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GARDEN ROUTE | HESSEQUA NEWS & VIDEO - Everyone in South Africa will become a victim of crime in one way or another.

This statement was the driving force behind a combat psychology and anti-rape technique course hosted on Saturday, 29 August.

The course was presented by instructors from Tiger Kai training academy, specialists in the krav maga self-defence system, in collaboration with the South African Police Services as well as the communities of Ruiterbos and Brandwag.

Phillip Goodger of Tiger Kai is a specialist in self-defence and works throughout the country, training groups, especially within farming communities.

"In view of the increase in farm attacks and also because it is Women's Month, we presented this course. All women should learn to defend themselves, regardless of their age. Attackers are opportunists and prey on the weak and sadly, women are seen as weaker than men when it comes to an attack," Goodger explains.

Whether you are older and mostly at home or young and still going out at night, Goodger says it is beneficial for women to equip themselves. "We teach methods to use in all forms of attack, from rape, to being accosted at an ATM, to hijackings and more."

Goodger says the training also focuses on disarming attackers, but he adds that the techniques are only truly useful when practice makes perfect.

"To keep training in self-defence is key, because muscle memory kicks in. Having pepper spray or any other weapon to defend yourself is fine, but you have to know how to use it effectivly. Often during an attack, the body freezes. We call this condition black. People become almost comatose. They can also lose their fine motor skills. Often afterwards, they can hardly recall any details."

The huge spike in armed robberies in the greater Mossel Bay area alone, says Goodger, should be enough encouragement to take self-defence seriously.

"Violent crime is coming to our town; people must stop being complacent. Be aware of your surroundings." Goodger says key to their tactics are situational awareness and combat psychology. "Be aware of your surroundings. If you are prepared, you can see an attack before it happens."

Ilse Nel, who participated in the workshop, has a longstanding involvement with a neighbourhood watch and also works as a trauma counsellor. She says she has had previous training in self-defence but that Saturday's workshop was most insightful.

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"I found the training on situational awareness particularly useful. When you are able to classify possible threats through greater observation and awareness, you also classify your own level of readiness to deal with an attack. I learnt that there is a window of opportunity of 10 seconds, that I can use to my advantage or not."

Muscle memory is the key to acting swiftly.

Ilse Nel disarms her "attacker".

Participants were taught vital disarming techniques.

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