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VICTOR OR VICTIM
by Marilyn Fierro
Kyoshi Marilyn Fierro performs
Self-Defense Takedown on Charles Grotyohann
Photo by Chris Garcia
Kyoshi
Marilyn Fierro has been presenting Attack Prevention
programs to schools, corporations, scout groups and various
organizations throughout Long Island since 1978. Her innovative
approach to Woman's "Attack Prevention" is the
subject of a video produced for the purpose of presenting
these programs in the school district. her program is now
actively running in 11 high schools in the New York area.
The video was a runner up in the Long Island Film Festival
in 1995. This video has received endorsements from Patrick
McCarthy and Bugeisha Magazine and is now available through
her as well as Isshinryu
Productions.
The
Following article is from the Spring 1998 Issue of Bugeisha #5
VICTOR
OR VICTIM
by Marilyn Fierro
Years
ago the thought of teaching a self-defense program to women would
cause me to cringe. I never seemed to be able to encourage the
kind of intensity necessary for them to walk away from the program
with a true concept of what it would take to defend themselves
should the need arise. From time to time I would be forced into
teaching a group of women and found myself joining the controversy
of the times, which asked "are we simply nurturing a false
sense of security?" The question would ring in my mind and
I did not want to be guilty of causing more harm than good. The
fact was that 20 years ago or so Women seemed more concerned
about breaking a nail than learning a technique. I found myself
taking the easy route of avoidance rather than confront the real
issue. In truthfulness, there was and is a real need for effective
defense programs that empower the non martial artist with usable
tools for self-defense. The answer therefor was to rethink the
process from a perspective of the "old me -- the me before
I discovered karate." What made me continue to pursue my
training in spite of adversity from many of my "Friends"?
There were two points that stood out above the rest. Don't tell
me what I cannot do and don't tell me that I cannot do it! Both
created enough anger to make me prove them wrong; So if anger
is a motivator for me, why not for others. Today I start all
of my programs by getting the women angry at the injustice of
becoming a victim. I show them what it means to take control
of their lives and I provide the facts, information and back
up training.
Awareness is the key to success! In self-defense programs it means avoidance
of problems before they begin and in life it is recognizing an opportunity
and seizing it before the moment passes. Taking control of one's life starts
with a positive mental attitude. An attitude of self confidence and determination
-- knowing that we can achieve what ever we set our minds to accomplish. Some
people begin to develop this through taking some sort of self-defense or as
I prefer to call it "Attack Prevention" [through awareness] program.
It is to be hoped that this will trigger at the least a desire to take control
of one's life and at the best the pursuance of Martial Arts for life. One cannot
nor should not walk around prepared for a fight anymore than we would ask for
one; we can, however, carry ourselves with assurance. In a research program
conducted in the 1970's, prisoners who were incarcerated for mugging people
were asked to view tapes of people walking down the street. Then they were
asked to pick out their potential victims. They chose each one because of the
way they walked and acted. The muggers were looking for an easy target and
a person who appeared to lack confidence and awareness. In 1992 Channel 4 News
in New York did a similar study asking would be muggers from high crime areas
the same question. Not surprisingly the answer was also the same. Step one
therefore is as simple as taking control of your own life -- don't set yourself
up as a potential victim! Walk with assurance and act as if you know exactly
where you are going.
Being aware is truly the key, but 24 hour a day awareness is an unrealistic
expectation. Once in a while we find ourselves using poor judgement or placing
ourselves in risky situations. Being upset with yourself solves nothing and
can even create a greater risk, instead recognize your situation and find a
way out just as soon as possible. Making mistakes is O.K. just know how to
turn them around.
Knowledge of the law is important in self-defense situations and action should
be taken as deemed appropriate to the actual situation. If for example someone
touches your shoulder and you immediately react with a sequence from your kata
that includes more than a single block and counter it may be considered extreme
force. We do a scenario in our Dojo training where the would be attacker asks
for the time and when the person looks down she is attacked; after a while
the women start to hit the moment someone asks for the time. It is funny, but
definitely an example of extreme reaction. While it is important to act when
we know a physical defense is necessary it is equally important to -- Establish
the Intent before you defend.
Know your assets and liabilities -- stay in your own strengths. By this I mean
learn to assess what you do the best whether it be running, kicking, punching
or even talking and use those tools of self-defense. When necessary use the
weapons of your body arms, legs and parts of them as well as your head. Your
head is an essential weapon both to strike with, but more importantly to think
with and assess.
If defense is necessary and you take action . . . do anything you need to in
order to escape with your life. This includes looking around you and utilizing
things like the contents of your purse or pocket as well as environmental resources
for defense purposes.
In researching information for a paper I presented at Long Island University
the statistics I found showed that the farther removed in relationship a person
is from you the more likely you are to talk your way out of the situation.
The better you are aquatinted with the person the less likely you are to talk
your way out of that situation. I tend to feel that the same applies to the
physical defense. The less you know the individual the more likely you are
to take action when you feel it is warranted while the more aquatinted you
are with the person you begin to doubt whether or not they mean to harm you
and may wait too long to take proper action. These same statistics support
this when stating that the 42.8 % of the attacks against women reportedly occurred
in or near their home or that of a friend. To me it signals the fact that these
are areas where we feel more secure and tend to lower our guard.
Another statistic that I found interesting and one that backed up my concept
that we are the one in charge of our own safety showed that in over 60% of
the time self-defense measures taken by the victim worked while someone intervening
on your behalf helped in less than 40% of the cases. One reason I believe this
to be so is because a person mugging you who suddenly find themselves up against
a good Samaritan or other assistant will have to do away with you quickly creating
even greater damage than originally anticipated. The other statistic backing
up my theory is that taking self defense measures hurt your situation in less
than 10 % of the time and in another 10 % of the time did no harm at all. It
makes sense then for you to -- take responsibility for your own safety -- harness
fear energy and use it to your own advantage. According to the Bureau of Justice
Statistics -- Criminal Victimization in the United States- 1992, "The
violent crimes of rape, robbery and assault -- which involve a threat or an
act of violence in confrontations between victims and offenders -- are considered
the most serious crimes measured by the NCVS1 , twenty percent of all crimes
measured by the survey were violent crimes." Out of 140,930 reported rapes
in 1992 - 40,730 were completed while 100,200 were "Attempted." How
many were not reported?
The statistics researched prove that self-defense of any nature works in up
to 71% of violent attacks while it hurt in only 9%. 8% of the time it could
have gone either way and in yet another 12% of the time it neither helped nor
hurt. Viewed in this manner it is obvious that in about 83% of the time it
is worth doing something. Anything is better than standing by and becoming
a victim. The program helps people get in touch with themselves and learn what
it takes to avoid victimization.
Finally, be Psychic -- harness into your 6th sense -- if something doesn't
feel right it probably is not. We were given a gift of perception that we all
too often ignore. We feel we are being silly when we find ourselves reacting
to something that is not even there. When it comes to your safety nothing is
silly. I would rather have to apologize for my actions than end up as just
another statistic. No one -- but NO ONE has the right to take away your dignity.
Being a victim can mean a lot of things to a lot of people but the most important
thing is how we feel about our selves on the inside. Sometimes it is necessary
to look at the positive that come out of any action or lack of action. Hindsight
is a wonderful thing but it is only there after the fact. should have's, would
haves and could haves are not empowering emotions. If you want to be in charge
of your life you need to make that decision -- TODAY. We learn from our experiences
and move on, otherwise we become victims over and over and over.
1. National Crime Victimization Survey
For
more information contact Kyoshi Fierro at:
Smithtown
Karate Academy
135 West main Street
Smithtown, NY 11787
(631) 265-9062
Marilyn774@aol.com
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