If you’re looking for self defence classes Leeds, we offer close quarters self defence for adults. Wing Chun in particular is an effective style for self defence. Wing Chun was originally developed by a woman for defence against a bigger, stronger attacker.

The style focuses on close quarter strikes and deflective tactics targeting weak areas of the body. Targets in Wing Chun are the eyes, nose, throat, knees and groin. These areas are particularly vulnerable for defensive counter measures against a violent attack.

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Wing Chun does have kicks within the style, although they are targeted towards the lower areas of the body such as the groin, knees and shins. A higher kick is more difficult to perform and is less stable. This makes Wing Chun particularly useful for older adults who don’t have the flexibility needed in some styles, such as tae kwon do which relies on high kicking techniques.

Self Defence Classes Leeds – Chi Sau

Chi sau is said to be the “heart” of the wing chun system and teaches a student a number of practical skills:

  • Hand (and body sensitivity) which gives you an automatic response to a stimulus
  • Reactive countermeasures – Wing Chun has simultaneous attack and defensive movements
  • Body position – through the practice of chi sau, the student learns where to position the body in relation to their opponent for maximum efficiency
  • Use of energy – using only the amount of energy needed and no more
  • Techniques – automatic responses to attacks are learned through repetition
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Chi sau, or sticky hands can be likened to putting a fight into a “game” scenario. You learn how to “play” in the context of a fight but without the fight or flight response. This gives you a calmness which allows you to respond much more quickly and efficiently to the movements of your partner. Whereas if you were to panic, or be in the flight response, you would act less systematically.

Why Calmness Matters

While knowing how to defend yourself is important, it’s just as important to be able to keep calm. In fact, keeping calm can be a greater tool for prevention of a self defence situation. Problem avoidance and de-escalation can help you avoid a problem/situation in the first place, or prevent a small problem from escalating into a big one. If you become erratic in a confrontation you can easily fuel the fire inadvertently.

Learning how to keep calm under adversity can both help you in actual combat, and in a potentially dangerous situation. Through de-escalation, or problem avoidance, for example, you can avoid creating or exacerbating a situation. This is much easier to achieve when you are calm.

self defence classes leeds

Drop in on one of our classes or fill out the form on our apply page for more information.