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CANE FOR FOR SENIORS: LESSON 1

By: Debra Stewart MBA, MATLT, CDP, ACC/MC/E/AD/AC                                              Picture Yourself Stronger

Teaching self-defense to seniors is rewarding and gives seniors the tools that they need to grow stronger both physically and mentally. It helps improve the reflexes, decision-making, and judgment of anyone who decides to study this art because of the many decisions that one needs to make in an emergency or possibly threatening situations. The initial phases of instruction are based around preventative measures to avoid situations that may create harm for the individual and the need to strengthen balance and flexibility.

Seniors can do a lot more than they think to avoid possible altercations and discussions that evoke critical thought concerning the many different scenarios is an excellent first step. As seniors offer suggestions and learn from each other in these groups, you may also want to offer these thoughts:

• When out and about don’t carry valuables
• Lock your doors
• Be willing to give the criminal your material possessions including your car (Let the police handle the situation)
• Avoid physical or verbal altercations
• Travel with someone rather than doing errands alone
• Look around your environment before you leave your home or car
• Seek community or family help for those times of illness or convalescence
• Ask for help when needed
• For any issues that make you feel weak or off balance seek medical attention and especially seek the physically therapy that you may need to stay strong
• Exercise and work to improve you balance and strength
• Become more familiar with self-defense techniques

Many seniors think that they need to fight to keep what is theirs and while this is helpful in some situations such as financial resources and such getting involved in a fight with a criminal should be avoided. Criminals seek their victims based on their perception of whether or not they can subdue their victim; in general, criminals would rather get what they want with little attention drawn to them. With this thought in mind when a victim gives the would be attacker what they want the victim now takes control of the situation by deciding not to get into an altercation. A person’s personal possession are not worth dying for because in reality that possession is still with them long after the thief has taken off with it, because no matter how precious the items are the person will always have their memories of how it made a difference  in their lives and others.

Strength, flexibly, endurance and mental agility need to be continually developed to stay strong for optimal health and well-being. Practicing self-defense is an excellent way to promote these functions because through the form and practice the student becomes stronger and more aware of their body often provoking personal assessment and motivation to seek additional ways to develop these skills. Practicing self-defense is empowering and practicing realistic scenarios can help the student remain balanced concerning their personal perception of the skills and competencies needed for self-defense. Practice is important as to be able to use any self-defense technique effectively and it must be committed to muscle memory and practiced repeatedly.

Debra Stewart, MBA, MATLT, CDP, ACC, MC. AD. AC.E, ACE PT, Master Instructor for Tae Kwon Do at Chung’s Academy of Martial Arts. For more information about Cane Fu for Seniors, look for     Debra's upcoming book, Self-defense for Seniors. Email Debra: pictureyourselfstronger@yahoo.com