Self-Defense for Kids at Cub Scout Workshop

Domestic violence and sexual assault are pervasive and life-threatening crimes that affect millions of individuals across our nation regardless of age, economic status, race, religion or education.  Domestic violence and sexual assault not only severely impact victims but our entire communities and are linked to many social ills.  Approximately 15.5 million children are exposed to domestic violence every year (according to the Journal of Family Psychology).

Last weekend, T.A.G. coaches and I did a children’s self-defense class for Cub Scout Pack 158.  This past April, we did a self-defense workshop for high school girls at Dominion High School in Sterling, Virginia.  I’ve also done workshops for adults at The White House and I currently instruct Special Agent and Police recruits for the government.  The basic concept of self-defense and personal protection is to do whatever you need to do to stay alive and win.

Depending on who you talk to, they are going to have their own method or style for basic self-defense.  For young boys like the cub scouts, I wanted to make it fun to keep their interest, as well as simple (not too many complex moves).

Self-defense is not just hitting pads and screaming, but awareness and alerting those around you.  We first covered basic strikes, realistically to shins, knees, and the groin area just because of height differential.

Defense against being picked up (against will):

• eye gouges
• grab the throat
• biting

Defense against arm/clothes/hair grabbing: 

• hit vital areas
• kicks (with shoes) to shins, thighs, and groin

When we started to snatch the kids up, some of their strikes were ineffective against stronger and much bigger adversaries.  I asked the young boys what else could they do?

ALERT – use their voices to alert their friends and people that are in close proximity to them.

FIGHT – do whatever you can to make sure the bad person doesn’t get a hold of you and physically remove you.

RUN – get away from subject ASAP once you fight yourself from being free and are able to run to closest public or safe area and get help.

These are some helpful things to do if you encounter an attacker.  If possible, a child should always use their voices to ALERT others in close proximity to help them and most importantly be aware of their surroundings to begin with.

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Any club or organization that is based in the Washington D.C. area that would like the professionals at T.A.G. Muay Thai to do a self-defense workshop for them, please contact us at info@tagmuaythai.com or call us at (703) 489-7807.

If you live in the DC Metro area or Northern Virginia, adults and children are welcome to free trials at TAG Muay Thai.

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