Are you a self-defence instructor in SA?

[Sanko]

Do you teach self-defence instructor in South Africa? If so, here are
some things to consider.

According to a recent study South Africa has the highest incidents of
rape, around one in 27 seconds! And those most at risk are children
ages 12 to 17.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/SA-children-most-at-risk-of-rape-study-20110329

One survey says that more than one in three men in South Africa have
forced themselves onto women.

http://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/More-than-1-in-3-men-rape-study-20101126

So if you claim to teach self-defence how are you addressing this
problem? Are your syllabus catering this bracket -- young women --
with information, strategies and techniques that may reduce the
posibility of a sexual assualt? This should include more than physical
techniques. Your sylabus should include preventative strategies, but
if the unfortunate were to happen, also post-event help.

It is, of course probable that your demographic looks somewhat
different -- maybe you are not teaching many young women -- and your
students are more prone to be mugged and hijacked than raped. Knowing
the specific profile of your students is paramount if you call
yourself a self-defence instructor.

Then again, maybe you are not a self-defence instructor, merely a
martial art instructor. While self-defence and martial arts could
comfortably overlap, they do not necessarily overlap and usually do
not by default cover the same material. Some people are martial art
instructors. Some are self-defence instructors. Some are both. Be
clear about which you are and be honest to your students.

Regards,

Sanko