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From: Margo.Downey@f60.n382.z1.fidonet.org (Margo Downey)
Newsgroups: misc.handicap
Subject: Re: blind self defense
Message-ID: <16439@handicap.news>
Date: 25 Jun 91 15:41:18 GMT
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[This is from the Blink Talk Conference]

Hi, Nancy!  Well, well, I am familiar with and have taken classes in judo, tai
chi and some aikido, and self-denfense classes for women.  Now, Nancy, each
martial art or self-defense procedure has its good points and bad points, and
can or cannot be used.  A person who uses judo cannot usually match a person
with a good background in karate.  I would recommend that, if you want to,
that you enroll in a class for self-defense where various techniques and
procedures are taught to you from various schools of self-defense.  Or, I'd
recommend that you not take something like fencing which does not give you
good contact--am confused--we don't have dueling today, I don't think.  For
self-defense skills, I'd recommend a blind person take classes in martial arts
which require contact with the other party.  When taking martial arts of any
kind, one at least gets more self-confidence and more poise when carrying
oneself through life on a day-to-day basis.  Bottom line is--a general
all-purpose self-defense class is a good starter--and a good ending unless one
wants to go on and take specific martial arts such as the ones I took.  Again,
that isn't foolproof either.  Things can still happen; you might be at a
disadvantage not necessarily because of blindness but because of the strength
of the other person, the weapons the person has, etc.  If this leads to
specific questions, I or anyone else would be happy to try to answer.

--
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