Sifu Thorsten de Vries had invited those responsible for the topic of women’s self-defence within the EWTO to northern Germany.

The classes were divided into the mainly practical part with Sabine Mackrodt and the theoretical part with Emanuel Kellert. Both seminars are required to obtain the qualification as an “assistant instructor for women’s self-defence“, and are indispensable as a basis for well-founded self-defence instruction for women.

Sabine Mackrodt used her own experiences as a basis for instructing the participants, and with her informal but focussed manner she was able to fully motivate the male and female instructors present.

In one exercise they were all asked to define what is “typically feminine“ and “typically masculine“. When Sabine compared the resulting statements on a flipchart, it soon became clear that socialisation was very firmly established. There were very clear ideas about how men and women should be.

Do women also see themselves in this role? Do they have the same idea that they are weaker, cannot defend themselves against a stronger man and should not contradict men? This approach inevitably means believing that women are responsible for bringing up children and running the household, while men are allowed to do “anything“. The resulting freedom of action for women was frightening, for it was small indeed. Throughout the day there were important training hints for the next women’s classes.

Emanuel Kellert introduced the participants to one of the most difficult topics in his usual, affable manner. There was scarcely a sound in the room as he related his day-to-day experiences as a police officer. It sounded like a reading from a violent detective novel, and nobody would forget it in a hurry. Reports about girls and women who had fallen victim to violence, and the relative “care“ given to victims and perpetrators. Emanuel explained in detail what is important when dealing with victims of violence. How conversations should be conducted, what to look out for and how one can give other forms of help.

It became more than clear to the participants how important it is to pay sufficient attention to the subject of violence against women and girls.

When one also considers the facts and realises that one in three German women are assaulted at some time in their lives, and that approx. 72 % of all women surveyed have been subjected to unwanted attention at least once, the need for such seminars becomes very clear.

It is important to realise that perpetrators are looking for victims, not opponents, and that anyone has a chance if they defend themselves, relinquish the role of victim and define their boundaries clearly.

There are seminars on the subject of women’s sellf-defence at regular intervals. The WingTsun school in Stade is already planning to hold a Trainer 1 seminar for women’s self-defence with Emanuel Kellert and Sabine Mackrodt this year.

By Anja Wolf