When it comes to defending yourself, the laws surrounding self-defense vary depending on the country or state, but in general, self-defense is a legal justification for using force in certain situations.
In most jurisdictions, you are allowed to use reasonable force when defending yourself against an imminent threat of harm or violence.
Sure, you may spend years developing great kicking and striking techniques, with the potential to execute lethal force almost at will, but should you make the wrong decision in the wrong situation, the consequences can be dire for both the attacker and yourself.
The amount of force that is considered reasonable will depend on the specific circumstances of the situation, such as the severity of the threat, the physical size and strength of the individuals involved, and whether there were any other options for avoiding the threat.
In many cases, deadly force may only be used in self-defense if there is an immediate and imminent threat of death or serious bodily harm. Additionally, a person cannot use more force than is necessary to defend themselves or others.
It’s also important to note that self-defense can be used to defend others as well, not just oneself.
It is important to be aware of the laws in your jurisdiction surrounding self-defense and to understand what is and is not permitted in order to act within the boundaries of the law.
Of course, they say the best form of self defense is to not be there at all. Unfortunately, we are sometimes put in a situation which was not brought upon by our own actions, and we find ourselves needing to defend against imminent threat.
Self control is very important in all self defense situations, which is easier said than done, when emotions and adrenalin are running high.
It probably is not a bad idea to be well versed in First Aid, in the event that someone suffers an injury, or you are injured whilst defending yourself.
Flexibility – Why it’s important and how to develop it.
Flexibility offers numerous benefits, including:
Improved range of motion: Flexibility training can increase the motion of your joints, allowing you to move more freely and perform daily activities with greater ease.
Reduced risk of injury: Flexible muscles and joints are less prone to injury as they can better withstand sudden movements and unexpected stress.
Improved posture: Poor posture can lead to pain and other musculoskeletal injuries. Flexibility training can improve posture by stretching and lengthening the muscles surrounding the spine and other joints.
Decreased muscle tension: Flexibility training can help to reduce muscle tension and ease muscle soreness, allowing you to recover faster after exercise.
Enhanced athletic performance: Greater flexibility can improve athletic performance by allowing you to move faster, lunge further, and jump higher.
Improved balance and coordination: Better flexibility can increase bodily awareness and control, improving your balance and coordination.
Reduced stress: Stretching and flexibility exercises can help to relax your body and mind, reducing stress levels and promoting overall well-being.
Overall, flexibility training is an essential component of any fitness routine and offers numerous physical and mental health benefits.
There are various ways to improve flexibility, including:
Stretching: Stretching exercises, such as dynamic stretching and static stretching, can elongate your muscles and help to increase your range of motion.
Yoga: Practicing yoga is an effective way to improve flexibility as it incorporates stretching and can help to increase stability and balance.
Foam Rolling: Foam rolling is a method of self-myofascial release that can help to release muscle tension and increase flexibility.
Pilates: Pilates exercises focus on building core strength and stabilization, which can help to improve flexibility in the spine and other areas of the body.
Warm-up exercises: Doing a warm-up exercise before starting any physical activity can prepare your muscles and joints for the upcoming workout and can prevent injury.
Regular exercise: Engage in regular physical activity, such as light jogging, cycling, or swimming. These exercises encourage blood flow, loosening up the joints and muscles.
It’s worth noting that it’s important to listen to your body and not push too hard as overstretching can cause injury. Gradual and consistent progress is crucial to achieve long-term gains in flexibility.
For those people looking to save over $1000, you might consider signing up for our Personal Training Course Combo , which includes both the SIS30321 Certificate III in Fitness & SIS40221 Certificate IV in Fitness.
Our largely online fitness courses offer a flexible approach to learning, including reading material, instructional and informational videos, interactive practical tasks which are all accessible online, allowing you to study from home, at your own pace.
Sports Courses
Global Fitness Institute offers a number of Sports courses from Certificate to Diploma levels.
Certificate III in Sport Coaching is a great course for community coaches and those looking to embark on a coaching hobby or career.
Certificate III in Sport (Athlete) would suit those who take their sports seriously, and wish to incorporate their training and competition into a formal, nationally recognized qualification.
Diploma of Sport (Coaching) which focuses on hands-on athlete management, planning and conducting training and athlete preparation.
Diploma of Sport (Development)which looks more into the administrative, legislative and event organization and management areas.
We are pleased to announced that we are Back on the Mat after the most disruptive couple of years to our tournament circuit, and boy are we back in style.
The 3rd Global Open Championships is being held over the weekend of Saturday 22nd – Sunday 23rd, April 2023 at the Caroline Springs Leisure Center, Victoria.
It promises to be one of the biggest and most inclusive week of Taekwon-Do activities held in Australia’s 50+ year history. It all happens in Melbourne, Australia
We already have registrations from across Australia, New Zealand, India and Nepal, with messages of intent from some other countries.
The event is open for all ages, all ranks and all Taekwon-D0 practitioners.
The Global Open Taekwondo Championships will feature both ITF and WT events
Official Arnold Classic World Championships replacement event
The 3rd Global Open Taekwondo Championships will be the only official replacement event for the previously COVID postponed 1st Arnold Classic Taekwon-Do World Championships.
All participants who remained ‘in-credit’ from the Arnolds, will enter this event FREE OF CHARGE.. You do not need to fill in a form, simply send us your updated personal details via email (admin@globalfitness.edu.au)……… so let’s all brush off our doboks and get back on the mat for a great weekend of Taekwon-Do action.
We will even be presenting all the trophies and medals we purchased for that event at the Global Open Champs.
On the first evening of the Global Open Taekwondo Championships, we will also be holding our 5thITF Hall of Fame Induction ceremony.
Nominate your instructors, outstanding students, peers or anybody you feel warrants nomination to the Australasian ITF Hall Of Fame.
We encourage you to not only attend, but to nominate those you feel have much a great contribution to ITF in this region. (more info: itfhalloffame.com)
Places are limited due to venue size, so be sure to book early.
Depending on the nominations received, the organizing committee will reserve the right to elevate outstanding nominees to the ‘Legend of Taekwon-Do’ category.
Violence against women is a serious and widespread issue in Australia, as well as throughout the world. And while the long term goal is education to stop violence against women, there are actionable strategies women can employ, right now. Here are 7 very simple reasons you should consider taking a women’s self defense class.
1 – Don’t Become a Statistic
Frankly, the statistics in Australia alone are frightening. At least one woman a week is killed by a partner or former partner. One in three women have experienced physical violence. 300,000 women a year experience physical or sexual violence from a stranger.
Violence against women contributes to more death, disability and illness to women between 15 and 44 than any other preventable risk factor. Learning self-defense gives you the power to avoid becoming one of these statistics, now.
2 – Prevention and Awareness
As teens and adults we become increasingly fixated on the front and our devices, often being unaware of what’s around us. You work with an experienced instructor to develop strategies that work best for you against a variety of opponents, attacks and situations. Above all, women’s self defense teaches us awareness and prevention.
3 – Take Control for Yourself and Other Women
Women’s self defense is about taking safety into our own hands. Taking a Self defense class is our chance to take action in our own lives, to take control of our own present and future. The fact is, crimes against women happen and will continue to happen.
Women’s self defense classes can help prevent us becoming victims. Knowing how to defend ourselves gives us a better chance of stopping attacks and even lessening attacks against women in the future.
4 – Great Exercise!
Self defense classes, at the end of the day, can also be a great source of exercise, working a range of vital parts of your body. It not only exercises your body physically, it also exercises your mind, reactions and reflexes. It is also an incredible way of exercising your own power and confidence.
You do not have to be physically strong to be successful at self-defense. If you can learn to successfully escape or prevent a dangerous situation, then you are exercising good self-defense.
5 – Be Accountable
As women, we are constantly encouraged to be accountable for ourselves. We are told to be accountable for our finances. We are told to account for our stress and encouraged to be accountable for our health, weight and diet, along with our workouts and fitness.
It stands to reason that we should be accountable for our self defense. Is it really so hard to add a self defense class to our routine as we would add the latest yoga, pilates or work out fad? However, unlike a fad, this is something that will actually make a monumental, positive change to our lives.
6 – Be Feminine
There is a terrible misconception – unfortunately perpetuated by mass media – that self defense is unfeminine and unattractive. These dangerous articles claim that women who pursue self defense are masculine, “jacked up” and have a distasteful love for violence. However, nothing could be further from the truth.
In fact, many models, actresses and even pageant winners are devotees of women’s self defense. Women’s self defense is incredibly feminine because it is empowering. Encouraging women to take self defense is a beautiful, inspiring thing. So, ignore the dangerous misconceptions of mainstream media and enjoy learning self defense.
7 – Do Something Now
Of course we need better education to end violence against women and men. Violence of all kinds is unacceptable. Unfortunately, though, education is long term and may not be able to help you today, tomorrow or even next year. That is why women’s self defense education is important. This is something that can happen now. Women’s self defense provides functional strategies, techniques and training methods to stop an attacker intent on hurting you.
It gives you the security and confidence, right now, that you can protect yourself should the need arise. Unfortunately, no matter how well intended, ideologies can’t do that. So until education catches up with reality, keep yourselves safe. Invest in women’s self defense today.