The rates of abuse that occur each day are staggering.
According to studies from the National Coalition Against Domestic Violence, 1 in 3 women and 1 in 4 men have been victims of some form of physical violence by an intimate partner within their lifetime and on average, nearly 20 people per minute are physically abused.
It seems like having the ability to defend oneself in any given situation is a crucial tool for everybody to know. There’s a term for this, and it’s called self defence.
Derek Binder is the owner and director of Aikido Network Training Centre and Binder Jujutsu Academy in London. He says that self defence is a way to protect yourself against anything harmful.
“That could be physical, like a physical attack as well emotional, like anger. It also could be a psychological attack, where someone is trying to advance on you and trying to manipulate you or try to advance on you when you don’t want it.”
Self defence is not about being able to take on anyone and everyone should the situation arise, but it is about being prepared.
“The world is chaotic and unpredictable. Life favours the prepared in mind, body, and spirit. You are better if you are prepared, if you’re prepared you’ll do better.”
One of the most favourable aspects of self defence is that it is something anyone can learn.
David Vollick is turning 80 this year, and has been working with Binder for over 13 years.
“As you get older, you have a lot of problems with balance, concentration, and an overall joy of life. But this has helped me maintain all of those to a great degree, and I just feeling good everyday. I’m able to use what I learn in my everyday life. I stand tall and I feel really confident wherever I go. It equips you for many things that you do, and really raises your self confidence.”
There are a few misunderstandings in terms of what self defence is all about, but Binder says there is one in particular that many are guilty of believing.
“They always think, ‘Oh, it’ll never happen to me.’ I think a lot of people put their head down and they won’t do it because they really believe it won’t happen to them. But I have several people come in here who have experienced some awful things. They too, never thought it would happen to them.”
Mental toughness is a big part of self defence, one that Binder always dedicates a significant amount of time towards.
“We’re all about feeding the courage wolf, we are constantly feeding the courage wolf even when the fear wolf steps in. The fear wolf is in the mind only, the courage wolf is in the heart. We listen to the heart rather than the mind.”
