Self-Defense Training In The Time Of A Pandemic.
****Re-Posted from the original date in May, 2020. I had to restructure the blog.****
Fighting and training during a pandemic is new to most of us, but it’s nothing new to the world. A pandemic helped the Spartans win a war.
Since the shut down of the self-defense training facilities, due to the Covid-19 virus, I have been asked several times,
“What will happen to self-defense training after the Corona virus?”
“When will the facilities open again"?
“Is it safe to train with people now?”
The people that ask me these questions know that I have been involved in martial arts all my adult life; therefore I must know the answers to these questions.
My answer to them was, “ I simply don’t know.”
As I stare at their disappointment in my answer, I try to explain it like this:
“I don’t own a facility that trains individuals in self-defense.”
“I don’t have the responsibility/burden of dealing with local government policies that mandate the operation of the facility.”
“I don’t have to reassure parents and members that I’ve done my best to keep the facility clear of a virus like Covid-19.”
“I don’t lay awake at night trying to come up with ideas that will keep my membership together, while the country searches for answers to this problem.”
Here’s what I do know.
Pandemics are not new to the world. The record goes as far back as 430 BC to the Athenians and the Spartan conflict. One thing is for sure, the Spartans did not stop training.
and,,,,,,
To effectively train in self-defense, we need to get back on the mat.
“You cannot win a fight through social media training.”
Regardless of how skilled your instructor is.
Before I get some of the country’s self-defense instructors pi$$ed at me for that comment, let me state that social media does have a place in self-defense training. It can keep a membership connected with news related to the facility’s training schedule during a problem period, such as the one we are in. It can hold the attention of the membership with real time video instruction, but only for a short period of time.
There is a percentage of any facility’s membership that would be content with real time video instruct all the time. They would be satisfied with just that type of self-defense training all the time. To these members self-defense training is just a block on the Sheet of Life that needs to be checked off. It’s in the same column as a car, get a dog, join a gym, get a haircut and Oh !! Pilates on Tuesday. I’m not belittling these members; they have a right to live as they see fit.
“Fights are won by the mastering the basics; you are only going to achieve this by learning and applying the basics on real, live, resisting human beings.”
For the individuals out there who were involved in a self-defense program and for those thinking about joining post Covid-19, don’t be afraid.
Let me ask you a question, “Before you joined the facility, were you worried about Hepatitis, HIV, herpes, the common flu? “ Well these problems are out there and always will be.
Before you pick a facility, read this post that I made a while back:
To the owners of self-defense facilities;
Stay confident, stay optimistic; your product is needed more than you realize. I don’t envy the task ahead of you; putting your students back on the mat. Do your best to find the facts about this Covid-19 problem, among all the misinformation out there.
Soon members and parents of members, will have to make up their minds as to whether self-defense training is still in their future. Win their confidence, trust and they will return. Your members are afraid of a problem that they are experiencing for the first time, but this problem has been around for thousands of years.
As a member and a parent of a member, who trains at a self-defense facility, here is what wins my confidence and trust;
A facility with proven track record for effective training.
A facility that that maintains a high level of cleanliness to address the hygiene issues that occur with this specific type of training.
A trained and informed staff to liaison with the members, who can explain the dynamics of the training.
A clear simple contract that educates the member on the risks involved with close-up personal contact training. Make sure that members are aware of the potential risks of such training.
Resources: Readily available resources at the training facility, to address injuries on the mat. A list of facilities in the local vicinity that treat medical issues or can test members if they suspect that they have been exposed to a virus. Does the member have health insurance that covers the cost of testing on a regular basis? The member may already have health insurance that covers the testing or treatments related to the current pandemic; they may have it through their child’s school insurance or through their work insurance. The member may simply not be aware of this. Are there local facilities that provide free testing? Where are they?
Hopefully we can return to the mat soon.
Thank you for reading,,,,,,,,,,,,,,
John Corley
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