Beyond Self-Defense is dedicated to the men and women who selflessly serve our country, on our shores and overseas, who graciously and bravely put themselves daily in harm’s way to protect and keep our country free.
This is a website is about self-defense and the martial arts.
I first walked into a dojo June 7, 1985. From the moment we first bowed in, I knew this is what I was looking for. Most dojos in my world are rented rooms, school gymnasiums we can use for free, or perhaps a church with a big enough floor to fit twenty to thirty students. My first dojo was a school gymnasium. For many years, I was the only woman in my dojo, although the wife of the head instructor taught in another town.
In 1985, the martial arts were just being recognized in the U.S. What was believed about karate carried the reputation of people being a bad-ass. It especially was not the place for a woman – even though the origins of the martial arts are chock-full of women warriors. Women protected their children and the villages – trained in the martial arts from a young age with their brothers, they just as skillful.
But this is America we are talking about – a time when sports were for the guys. Even though karate is not a sport, the American mindset toward a woman participant was no different than if I’d asked to play football with them.
The message was clear. Shine brighter than the men. No girl push-ups for this one! Train harder.
My roots come from Hawaii, Okinawa, and China, thanks to the long lineage of my two instructors. My school is Mushin Dojo. I am a fifth-degree certified instructor in Okinawan Kubo do League and Japanese Karate Associations.
Violence is all around us, and it is important to know how to stay safe. We don’t realize it at the time, but we tend to put ourselves in unsafe scenarios by testing the waters with unsavory people and by not setting limits. Then we realize too late the big mistake after being beaten and dumped – or worse – by that mean-hearted, conniving ***!
Why do some people get the good ones and others get the leftovers? Why do people stay in abusive relationships?
I’ve been pondering questions like these for some time now. I see women leave one bad man and hook up with another. Or a really nice guy team up with a really nasty woman. Either way, why do people keep going back to, or seeking out, an abuser? I couldn’t figure it out.
Until one day, I did. That was when I realized the self-defense I was teaching women was making them a danger to themselves. There is nothing riskier than misplaced confidence in a violent encounter. After that, I quit teaching six-week self-defense classes and backtracked to see what was missing. A whole lot, I discovered.
If you want to succeed at a test, study in the room you will be taking the test. If you want to make a great speech, practice on that stage. Being comfortable in your surroundings increases your recall. How can you be comfortable in an angry confrontation or when someone is attacking you? How can you recall anything when you are scared stiff?
Wouldn’t it be better to avoid that attack altogether?
Physical self-defense comprises about 5% of the picture. It is the mental aspects of preservation that keep us alive.
Self-defense cannot be learned overnight, or even in a short 3-hour or 6-week class. Reflexes come from practice, and to effectively defend yourself, you must have the reflexes to act – so you are comfortable with yourself even when scared stiff.
Obviously, it is not possible to teach techniques in a blog, but it is possible to urge awareness of your surroundings and learn to spot and avoid an evil person. These are not techniques just for women, but men also benefit from awareness and calmness of mind.
I chose the name Beyond Self-Defense because that is exactly where we are going. We will discuss various ways to stay safe in this crazy, mixed-up world by using strategy, intelligence, and intuition. Tips and tricks that you can use in any situation – the boardroom, the family room, and confronting the masked stranger.
Plus, if you explore the site, you will see articles on the history of the martial arts and it’s masters. We will further explore the origins and techniques of Okinawan Tomari-te Karate. An ancient art that is nearly obsolete, and I was fortunate to have received the knowledge.
You will read posts on how to pick healthy relationships, and how spot signs of danger, both on the street and in the home. I will also show you some interesting tools you can use to defend yourself.
If you want to learn to just kick butt, you’ve come to the wrong place.
Check back often to see what’s new, and feel free to leave a comment. I would love to hear from you.
Peace be with you.
