Scouts Self Defense

Just part of the Scout Camp!

Kathryn Dunn runs Poppleton Explorers group, and we have been invited to run self-defense classes for them in the past, this time she came to us with a bigger challenge! She was organizing a weekend camp for 70+ scouts and wondered of we could run a series of hour long self defense classes throughout the day amoungst the other activities she and the other group leaders had planned. Never ones to back away from a challenge, and always willing to help out another community group of we can, we of course said yes!

Despite the weather forecast, it was a lovely and bright sunny day when I arrived at a field by the river in Sutton Ambro, The Scouts were just starting to emerge from their tents, but the group leaders were up and provided a warm welcome (and an even more welcome cup of tea!). It seemed like I had just got settled and was enjoying the sunshine when the first group of 10 or so scouts came for their lesson.

First lesson - how to keep your attacker away from you

The day went very well, all the scouts were well behaved, and despite the fact that I was teaching self-defense there were no injuries. All the scouts (and some of the group leaders) seemed to enjoy the sessions and take something away from them. I did stress that all I was able to do in an hour was to give them a taster, and if they really wanted to become competent they really needed to join a martial arts or self defense class and train consistently for a period of time. The focus of the session was very much on escape and evasion - do just enough to your attacker to allow you to get away and summon help.

Escape from a double wrist grab

All in all it was a very successful day, I very much enjoyed it, and it was great to support the various scout groups that were present. Thank you Kathryn for the invitation, and well done for organizing what looked to be a very successful camp.

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