unable to defend self

[supercheesegirl]

i'm so mad. i studied for my self-defense skillz test from 5 till like 7:30 last night with margaret and carra, and i knew all the moves pretty well and was helping them figure out how to do things. and this morning on the test, i was so nervous i messed up on the single wrist grab. the single wrist grab! any of you who have seen me at all since spring break have probably had a single wrist grab escape done on you. i know those really well. there's nine different ones to choose from, and i screwed it up. i also messed up on the bear hug from behind over the arms, which annoyed me. i *could've* just done the head smash, but i tried to get fancy with the finger grab because i couldn't think of anything else, and i messed up. and i didn't use any distraction techniques, either (before using an escape move, we're supposed to kick the dude or something to distract him so we can get away). and i didn't distract until, like, the last thing. i was so damned nervous. i mean, if some dude jumps me, i won't have to sit around thinking about what i could do to him--either i'll do something and get away, or i won't, but it'll be over. if i couldn't even do these moves that i know really well on this test, will i be able to do it in a life-or-death situation?

Comments

[amedia.livejournal.com]

If it makes you feel any better... last Thursday, I forgot the bearhug defense we're using now... and I was the teacher! (We used a different one back when I was a white belt, and dinosaurs roamed the earth.) Fortunately my assistant tactfully reminded me in time.

Sometimes the feelings are harder to get than the actual moves - but if you practice enough, you'll do the moves out of sheer unthinking habit, if you ever have to.

[supercheesegirl.livejournal.com]

I didn't know you taught self-defense! Were you doing that when I was at SU (I graduated 2001, if you don't remember!)? :)

I definitely don't trust myself to keep practicing these moves after I'm done with the class... I don't even practice the moves from the first half of the class since we've already tested on them. I'd like to take an actual martial arts class. Maybe someday when I have money...

[amedia.livejournal.com]

I was studying it then, but I only just started teaching it. I study ninjutsu, which I highly recommend. It's supposed to cost money to take the instructor training course, but I'm working it off by helping with classes one day a week. Maybe you can find a martial arts place that will let you earn a discount!