Your best bet it to contact the Police Department in your area.
They will have a list of sanctioned Self Defence courses for Women. Ask them which one would be the best for you due to your age and gender.

Good starting point then, get involved in a Martial Arts program

Can anyone recommend a self defense course in the Hamilton area? Most of what I have found is just martial arts. What I am looking for is more a short term course incase of an attack outside of the home.

I had a person stalking me for years and wanted a course to protect myself in case he is back.

Thanks

can not help on the self defense course but maybe a soldier can help you.
there trained to fight hand to hand....a few lessons i am sure can be had for free from x military personal i hope. ❓

as for stalking you i was only looking for my cat...anyone seen a flat faced cat that likes handouts? 🙂

@WildE thank you. I did not know that was available. I will call tomorrow

@Grouchy you are just too funny, Ty for the laugh

Sending you a message and will GLADLY show you a couple of moves to help I.C.E.! It is amazing how little force is needed if hitting someone in the right spot!
And I called a friend to see if she knew of any place in Hamilton for some defense. 🙂

Can anyone recommend a self defense course in the Hamilton area? Most of what I have found is just martial arts. What I am looking for is more a short term course incase of an attack outside of the home.

I had a person stalking me for years and wanted a course to protect myself in case he is back.

Thanks

can not help on the self defense course but maybe a soldier can help you.
there trained to fight hand to hand....a few lessons i am sure can be had for free from x military personal i hope. ❓

as for stalking you i was only looking for my cat...anyone seen a flat faced cat that likes handouts? 🙂

I hate to burst your bubble but, don't count on ex-military. The military only teaches hand to hand combat on occassion and usually just enough to give a soldier a false sense of confidence. A good number of soldiers and ex-soldiers are knowledgeable in self-defence however, they went out and took the classes on their own. They most certainly did not learn it in the army. About the only military who have learned self-defence in the army would be military police.
Many years ago, hand to hand combat was a regular part of army training. Then people started complaining that the soldiers were using what they learned and beating up civilians whenever they were out on the town. The army stopped the hand to hand training and have had a phobia about it ever since. The army has course training manuals for hand to hand combat courses but for the most part they don't bother.

i assumed (*assumed* mother of all fkups) are soldiers where trained in hand to hand . (guess i watched to many old war movies)
so from what you say a solder in the Canadian military is
no better then a civy street fighter? now that is scary.

i assumed (*assumed* mother of all fkups) are soldiers where trained in hand to hand . (guess i watched to many old war movies)
so from what you say a solder in the Canadian military is
no better then a civy street fighter? now that is scary.

Actually, if you knew the kind of physical training that soldiers go through you might think differently. I'm not just talking about the cardio training and strength training either. You can't do a two hour sentry duty in a trench at 40 below night after night without toughening up. Soldiers are often pushed to their physical and mental limits beyond what the average civilian will do or is even willing to try. As a result they develop a toughness and resiliency that many wouldn't consider. Those two traits can be advantageous in a confrontation. I would far rather have the average soldier back me in a fight than the average civilian.
In Afghanistan I knew of more that one soldier who fought hand to hand, to the death. Those soldiers are still alive because of the toughness instilled in them by the army (their opponents aren't). Just because they aren't heavily trained in hand to hand, doesn't mean they should be underestimated.

I'm thinking of taking Systema (russian martial arts) i know some ex and current military individuals who swear by it, as well as some civilians who are heavy on martial arts.
it defended russia from invaders on all sides for hundreds of years, and they were usually outnumbered. I found this place in hamilton that seems to teach it. its definitely not for everyone but i thought i would throw it out there as i saw the thread title self defence. Link below:

http://www.phoenixfitness.ca/services/systema-hamilton/

From what I've seen If I were still young, I'd like to learn Krav Maga, the Israeli martial art. It looks similar to Akido, the art of redirecting force. In the military the only hand to hand I learned was a bit of Judo on my Combat Leaders Course, only because our section instructor/leader was a blaclbelt and he felt that we should know how to fall properly in a fight (the fall is half the trauma). I learned a bit of Karate in 2000 but had to quit because of back problems. I'm learning a bit on cane and Bo stick fighting now.

I used to teach a woman self defence course at the local colege it was free for students and $10 a class for non students. It was just the basics but you would be surprised how many assailants back off if they know your willing to fight more of these assholes want a scared compliment victim. Remember a little fight goes a long way. I would also tell the girls to look for weapons of opertunity like keys hairspray what ever you have with you that can be used to help save your life. If you think it could be a sexual assault then soil yourself. Do whatever you have to.