To Teach or Not to Teach?

[PandaMan]

Hi,
I'm 25 and have been training in martial arts for about 10 years. I have trained in Eagle Claw Gung Fu, Yang Tai Chi, Wing Tsun, Muay Thai and Taekwondo. I recently started to train in Hapkido and just in general getting back into fighting shape after a 2 year break.

My buddy and I are trying to teach and educate high school girls on Self Defense at my local church. However, I have been only to a few seminars on Women's Self Defense and wouldn't consider myself an expert. Yet, I believe knowing a basic introduction to self defense and martial arts is better than nothing.
I wanted to ask the women (and men) here for help, sound advice and any suggestions. I'd appreciate it, thanks.

[Little Apple]

There are other threads like this here if you search, and they have some great advice on them! But at the risk of redundancy, here's some stuff I've said before on this topic:

1) You need to bear in mind what kind of class you're teaching. A one-shot self defense course is completely different from a self defense course that is on-going. Also, a martial arts class is different from a self defense course.

2) If you are focusing on self defense, you need to then focus on escape rather than "winning." and stress how to keep yourself safe by being smart.

3)I think it's important to make them actually scream and kick and run etc. in the class, so that it's in their body. (In my experience with that age range, a good chunk of the girls will refuse to use much force, even on a pad, and one or two will refuse to even hit it at all) It will be of great use to you to have a woman there with you who will actually scream at the top of her lungs, actually hit you/the pad as hard as she can, and actually book it across the room. You are going to have a very hard time getting them to participate otherwise, and you don't want to rely on a willing female like this just showing up; you should bring one, just to be sure.

Hope that helps!

[PandaMan]

Thanks for the info! I'm somewhat new to forums (in general), but I've found a lot of resources regarding this topic. Sorry if it's a repeat.
If anyone instructors or students have additional information that'd be great.
I'd like to be thorough in my research as much as possible.

[sunstar]

pandaman

where are you located - region/state/city - big or small town? rural. Just curious, non-specific is ok if you'd rather not say the name. what part of the country?

good of you to ask, hope we can help.