The Myth of the Short-Course Fix: Why Real Self-Defence Takes Time

The Myth of the Short-Course Fix: Why Real Self-Defence Takes Time

We’ve all seen the adverts: “Six-week self-defence course — make your child safer from bullies, knife crime, and street attacks.” It sounds appealing. Who wouldn’t want a quick solution to one of the biggest worries a parent can face?

But here’s the uncomfortable truth: no child is meaningfully safer after six weeks of classes.


What Six Weeks 

Can

 Do

A short course can introduce basic ideas:

  • Spotting danger early.
  • Building awareness of surroundings.
  • Practising a few simple moves.

It can be a useful starting point — planting the seed that self-defence is about thinking smart and staying safe.


What Six Weeks 

Cannot

 Do

It cannot prepare a child to:

  • Stay calm when adrenaline floods their system.
  • React automatically under real pressure.
  • Build the conditioning, reflexes, and resilience needed to survive a violent encounter.

These are skills forged over time, with consistent training.


The False Sense of Security

Here’s the risk: parents and kids may leave a short course believing they’re now “safe.” That confidence can lead to riskier decisions, hesitation in danger, and a false sense of security that’s more dangerous than being unprepared.


What Actually Works

Real safety comes from:

✅ Regular training that builds habits.

✅ Learning under controlled pressure, so the body knows how to react.

✅ An environment that balances toughness with support.

✅ Developing confidence that’s rooted in practice, not promises.

Self-defence isn’t a quick fix. It’s a process.


Final Thought

If you want your child to be genuinely safer, the best gift you can give them is time in training. Six weeks is a teaser. Six months builds foundations. Six years? That changes their life.

Quick fixes don’t work. Commitment does.

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