Self Defense

USJF Self-Defense

Self-defense, as defined by the United States Judo Federation is

• The ability to recognize a threatening environment and avoid the situation whenever possible.
• In the event that the threat cannot be resolved or avoided, the training session(s) will provide the participants with skills to avoid and deter an attacker and in the event of an attack ultimately survive an attack.

Many of the martial art programs teach some sort of self-defense course. Judo has embedded in its pre-arranged forms (kata) two separate learnings for self defense techniques along with a third that teaches one how to escape from several situations.

There are three driving forces that have captured the attention of the USJF and the International Judo Federation. First, there is a demand from parents who want their children safe. They believe that judo is a vehicle that would help their child or children protect themselves from individuals who mean them harm. Not only is there a demand from parents but also from young adults and senior citizens for the same type of knowledge, strategies, and techniques.

Because self-defense is not a one-time learning event another aspect of self-defense is that the introduction to USJF self-defense can introduce the students to Judo and the realization of what is actually involved in learning self-defense. Participants learn that just because someone is exposed to a self-defense course, this does not make them a self-defense expert. People who are considered experts in self-defense are individuals who have learned the techniques and also have many years of ongoing practice. Our courses first expose participants to the concepts and practices of self-defense and for programs that continue with the training, participants gain more skill and acumen.