Reuben Bean has announced he is starting to teach a self-defence course at the Bermuda High School, starting August 29th.

http://www.royalgazette.com/siftology.royalgazette/Article/article.jsp?articleId=7d88d3330030009&sectionId=80

Self-defence for the real world (and another world like Bermuda) is far different from traditional martial arts training.  Both are worthwhile, but self-defence is much more about understanding the problem and having a few very practical techniques to use to get out of trouble.

If anyone attends the course, I'd love to hear about it.

You got it, Smokes.

Running away from danger is the best defence and the one built into us.

There is a problem, though.  We are socially conditioned to disregard our own fear and not react in time.

We don't have to live in a state of fear when we are out in the world, but we should all have an appropriate level of awareness - like when you are driving.  Walking down the street with your iPod on and your thoughts a million miles away make you an easy target for the predators.  We have the innate ability to recognize danger, be it posture, facial expression or movement but we won't see it if we are tuned out. 

The next problem is the social one I mentioned.  We don't want to up and run away - "like a chicken" is the social expression.  We tell ourselves "its not going to happen to me", or "this person isn't going to hit me".  Then, when its too late, people get hurt.

It isn't just knowing you should run, its being aware of danger and being committed to run.