 | Master Tammy Stamps
is owner and Master Instructor of Stamps Academy of Taekwondo at 4065 N. Woodlawn. Stamps Academy opened in February of 1994. Master Stamps is a 5th Dan Black Belt registered through the United States Taekwondo Union and certified through the Kukiwon in Seoul, Korea. Stamps Academy teaches Olympic Style Taekwondo, Self-defense, Weapons and has a prestigious Demonstration Team which performs at numerous events around the Wichita area. Master Stamps has impressive credentials. She has been a member of the US Team, US Olympic Festival Teams, and is a National and International medalist. She is very experienced in Olympic style fighting, self-defense, weapons and forms. Master Stamps can be contacted at her office (316) 612-2378 or you can email her at stampstl@birch.net . You can also check out stampsacademy.com for further information |
Self Defense
2002-09-01 10:46:00
I’m 63... what do I do?
Tammy Stamps
Question: I read about crime much of the time and how much of it is perpetrated against the elderly. I am a 63 year old widowed female. I am 5'3" and weigh 135. I don't think I'm going to scare anyone physically. While I look and feel okay, I'm not ready to get into a wrestling match with anyone. Is it possible to learn a little something in self-defense (other than how to yell) that might actually help me if I am ever confronted?Answer: The answer to your question is a resounding "YES". I am very pleased that you are concerned enough about your safety to inquire about self-defense. The usual mindset of an individual is that "it will never happen to me" or "it always happens somewhere else, to someone else"...this is WRONG. Crimes against the elderly, children and women are increasing everyday. It only takes one time for you to become a victim of a violent crime and your life may be changed forever. Knowledge is power. Self-Defense is the knowledge to protect yourself and your loved ones against harm. The age of an individual does not matter when it comes to self-defense, but their mindset does. Yelling does draw attention to the crime, however, it will rarely save you from a criminal and their bad intentions. A good self-defense class will not only teach you awareness, attitude and how to avoid a physical confrontation, but will also teach you what to do if a situation does indeed become physical. If you are thinking of defending yourself against someone by what we call "Muscle -vs- Muscle", you will probably lose every time. Muscle -vs- muscle implies using your physical strength against an attacker who is bigger and stronger than you are. An older individual must rely more on common sense to be safe .Very few people are aware of the natural weapons that were given to them at birth such as voice, body language, mindset, fingers, feet; the list goes on and on. I would strongly suggest that you check into well established Martial Arts Academy's, especially those who offer personal self-defense training. Take the time to observe their self-defense classes and check the credentials of the instructor before signing up. Some Academies emphasize self-defense training that is unrealistic, complicated and potentially dangerous to the person being victimized. Check the program out thoroughly. You might also check with the local Police Department as they sometimes have programs for the public.
