When I told people that I was going to take the CrossFit Defense seminar, I got a lot of weird looks and questions like, “What are we going to do an AMRAP of eye gouges and groin kicks?” I can understand their confusion. CrossFit is, after all, the sport of fitness and we are about working out and getting in sick shape. How does a self defense course fit that profile?
If you know Greg Glassman and what he believes about fitness, you would know that CrossFit was designed make people generally physically prepared for the unknown and the unknowable. CrossFit should prepare you to live a long and healthy life outside the gym. If you understand that, then you can see that there is no greater threat to your life, liberty and pursuit of happiness than a violent attack. Ergo there is no greater need for physical fitness than when you are faced with such a threat. Tony Blauer understands that and he has been training military, law enforcement and civilians in self defense for 35 years. He has also been crossfitting for almost a decade. He blends the two worlds seamlessly.
What is the most surprising and refreshing about the CrossFit Defense course is that it builds off of something else that Coach Glassman said, “The greatest adaptation to CrossFit is between the ears.” The CrossFit Defense course focuses on training your mind. Blauer teaches you to recognize and understand fear, to read the signs before something goes wrong, to de-fuse a situation, to act before it’s too late, to get out of harms way and, as a last resort, to use your fitness to defend yourself.
Blauer says this, “Self defense is the most important skill you hope you never have to use.” I agree. I feel better prepared after taking this seminar in my ability to avoid dangerous confrontations and get out of harms way and more confident should I need to use my fitness to defend myself or my loved ones. It is like having your First Aid or CPR certification: you need it and are glad you have it, but never want to use it. I cannot recommend it enough.
Sign up to take the course at CrossFit.com
Learn more about Tony Blauer at Blauertactical.com
CrossFit Defense Seminar, June 28 & 29, 2014 at CrossFit Mayhem