Editors, the Gauntlet,
Re: "Women’s self defence: myth or reality," March 22, 2001
I would like to commend Ruth Davenport on her article discussing the world of female self-defence. I’m a Personal Combat Instructor with the Progressive Combat Academy (PCA) and am very familiar with the lack of conviction most women have in training for violent attacks. Ruth outlined the significance of this issue and effectively illustrated the problems of working with a choreographed, padded attacker. As PCA says, "In a street assault, you will not rise to your expectations, but fall to the level of your training." All women should realistically consider the level of intent required to survive a serious encounter.
People must begin to show Davenport’s insight on this issue as one day their lives may depend on it.