Cirumvent regulations without stringing your tail up

[GranFire]

Coed Self Defense....


In my organization we have started a small program of wrist locks and ground escape manouvers. it's fun and pretty helpful, I suppose.

BUT: Being in the modest south, there is no coed instruction, strictly man to man, woman to woman. While it is ok for starters...I doubt a woman my size (5'5"/135lbs) would attack me...and my trainings partners are actually smaller!


How can you circumvent this rule without getting yourself set up for a lawsuit or kicked out of the organization (not like i would broad cast it to all the world anyhow)

[DickHardman]

if anyone asks why, just say you had a few complaints from a few women who felt uncomfortable grappling with men.

[GranFire]

Uhm, what?


Actually, we don't grapple with the men...that's the point!


(but by now I have been living here too long I am starting to second guess my approach)

[Little Apple]

Just tell every one that for the sake of variety and realism, you're going to mix it up now and then. In order to appease their southern values, don't do it every time (at least at first), and for the sake of form give them all a big lecture about being respectful and professional. They probably don't need the lecture, but it will make them feel better I suspect.

[GranFire]

Well, we will have to come to your place.

It's either private, with all the problems that arise or not, because the umbrella organization has said no.

I guess I have to deal with it.

[Little Apple]

Not sure I understood that last post, could you elaborate? Do you mean that the umbrella organization has actually said "no high contact co-ed training"? I'm confused, are you a teacher there?

[aseepish]

Ever see the film Yentl?

[Red Rum]

Granfire, are you saying that where you are from it is unlawful for a man to grapple with a woman and vice versa?

If that's true, it is definately worth travelling to another state! Maybe even another country!!!

In the UK I train with women, men, kids, allsorts. There is trust and mutual respect and a lot of instructors ready to kick our ass if we deliberately try and hurt someone!

If you are ever in the UK Granfire, come and visit my class and we will go through locks and holds. I'm a big guy so you'll get the realistic training that you seek

[GranFire]

No, it's not unlawful, it is the organization who has set the rules for their schools and students. The shadow of impropriety is enough to send organizations and companies scramble to cover their butts.

I guess a private session could be arranged, but there we go again with liability...just a trip to a different facility under other rules would work, but it stinks...you either have the instruction or the mixed training...

[ciscodog]

liability, sorry but this is the silliest thing ive heard. Do you share space with a dating agency??????? I train with women everyday.....and your logic still escapes me..and by not having your women train with men you are setting them up for failure. Any organization that says its immoral in self defense training to train with a member of the opposite sex cares more about their moral system they've established rather than the quality of instruction. I would drop out of the organization and find a dojo thats philosophy is based on reality.

[GranFire]

LOL, we are in the South, some things do not make sense to the thinking person. The Serf Defense classes are not the main focus, TaeKwonDo is and there we are co-ed all the way through, just the up close and personal drills are not, Ground escapes. Even withing the organization there is support for co-ed, but it is not likely going to happen any time soon. In short I just ave to deal with it and hope that I practiced the technique enough so I can perform it wothou having to ask the attacker for a redo...

[DickHardman]

why dont you offer a womens only spot then for those who dont feel comfortable having it coed?? the ones who dont care can take the regular classes.

[Red Rum]

If they want to be that funny about laws and regs, I'm sure you could even have a legal stance - it is discrimination and segragation to do what they are doing. What organisation are you based with? Name and shame them....

[GranFire]

LOL, no, I am not going to shame them, though they have a lot of silliness going on in the organization, it's a good format all in all, no need to knock them.

It is not from the students that resistance comes about co-ed. Besides, there is always the option to bow out of a segment that mekes you feel uncomfortable, even the regular TKD curriculum. Maybe somebody higher up had a close call of the legal kind?

[Little Apple]

Very odd. Well, do what you will, I would make a fuss, but if it's not worth it to you, then there you go.