Health24’s self-defence expert was in Cape Town and Health24 joined in.

Morné Swanepoel, Health24’s self-defence and tai chi expert, held a self-defence seminar in Cape Town over the weekend. Morné is a full time coach and practitioner and is certified as one of the most qualified Jeet Kune Do (JKD) instructor’s in the world. Morné has become one of the leading figures in realistic Martial Arts today.

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JKD High Performance Street Fighting is known as one of the most popular and realistic Self-defence/Street fighting systems practiced today due to its functional approach and concepts. It has become one of the most dynamic fighting systems here in South Africa.

Jeet Kune Do is a non-competitive martial art compared to arts such as Karate, Wushu, Kung Fu etc., that is practiced for competence and realism in high-pressure situations i.e. Street Fighting. The aim of JKD is to be able to be proficient in all ranges, with or without weapons, against one or multiple opponents in a variety of environments.

JKD focuses on reality based self-defence, classifying violence as social or anti-social, and uses different techniques accordingly. Some drunk in a bar pinching your wife’s behind does not pose the same threat as someone breaking into your house attacking you with a weapon.

Morné commented on pepper sprays:
“I have been working and using Pepper sprays for the past 8 years. Pepper sprays are aerosols containing the extract of very hot chilli peppers as their ingredient. A correctly formulated, correctly produced pepper spray is the most effective non lethal weapon available – for use against single and multiple attackers.

A good quality pepper spray will blind an attacker, create temporary breathing difficulties and extreme pain (physical and psychological), allowing time for the user to escape or make an arrest. All symptoms are temporary and are not life threatening. Just like any kind of self defense tool there are pro’s and cons using pepper sprays, but with proper training a good quality pepper spray is surely one of the best non lethal options out there.

Advantages:

• No license required
• Small compact
• Easy to use
• Effective against multiple attackers and vicious dogs
• Non lethal
• Various options of sprays available
• Home, commercial and specialized use

The biggest disadvantage is that users are not trained and educated as to the correct use of pepper sprays. I fully endorse a good quality pepper spray for self defense purposes.”

I learned a great deal about self-defence this weekend. First, fitness is not only good for your health, it is also essential for saving your life in a crisis. Secondly, and perhaps more important, self-defence techniques have to be practised regularly. It should become second nature. Thirdly, you do not have to be big and strong to be able to help yourself in a

Morné has tips on how to avoid being mugged:
“Most important is that one needs to become a HARD TARGET to stand a better chance of not being a victim. Now when I say a hard target I do not mean that you have to work out in a gym to build stronger and harder muscles although that would add some kind of benefit.

Becoming a hard target includes various aspects such as the way you carry yourself, learning who you are up against in your environment, exposing yourself to proper training and tactics to avoid being a victim.

For example: If you are a nurse that needs to walk to the bus stop every evening there is a whole list of things you can take into consideration such as:

• Get someone to walk with you
• Try and arrange a lift club instead of using public transport
• Let family and friends know what time you are leaving your work and what time they can expect you
• Choose well lit pathways to make your way to the bus stop
• Walk confidently and quickly and know your route
• Try and vary your routes not to become predictable
• Try not to expose any valuables and be totally aware of your surroundings
• Prepare in yourself mentally about your escape routes should you encounter any kind of bad element
• Carry a good quality pepper spray and at night walk with your bag in your one hand and your spray in the other readily available
• Take up reality based martial arts training and not a sport or traditional training. The list goes on.”

Some tips for your protection:

Do not get arrogant. Even if you can protect yourself, do not put your life in jeopardy for the sake of proving something.

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