Sorry to be on the soapbox on this one but safety and security, particularly for the ladies, is something I take quite seriously.
Ok I usually prefer to stay under the radar on these topics, but...Screen your clients - always have a backup plan - always have at least one person expecting to hear from you within the hour, & be safe. If anyone has a problem with that, don't see them.
MMA, Brazilian Jiu-jitsu, LOL Ladies those two sports have rules. Thus they are not self defense. So lets say you arm bar your assailant and he taps out, then what? the referee in the closet will make him act cordially until he decides to leave? You want self defense? Do all the things that are too violent, yes even illegal for MMA and Jiu-jitsu - gouge the eyes, bite to the bone, fish hook, tear ears, repeated stikes to the balls, scream like hell and then light 'em up with that afformentioned taser.
Even a rear naked choke redering your attacker unconsious will only give you 15 seconds to collect yourself and escape the room. And unless you're conditioned to that threat and stress level you will have lost all but the basic gross motor skills.
Have you ever seen an MMA fight between a 135lb Woman and a 190lb Man? No. They don't even let the men fight at that weight difference - for a reason.
I have seen combat infantrymen punched in the nose - freeze, because they weren't conditioned and hardened properly.
Ever get pulled over by the cops and notice your hands were shaking when you signed the ticket? Even the slightest stress can cause the degredation of fine motor skills. It's all tied to heart rate and Blood Pressure.
Here is a general definition of SSR - for your reading pleasure. (cut & paste & readily available on the internet)
Survival Stress Response
SSR is a scientific term to describe what is commonly referred to as the fight-or-flight syndrome. It occurs when a person is suddenly thrust into a life-threatening situation with no forewarning. Among the physical symptoms that arise from the SSR are auditory exclusion -- most easily described as either temporary deafness or selective hearing, depending on severity -- and visual exclusion, which may be either tunnel vision focused on the threat or even a blackout if the situation is scary enough. The third symptom of SSR is increased heart rate.
Heart Rate Factors
The elevated heart rates induced by SSR can cause serious repercussions to motor skills function. At 100 to 110 beats per minute HR, fine motor skills may degrade noticeably. These are movements that involve independent movements of the individual fingers and hands, such as playing the piano, or specifically, performing precise movements such as hooking a rappelling rope into a climbing harness prior to a SWAT team assault. At 115 to 145 bpm HR, complex motor skills begin to disintegrate. These are more robust movements for performing joint lock restraint holds in a close-combat situation such as prisoner restraining.
Gross Motor Skills
Theoretically, the only motor skills to survive the SSR are gross motor skills. Basic striking techniques such as punches and kicks, simple shooting techniques such as unaimed point-shooting and other simple movement skills are gross motor skills. These movements are possible even when the heart rate exceeds 200 bpm. This is far in excess of the
exercise-induced heart rate of most conditioned athletes.
Once again, sorry for the soapbox and i don't want to get into a debate. This is just my 2 cents on the topic.
Mr. Jones
Self defense tidbits for providers...
My Bio Page - Texas - Dallas
