It is important to evaluate the practical usefulness of any self defence programme you embark on before you sign up.

Here are 4 tips:

1. You will often see your local Karate or other martial arts club offering “self defence classes”, often aimed at females or children. Generally speaking, these should be avoided. All they will teach you is the techniques from their own particular martial art. There is a huge difference between martial arts and self defence. Your attacker will not play fair or abide by the rules and regulations of a martial art. There will be no referee, so please ensure that the training you are receiving is not just a martial art in disguise. These techniques may look good in a dojo, but they often don’t work in the street.

2. The self defence programme you choose should include simulated assaults with a fully padded instructor who will put you through realistic attack scenarios (including sexual assault scenarios) thus allowing you to practice the simple, yet extremely effective techniques you’ve learned, at full force.

3. A good self defence instructor will also be able to tell you about how the Law relating to self defence – when you can and when you cannot defend yourself – as well as, Reasonable Use of Force – how much is too much? Without knowing this, what you thought was self defence, could actually be an assault and you could be going to jail.

4. If you really want to know if your proposed self defence instructor is up to the job – ask them where they got their training and experience from and whether their courses are recommended by your local Police. Recommended instructors should also be able to supply you with testimonials to support their training.