Gaining self-confidence and managing your emotions better. These are two important benefits of practicing combat sports and martial arts - ranging from traditional karate to krav maga. Self-defence classes are also a great option for those considering taking up a more accessible training style that nurtures physical and mental awareness. 

Patrick Mampasi teaches self-defence at Aspria Arts-Loi. He makes it clear from the outset that this discipline is for everyone, men and women alike: "Self-defence is not just for people with a certain level of physical strength. It's more of a mindset coupled with the development of good reflexes. You learn to deploy a natural instinct for survival and protection through combat techniques derived from martial arts such as aikido, judo, karate, boxing or krav maga.

My courses are aimed at everyone, especially as I add a spiritual touch which will allow the development of what we can call a 6th sense. This will be very useful in the event of an attack because it will allow you to better identify the aggressor" he explains.

Before working on technique and key movements, each class begins with a warm-up that combines speed, coordination and movement in space. Three conditions that are of fundamental importance when you have to defend yourself.

"In a fight, movement is very important, as is the perception of one's direct environment. The first thing I teach my students is the ability to move in a given space. Before having to confront an attacker, there is often a possibility of escape first, which avoids having to fight. You can only judge this if you have a good perception of the environment around you," explains Patrick Mampasi.

But it is not only technique that counts. If from a legal point of view the practice of self-defence is tolerated, any action taken in this context must nevertheless be justified by an immediate danger or a provocation. It is also important to be able to adopt the right behaviour to prevent the situation from getting out of hand.  Particular attention is therefore paid to breathing because it is one of the keys to managing stress in dangerous situations.

Finally, our instructor also teaches his students to use the body as a weapon. "Without any equipment, you have to be ready to react with what you have at hand in order to neutralize your attacker.”

Hand, elbow, forearm or even knees, each part of the body can serve both as a shield to counter attacks and as a way to actively defend oneself.

 If you want to build your confidence and learn the right reflexes in the event of an attack, join Patrick’s self-defence classes at Aspria Arts-Loi - open to anyone aged 18 and over.

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