I once experienced a situation that highlights the critical importance of personal safety training for young adults, particularly those heading off to college. A mother brought her 17-year-old daughter to me for our “Essentials” self-defense training sessions before she left for her first year of college. The daughter, however, was visibly annoyed and resistant to the idea. She felt that the training was irrelevant and considered her mother’s insistence on it to be both annoying and unnecessary.
During our initial one-hour session, her lack of interest was obvious, and the session was less productive than I had hoped. At the end of the session, she quickly left without much of a goodbye, and I already knew that she would not be returning to complete the course.
Fast forward six months to the Christmas break, and to my surprise, the now 18-year-old young woman appeared at my doorstep, alone and with a noticeably embarrassed demeanor. She approached me and requested a private conversation. During our discussion, she told me her roommate had been sexually assaulted just outside their dorm room. This incident had profoundly impacted her perspective on personal safety.
The realities of violence and the importance of being prepared were no longer abstract or trivial to her. She expressed a newfound understanding and appreciation for the training her mother had insisted upon. With a humble attitude, she was now ready and eager to train.
This experience serves as a powerful reminder of the importance of personal safety training for college students. As parents, it is crucial to prepare our children for the realities they may face in new and unfamiliar environments. Encouraging them to participate in personal safety and self-defense training can equip them with the skills and confidence needed to protect themselves and others.
For students, it is important to approach such training with an open mind, recognizing that while it may seem unnecessary at first, the skills learned can be invaluable in critical situations. Personal safety is not just about physical defense; it is about awareness, prevention, and empowerment.
At Krav Maga Personal Safety, our Essentials program is specifically constructed to give students a quick yet detailed understanding of the kinds of dangers they may find as they leave home. Private and semiprivate classes are dedicated towards learning strategic striking, abduction defenses, and ground survival.
As parents, please consider self-defense training this summer as part of the preparations for sending your child to college.
