The idea of learning self-defense at home, on your own, might seem like a losing proposition, but it doesn't have to be. While training with the aid of a teacher is ideal, lack of time or money can make that option impossible. Training at home does have one benefit. It allows you to work at your own pace, without fear of embarrassment. If you're disabled or suffer from some sort of limitation, training at home will allow you to work on your own terms, without being at risk of injury.
Equipment
A partner can be the ideal "piece of equipment" if you're training at home. Invite a friend, spouse or family member to work with you. This will allow you to train in physical contact and learn how to react when attacked or restrained. Martial arts or sports stores sell grappling dummies if you prefer to work on your own. Grappling dummies are life-size dolls you can use to practice attacks, throws and take downs. Depending on the type of material you're using to train, you might need a DVD player, a computer with Internet connection or a series of books.
Types of Home Learning
A number of schools offer e-courses and video tutorials so you can learn self-defense at home. The advantage of using schools is that the learning is usually structured in logical steps. You will learn how to make different moves that build on each other. Books and videos tend to be a cheaper option for training at home. With a school, you'll need to pay a larger fee or make monthly payments while enrolled. You can borrow books and DVDs from the library or buy them as you get money. The disadvantage of using these is that the choices out there are numerous, and it might be difficult to know what works best and where to get started.
Topics
A good program should teach you how to defend yourself against punches and attacks with bats, knives and clubs. It should also teach you how to escape from a choke or a hold and how to disable an attacker. Self-defense training should not be about learning to fight. The goal is to able to react, defend yourself and then flee to safety as soon as possible. A self-defense program should also teach you how to anticipate an attack, what clues to look for and how to gain speed and agility when reacting.
Disadvantages
The obvious disadvantage of training at home is that you get no real-life experience. Even with a good-quality DVD or book, you still don't get to have direct contact and learn the exact spots that can cause damage and help you defend yourself. Also, training on your own, at home, puts you more at risk of injury. If you're out of shape or have an old injury, you should start slowly and build up your training as your fitness improves.
Making It Work
According to TactSelfDefense.com, the key to learning self-defense at home is to stick to just a few moves. The most effective programs use just a few techniques and make sure you learn to react the right way in different situations using those same basic moves. Without the guidance of a teacher, you might need to repeat the movements and watch the videos or tutorials over and over to make sure you're getting the form and approach right.
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