The close-quarter self-defence training imperative

Yes, that’s right: close-quarter self-defence training is vitally important. From a young age, we’re taught everything - from reading, art, maths, biology to camping in the wild. Yet there’s no official requirement for children, men or women to learn situational awareness and how to defend themselves and survive an attack. And in the South African context, with crime spiralling out of control, this is an absolute necessity. When you make a major purchase such as a car, house or jewellery, the first thing you do is to insure it. Those are material things. But what have you done to ensure (and insure) your safety? Surely a course in close-quarter self-defence training is your insurance policy to get out of a sticky (and possibly lethal) situation alive? We’re not talking paranoia here – just cold, hard facts. Being heads-up about self-defence, safety and personal situational awareness is the most important aspect in the mindset of self-defence. Even people with legally owned and licenced firearms think they don’t need further and/or developmental training. But the fact is that attacks in South Africa have become decidedly brutal. We must understand that for criminals in most cases an attack isn’t personal. It’s a means to an end. Basically, business as usual. Criminals usually prey on anyone who appears unable to defend him/herself: women, the old, weak and timid. Thus our mindset and awareness should change and be developed. As crime and the criminal modus of operandi have changed, so too should we adapt. And adaptation is possible with well-structured close-quarter defensive developmental training. The main purpose of the close-quarter self-defence course is to influence the legally armed firearm owner about being a safe citizen. This is truly an explosive 5- to 6-hour course and a must to attend. It’s presented to both small and larger groups, or as private one-to-one sessions. OBJECTIVES A combination of theory discussions and practical application exercises take centre-stage in the close-quarter self-defence training course for private and home defence: • Rules of defence • Personal and home risk assessment • A private citizen arrest • Predator and crime analogy (where we think like a criminal) • Situational awareness and understanding the concept streetwise • Pre-visualisation and practical simulations • Muscle memory and stress factors ALSO COVERED • Alertness: Our ability to be situationally aware and streetwise • Decisiveness: Developed stress factors to allow us to make decisions • Aggression: To act like we mean it • Speed: Well-developed muscle memory • Coolness: Comes with training and well-developed muscle memory • Ruthlessness: Acquiring the same demeanour as your attacker • Surprise: Surprise your assailant WORLD TRENDS Most first world countries have long since understood the necessity of close-quarter self-defence training. And if crime hadn’t been an issue for them, then they wouldn’t have so many training schools preparing citizens for home and private self-defence. As is well-known and stressed at the beginning of this article, the South African situation is infinitely worse. Which is why it’s of the utmost importance for citizens to take charge of their lives by acquiring the necessary close-quarter self-defence training. And your first port of call should be Marksman’s Nest. Please note that bookings are essential.