Need a little help for a speech on self-defense

[Xee]

Not sure if this in the right forum, if not, mods, feel free to move it.

For my last speech in my speech class, we have to do a 6- minute persuasive speech on something that "concerns us." I wanted to do something that would interest the rest of the class and also be interesting to research. So for my topic, I chose "I believe everyone should have some kind of self-defense training" and now I have to "persuade" them. To do this, I need to have three main points. That's where I'm a little stuck on. So far, here's what I thought I'd cover:

1.) The ethics of self-defense - Philosophical/moral justifications
2.) The likeliness of being attacked - Statistical data; real-life accounts
3.) The benefits of self-defense - The benefits; more real-life accounts

The only one I'm not sure about is number 2, mainly because I haven't researched at all the likeliness of being attacked. Still, I think I can argue it.

Anyone have any feedback or suggestions? Think I pretty much covered all the bases?

[koto_ryu]

Not sure if this in the right forum, if not, mods, feel free to move it.

For my last speech in my speech class, we have to do a 6- minute persuasive speech on something that "concerns us." I wanted to do something that would interest the rest of the class and also be interesting to research. So for my topic, I chose "I believe everyone should have some kind of self-defense training" and now I have to "persuade" them. To do this, I need to have three main points. That's where I'm a little stuck on. So far, here's what I thought I'd cover:

1.) The ethics of self-defense - Philosophical/moral justifications
2.) The likeliness of being attacked - Statistical data; real-life accounts
3.) The benefits of self-defense - The benefits; more real-life accounts

The only one I'm not sure about is number 2, mainly because I haven't researched at all the likeliness of being attacked. Still, I think I can argue it.

Anyone have any feedback or suggestions? Think I pretty much covered all the bases?

For likeliness, you can check out the Violence Report I posted on the MMA forum a while ago, that could help you out there. You could also try telling them about the aspects of self-defense (i.e. awareness, etc.) that help you stay safe.

[Hikage]

Make sure that you be careful and learn what experience your professor has. I made the mistake my freshman year of college when I had speech. I did a persuasive speech, just like you, on why TKD blows monkey chunks. I found out when I was finished that the prof had spent many years in TKD. I barely passed the class.

-Hikage

[Xee]

Make sure that you be careful and learn what experience your professor has. I made the mistake my freshman year of college when I had speech. I did a persuasive speech, just like you, on why TKD blows monkey chunks. I found out when I was finished that the prof had spent many years in TKD. I barely passed the class.

-Hikage

Nah, he's not a "fighter" type by any means; just bookworm-ish. We had a short, informal "how to" speech at the beginning of the semester and for that I showed some JKD stuff, like how to do an elbow destruction, thai kick and some trapping. Practically the whole class made grimaces when I told them what the above would do, including him. So it's obvious he hasn't had any exposure to it.

[koto_ryu]

Make sure that you be careful and learn what experience your professor has. I made the mistake my freshman year of college when I had speech. I did a persuasive speech, just like you, on why TKD blows monkey chunks. I found out when I was finished that the prof had spent many years in TKD. I barely passed the class.

-Hikage

LOL owch...............

[Tant01]

...
The only one I'm not sure about is number 2, mainly because I haven't researched at all the likeliness of being attacked. Still, I think I can argue it.

Anyone have any feedback or suggestions? Think I pretty much covered all the bases?

You're trying to convince a bunch classmates that "made grimaces" when you describe the trauma that they should learn to defend themselves? Good luck with that, you might start with a "sheeple" analogy.

I've got some interesting junk you might like?

Or not?

"For men of understanding do not say that the sword is to blame for murder, nor wine for drunkenness, nor strength for outrage, nor courage for foolhardiness, but they lay the blame on those who make an improper use of the gifts which have been bestowed upon them by God, and punish them accordingly."

St. John Chrysostom (circa 341-410 A.D.), from "Treatise on the Priesthood,"
via B.T. Carlin, M.D.

"There is no safety for honest men, except by believing all possible evil of evil men."

Edwin Burke, via Thomas Sowell

and this;

"And consider that learning has no greater enemy than ignorance, neither can the unskillful ever judge the truth of my art to them unknown, beware of rash judgment and accept my labors thankfully as I bestow them willingly, censure me justly, let no man despise my work herein causeless, and so I refer myself to the censure of such as are skillful herein and I commit you to the protection of the almighty Jehovah.

Yours in all love and friendly affection,
George Syluer" (Silver)
From his "Brief Instructions" on his "Paradoxes of Defense" Circa 1599

[Xee]

You're trying to convince a bunch classmates that "made grimaces" when you describe the trauma that they should learn to defend themselves? Good luck with that, you might start with a "sheeple" analogy.

I figured I'd throw a CPR analogy somewhere in the speech, like "Every year, thousands of people are certified to give CPR, in fact I'm sure a number of you are, yet only a small percentage ever have to use it. Why show such concern for the life of others, yet so little for your own?"

Hmm . . . sounds a bit harsh, might have to tweak it a bit, but you get the idea.

[HtTKar]

Geoff Thompsons website has many articles on the benefits of learning self-defence such as the article below.

http://www.geoffthompson.com/articles/article_real_self_defence.htm

Punch ups, muggings and even fatalities are frighteningly common in a society that is bulging at the waist with unsolicited assaults. Due to astonishing growth-rate of violent crime in Britain, skills in self-defence are almost a pre-requisite if you want to get from the pub to the Indian and home again in one piece.

In an attack situation, options - from avoiding a confrontation with guile right through to swapping some leather - are useful; the choices are varied and subjective but when your adrenaline is racing and your legs are doing an involuntary bossanova the choice (as they say) will be entirely yours

A more complete listing of articles from his website

http://www.geoffthompson.com/articles/articles.htm

[Hikage]

Is it just me, or are the benefits obvious?

-Hikage

[HtTKar]

yeah
Sometimes the more obvious something is, the harder it is to explain. Common sense is a hard thing to teach.

[Pastyti]

Geoff Thompsons website has many articles on the benefits of learning self-defence such as the article below.

http://www.geoffthompson.com/articles/article_real_self_defence.htm

A more complete listing of articles from his website
http://www.geoffthompson.com/articles/articles.htm

Why would you not wait for the police? Are you unsure of your ground or just too bloody cowardly to justify your actions? Or perhaps your actions were not jusifiable at all? Perhaps you arn't big enough to hold both hands up and say yes I did it, and this is because -------? It comes across to me as if your all incredibly selfish. Me, me, me, me. Face up to your responsabilities if you injure an attacker own up to it, yes I did it because, and give your reasons. If you don't then you are no better than the person you have just assulted, in fact worse, you don't have the guts to face the legal consequences of your actions. In short cowardly. Sorry about that, but some of us have a moral code by which we live. Accept the repercussions of your actions and sleep well at night with a clear conscience.

[jukado1]

self defense

XEE: You might bring up that we all train in s/d, even if we don't know it. Most of us, if we have any intelligence wear a seatbelt, We look both ways before crossing the street, When taking s/d lessons what we are doing is,
)1. Getting physical exercise, so we look and feel better,
) 2. Attempting to increase the odds that are life and property will be safe.
On this point I use the example of running in to a 7/11 for a quart of milk, If you leave the keys in the car, the engine running, and the window down, REMEMBER TO BUY MILK AND A GOOD PAIR OF SHOES, There is a good chance you'll be walking home.
But if you turn off the engine, lock the car and take the keys, the car WILL probably be here when you come out,
Now if you do all of the above, plus put "the club" on the steering wheel, and have a men standing by the car with a shotgun, YOUR CAR WILL BE THERE WHEN YOU RETURN, that is called target hardening.

[HtTKar]

Why would you not wait for the police? Are you unsure of your ground or just too bloody cowardly to justify your actions? Or perhaps your actions were not jusifiable at all? Perhaps you arn't big enough to hold both hands up and say yes I did it, and this is because -------? It comes across to me as if your all incredibly selfish. Me, me, me, me. Face up to your responsabilities if you injure an attacker own up to it, yes I did it because, and give your reasons. If you don't then you are no better than the person you have just assulted, in fact worse, you don't have the guts to face the legal consequences of your actions. In short cowardly. Sorry about that, but some of us have a moral code by which we live. Accept the repercussions of your actions and sleep well at night with a clear conscience.

I absolutely do not understand the gist of your argument here. Is this a personal attack on me? Or is this against all the forum members? If you didnt notice, the title of this thread is "Need a little help for a speech on self-defense". The articles I posted may help him out with writing a speech for self-defense. Your post has helped noone. There's one brief allusion to a moral code that you live up to, and then you go and call everybody "incredibly selfish". Seems to me that casting derogitory stereotypical remarks would not be part of anybodys moral code.
Is this how you clear your conscience? Is this what makes you feel better?

[Pastyti]

I absolutely do not understand the gist of your argument here. Is this a personal attack on me? Or is this against all the forum members? If you didnt notice, the title of this thread is "Need a little help for a speech on self-defense". The articles I posted may help him out with writing a speech for self-defense. Your post has helped noone. There's one brief allusion to a moral code that you live up to, and then you go and call everybody "incredibly selfish". Seems to me that casting derogitory stereotypical remarks would not be part of anybodys moral code.
Is this how you clear your conscience? Is this what makes you feel better?

No it's not a personal attack on you, try not to be so over sensitive. It was in response to the article contained in the web site you 'recomended'. Ie, the comment was made "don't be around when the police arrive". No personal offence intended. My question was "why not?" I then put forward some potential explanations as why this might be, and then asked for comments. What is so strange about that. Personally I would always wait for the police to arrive in order to explain my actions, as I believe it to be the right thing to do. Is that so unusual? I also hold the opinion that to 'skulk away' is the wrong thing to do and is the mark of a person who is frightened of the authorities, sometimes known as cowardice, or a guilty conscience. Why would someone have a guilty conscience if they have done the right thing? It would reasonably appear that those who would leave the scene can be considered selfish as they are concerned solely in effecting their own extraction from the incident and have no concern for what they have done. If this wasn't the case they would have stayed and faced the music. That's my opinion.

[HtTKar]

Ok, understood,
I agree with you. You should never do anything that you are unwilling to admit to, or own up to.
I also understand where he is coming from though. The police are sometimes so worried about closing a case, that they are blind to what really happened. Saying the wrong thing at the wrong time, could cause more problems than taking off. Not everybody has a way with words.

On a side note to this. When I was younger I was at a bar with some of my friends and a fight broke out. We weren't involved so we didnt care, and just hung out. About an hour later, the guy that lost came back with some buddies and tried tearing the place apart. We got out, but I learned my lesson. Now anytime I'm at a bar, or anywhere, and a fight breaks out, I get out of there. You never know what a sore looser is capable of doing. So I would say that unless you're positive that the cops are showing up any second, it might just be better to tell the bartender that your going home, and leave. Believe me, the cops will find you no matter where you are if they know who you are.

from the article

Self-defence and the law.
As important as the law may be, contemplating the legal implications of defending your self in the face of ensuing attack would be unwise. It can cause indecision, which usually leads to defeat.
I call the law the second enemy: this is not meant disparagingly, but, having been on the wrong side of it a few times I feel duty bound to highlight the inherent dangers of dealing with - what can be - a sticky judicial system, post-assault.
Many people are convicted for what they say and not what they do. This means you could legally defend yourself and yet still be convicted and sent to jail (do not pass go...) if you don't claim self-defence (correctly) when giving a statement to the police. Many of my friends ended up in prison because they didn't understand the law. Paradoxically many known criminals have avoided prison because they (or certainly their solicitors) did. So, if self-defence is your aim, then an appreciation of this judicial grey area has to be an imperative.
Post-assault, you'll probably be suffering from what is known as adrenal-induced Tachypsychia. This can cause time distortion, time loss, memory distortion and memory loss. You may also feel the innate urge to talk, if only to justify your actions (Logorrhoea). All of the latter affect your ability to make an objective statement if the police become involved. When/if you do make a statement it is hardly likely to be accurate considering these facts. Six months down the line when you end up in court to defend your right to self-defence, everything will hang on your statement. So make sure you're clear about your rights. If you're not clear, insist on waiting until the next day before making a statement or ask to see a duty solicitor (or your own). It's your right. Don't put pen to paper otherwise. A police cell can be a very lonely place when you're not used to it, and the police can often be guilty of rushing, even pressuring you for a quick statement. This pressure can be subtle but effective; being left alone for long periods of time, being told that you might be sent to prison, even the good cop-bad cop routine (yes, honestly). Many a tough guy has turned from hard to lard after a few hours surrounded by those four grey walls. Under these circumstances it's very easy to say things you really don't want to say, just so that you can go home.

If you have to defend your self and you damage your assailant my advice is not to hang around after the dirty deed has been done. This minimises the risk of legal (or other) repercussions. Attack victims (especially those who successfully defended them selves) often feel compelled to stay at the scene of crime post assault. Do your self a favour; make like Houdini and vanish? Your life and your liberty might be at stake. Better still don't be there in the first place, that way you won't have to worry about long months waiting for the court case and the possibility of suffering from a sever loss of liberty.