When it comes to your own health and safety, you can never be too careful, especially if you’re a woman living in Bangkok. We might be living in the Land of Smiles, but there’s no point denying that no matter if you’re a baby girl, a young woman or a 60-year-old grandmother, it can be pretty dangerous to walk alone on a dark soi in the early hours of the night. But nowadays, thanks to a bunch of expatriates living in Bangkok, women can learn the basic tools needed to protect themselves if they ever find themselves in a dangerous situation.
Some time ago, under the close supervision of Aaron Le Boutillier, a security specialist and martial arts aficionado, Attic Studios from downtown Bangkok organized a self-defense workshop for women. Although it was a workshop for women, apart from the instructor, there were three other men who were there to help the participants gain the confidence needed in case they have to fight off a physically stronger individual.
We started the workshop with a few basic grip release techniques and then moved on to applying those techniques in “real life.” Aaron really knows his stuff, so he was kind enough to bust a few self-defense myths propagated by Hollywood and YouTube. Basically, what he tried to put across was the fact the awareness and simplicity was the key to getting out of a difficult situation unharmed.
We then practiced a few techniques that transform the victim in the attacker, a concept Aaron insisted throughout the evening. We also worked on pressure points and how these can be used to successfully stop the aggressor with very little physical effort. The workshop ended with a few techniques on how to protect yourself from someone using a gun or a knife. The “highlight” of the evening was the technique used in escaping the “rape position,” a technique Aaron believes to be the most important self-defense technique a woman can learn.
Courtesy of Le Boutillier Group, all participants received a mini-siren, useful when the victim wants to attract attention on the danger at hand. But, more importantly, Aaron showed us how the mini-siren can be used as a weapon to protect ourselves against the assailant.
Of course, without constant practice, the techniques showed in this workshop will not be too efficient in a real life situation. Nevertheless, I think the most valuable lesson the participants learned was not necessarily the way a woman can physically stop a stronger man, but the mentality which should guide us in our daily life.
So, this is for all the ladies out there:
– think smart and do not expose yourself to potential dangerous situation (avoid walking alone on dark streets, for example);
– be alert (or “switched on” as Aaron liked to say); and
– trust your sixth sense.
Each participant contributed with a 500 baht donation to the Bangkok Breast Cancer Support Group, an organization that provided us with a face towel as a sign of appreciation. The 6.500 baht were presented on the same night to one of the Support Group’s representative.
This was the second workshop on self-defense organized by Attic Studios with Aaaron’s help. It was a success but if you missed it, don’t panic. There will be more! Elsie Evans, the artist in charge of Attic Studios, promised she would organize another session in the near future.
The women’s self-defense workshop was highly educative and was an eye-opener for many of the participants. They realized that, no mater how big or threatening an attacker can be, anyone, no matter of size or physical strength, can stop an attack using minimal effort.
