, please come forward by messaging me on my Facebook account : Urban Street Defense Thank you for reading my blog thus far. This blog is written on: 7th July 2016 (Transferred from my old blog website)