Can learning self defense be useful and effective enough for most women?

Or is it better to run away as fast as you can?

I do freeze up frequently when confronted with surprise situations.

My boyfriend says all girls are wimps and couldn't possibly win against a more powerful male attacker.

Well, I just started my self defense class in high school and our instructor thought very little of my boyfriend's advice when told of it.

To psychologically counteract the "freeze effect" common to many women in surprise situations, she gave us 2 web sites of current events where females were successful in dealing with their assailants:

http://www.kansascity.com/news/breaking_news/story/471467.html

http://www.surinenglish.com/noticias.php?Noticia=12145

Your thoughts?

Your advice?

yes for sure. i would love to learn some self defense,thats a great one.

It is better to get help from authority. However, when police is drity or too far away, you can only conduct self-defence.

Force is not depending on muscle. F=ma. (newton second law). Muscle is mass whereas speed is a. If you can move much faster, it does hurt much. It also depend on the angle of attack. 90degree against the action force is the basic principal of chinese Ku Fu.

You should watch the film "The Brave One". It can give you some inspiration.

In addition, there are many women soldiers in the frontline fighting against terrorists.

depending on the situation. if u cant escape by running,,,and know this for sure,,,,u must defend yourself!

Yes, if for no other reason than the fact that you will have the confidence to defend yourself if needed. There is nothing like a confident posture and affect to put up the first wall of defense. Also, there are techniques that you will learn which could easily put off a stronger man if you can think fast enough to use them. You are not going to win in a traditional style fight. You just need to know enough to give you enough space to get the heck out of the situation. Karate can teach you that. Go for it girl. It is worthwhile!

You have one weapon and one weapon only to defend yourself if you get in a bad situation...the lump of matter between your ears. The women who have escaped predators are the ones who paid very careful attention to what was going on and did what they had to do to escape. Be it run, talk, or fight. There is no magic answer, and no, other than giving you a bit more self confidence, self defense courses won't help. The typical male is simply much stronger than the typical female, and the dangerous ones are used to violence, unlike the typical female. This book is the best I have sen for covering this:

https://www.gavindebecker.com/books-gof.cfm

Also, females should NEVER under ANY circumstances allow themselves to be alone with a man who isn't thoroughly vetted. Get in the next elevator, don't get in the car, don't unlock the door, whatever...if you don't know him it doesn't matter how charming and harmless he appears.