Re: [at-l] Self-defense seminars for hikers

["KC" <felton@bluenet.net>]

I for one would love to take that kind of instruction. My hiking partner
(Amazon) would also be interested. We both LOVE the idea. KC

-----Original Message-----
From: stevenj@cliffhanger.com <stevenj@cliffhanger.com>
To: at-l@backcountry.net <at-l@backcountry.net>
Date: Thursday, September 16, 1999 11:05 AM
Subject: [at-l] Self-defense seminars for hikers


>Dear fellow hikers,
>
>I am both a AT hiker (section hiker so far) and a dedicated, 15-year
student of the martial arts.  My main area of study is self-defense using
the "jo", a 4-foot wooden staff which is one of the traditional weapons of
Japanese martial arts.  My jo (a simple length of plain hardwood) doubles as
my hiking staff. Last weekend while I was hiking, I was thinking that it
felt good to know that I could defend myself in the backcountry if the need
arose.  Even nicer was the fact that my weapon was a completely
innocuous-looking piece of hiking gear, and that I did not appear "armed" or
aggressive, just another peaceful hiker on the trail.
>
>Thinking more on it, I wondered how many other hikers know, or wish they
knew, how to use their walking staffs to defend themselves.  So, I decided
to post the idea here and see if there would be much interest within the AT
hiking community for self-defense seminars, for hikers or walkers interested
in learning self-defense with their walking staffs.
>
>The course would first teach the importance of awareness and avoidance of
encounters, then move on to very basic effective techniques, followed by
some hands-on attack simulations. If you saw a flyer at your local
backpacking-supply store, offering a seminar in self-defense with your
walking staff, would you be interested?
>
>Please feel free to post your comments, pro or con, or you can email me
privately at the address above.
>
>Sincerely,
>
>Steven J.
>North Carolina
>
>p.s. Our dojo is a private, non-commercial school. If the first seminars
are well-received, we will encourage other dojos around the country to also
offer the training at a nominal charge, as an outreach service to the
hiking/walking community.
>
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