I believe that knowledge is power.
I don’t mean knowledge in the traditional sense. History and mathematics aren’t the subjects I’m referring to, basic self defense is. Throughout my sheltered childhood, I was sent to tae kwon do classes, self defense seminars, and boot camps. I had always lived in suburbia with the perfectly manicured lawns and the seemingly perfect families, why would I need to know how to defend myself? I never thought that I would ever need to use anything I had learned and that it had all been a waste of time and money.
One summer, I did. While I was at the Livingston Mall, I was attacked. It was a Thursday, mid-day, during the summer. As I was getting into my car, I felt someone come up behind me. My attacker grabbed my shoulder and ordered me not to “make a sound”. Thoughts rushed to my head, “What does he want?”, “What do I do?”, “What’s going to happen to me?” Before he could make any other demands, I had already begun to fight back. Everything that I had ever been taught rushed back. Before I could realize what had happened, I had dislocated his shoulder, broken his nose and knee, and taken him down to the ground, all without making a sound. I could believe what had happened. I was shaking and couldn’t speak. Eventually, I got into my car and found the security guards circling the parking lots.
Though they did not catch my attacker, I am at ease when I am out. I have been trained for the past twelve years to defend myself in many situations. I believe that everyone has the right to an education, an education on how to protect and defend themselves. I believe it was the knowledge I had acquired that kept me safe that day, and continues to protect me each day.
My knowledge of martial arts and self defense tactics is my power. It empowers me to carry myself with confidence and security. I am knowledgeable and therefore powerful. Knowledge is power… this I believe.