Ladies, Defend Thyselves!

With all the recent muggings in and around Lincoln Park lately, it's never been more timely to learn, brush up on, or practice ways to physically protect ourselves. So last night, lululemon athletica (2104 N. Halsted) hosted a self-defense seminar. Awesome stuff.

Robert Kim, Barry St. John and Gabriel Nechifor (all with remarkable Martial Arts credentials) talked about and demonstrated 1. prevention strategies, 2. various types of strikes, 3. creative weapons and, 4. escapes . They had us practice hits, kicks, and escapes using them, each other, a couple of assistants (with padded shin guards - thanks guys!), and lots of punching mitts. Here are the highlights (some I oversimplified to give the gist):

Regarding Prevention:
- BE AWARE of your surroundings - look and listen. (Turn off/down the ipod, better yet, take out the earphones).
- Walk in the most WELL LIT places - even in the street. (Obviously, watch out for cars if you do this.)
- A bag worn across your shoulders (messenger-bag style) makes you easier to take down. A bad-guy can grab it and use it to force you down or off balance because it's firmly wrapped around you. So, put it over one shoulder instead.
- If it comes to a pursuit, RUN and use what you have around you to create obstacles: push over a garbage can behind you, close doors, etc. (Bob said: "think like you're Jackie Chan." If you don't know who Jackie Chan is, go rent one of his movies. Do this NOW.)

Regarding Strikes:
- Groin kicks. Ladies, I don't mean kick the bad guy in the nuts. Barry said our goal is to "smash the testicles up and into the bone." SMASH THEM.
- Punching. Akin to a boxing jab. Remember to throw your punch AND bring it back. Go for the "sensory organs": mouth, nose, ears, eyes. Speaking of eyes...
- Finger jab. Like the punch but with your fingers straight out and together. (You're punching with your fingers.) Your target: eyeballs.

Creative Weapons:
- KEYS. Put one of them between your index and middle finger. Put one between all your fingers - like Freddy Kruger. If you punch someone with those keys it's gonna hurt them badly enough to slow them down and give you a head-start running away. (Kiss your bedazzled-brass-knuckles goodbye.)
- HEELS. Carry your high-heels as if they are weapons. Use one to punch or hit an assailant. In the sensory organs: mouth, nose, ears, eyes.

Escapes:
- If you find yourself in a bear hug, HEAD BUTT or FOOT STOMP the bad-guy to momentarily disorient him. AND DO IT LIKE YOUR LIFE DEPENDS ON IT. Then, simultaneously pop up your elbows as you drop all your body weight (either into a squat or to the ground) to escape the bear hug. (Now run.)
- Choke holds. Guess how long it can take for a choke hold to make you unconscious? Three seconds. THREE SECONDS. So if you find yourself in one, DON'T WASTE ANY TIME. DIG YOUR CHIN down and into the bent part of the arm around your neck. This restricts the choke a bit. Drop or relax your shoulder closest to bad-guy and twist down, in, and out. You can even force him off balance and down or flip him over with the force of the downward twist. I swear.
- If trapped in any bind from behind, we can also HIP BUTT to throw the assailant off balance, and then remember those KICKS and PUNCHES from earlier.

Does some of this sound challenging? EXACTLY! It's not natural instinct. It takes a little training and practice. But even after the hour with these guys last night, I feel less vulnerable than before. And I'm practicing my kicks and punches. Call these guys, take a seminar or a class, practice at the punching bags at your gym or with friends. But LEARN and PRACTICE and TEACH YOUR FRIENDS. And, do it NOW.

Bob Kim: 773.988.3046
Barry St. John: 773.350.7826
Gabriel Nechifor: 773.510.6420

Or, visit: www.hififitness.com

And: http://www.lululemon.com/chicago/halsted