Is there any training for physical self defense in Gloucester, VA
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Welcome to the community @Andrea18
I don’t know of any in person physical self defense classes that the USCCA offers. We have some members from VA who may be able to point you to some other local options.
I would recommend finding some in person training that focuses on Self Defense. A lot of martial arts and martial arts instructors don’t focus specifically on giving their students quick and actionable skills that work well on the street. Krav Maga can be a good option with the right instructor since it’s more self defense focused.
There are also online training options that you can practice at home. I really like The Self Defense Company run by Damien Ross. He teaches some quick and dirty skills that are easy to learn and practice at home.
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Find a local Krav Maga studio and sign up for lessons. They are not Karate dojos designed to suck you into years of training for cute colored belts. They teach you to disable assailants FAST!!!
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It would be a good bit of a drive to the Central Garage area of King William county; but Odyssey Martial Arts has a great reputation. They offer a variety of classes.
Be safe!
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Enzo, do they have classes for seniors with hand issues? I am pretty fit, but need some tailoring to this type of training. Thanks - J
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They usually do. I’ve know folks in their 70s and even 80s that have gotten training based on their abilities. You might have to do a program customized for you. There was a guy in Florida that used to do training specifically for Senior Citizens.
A good friend got transferred to Brazil and took 10 lessons before she went to her new job. Within one year she put 3 purse snatchers in the hospital. She is about 5’ and maybe 110 lbs in her mid 40s.
Just be aware, these are not classes for simple hit and run. You get trained to severely disable and potentially kill an adversary in just a few moves. Krav Maga is not play fighting for points like some martial arts out there.
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And one more point. You can learn a whole lot about hand to hand self defense by learning how the body works. One of my mentors told me the best Self Defense book out there is Grey’s Anatomy, yes I have a copy. Learn where all the sensitive, gushy and essential bits are and remember when you try to bend things in directions they are not built to bend people will quickly submit to you or will be maimed, potentially permanently.
Same with knife SD…
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Your best bet will be to search on-line and contact the local health clubs/gyms, shooting ranges, and local law enforcement.
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My oldest took Krav Maga for years. It’s awesome!
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Thanks for the tips. - J
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My USCCA Homepage shows local training and education.
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@Andrea18 Welcome to the community!
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Welcome to the community!
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I’m 65 YO martial artist, 25 years on the mat, in the ring and in the cage, fight 3 time a week with Pro and Amateur MMA fighters. I train 1 day a week in Krav class. For self defense on the streets, regardless of age of physical abilities Practice Krav Maga. Most instructors are really good at fashioning their classes to the abilities of the students.
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Now I understand why @Mike164 still enjoys living in SLC… 
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Eyes, throat, groin.
Bodyweight.
Forward.
Targeting.
Anatomy.
Practice.
Become a master in your own right.
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Any dojo, mat, org you visit for the purpose of learning your self-defense wherein the instructor can’t or won’t answer your questions or tells you it “takes a coupla years of practice in order to be effective”…
Leave.
Immediately.
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Yes and No. We certainly don’t send people out on to the streets in a day or a week and tell them you can 100% defend yourself against another human. Practice and study are required to be reasonably effective. I like to focus on 3-5 basic moves/combinations usually combinations that compliment each other, combinations that fit into that students physical and mental abilities. Then In the Words of my Coach Sep, Drillers Make Killers. Drill drill drill.
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