“Mel, sorry you feel that way. I can assure you that we are not trying to make money from the attacks that are happening. Far from it! The small fee we are charging is simply to cover the cost of the halls we are hiring for the seminars. We all hold full time jobs and only charge enough to cover expenses, not to make money. We even go out offering FREE 1-hour talks to colleges, etc. The training we are offering is far more than just a few tips, it is very indepth and concentrates just as much on how to avoid situations as it does on physical defence. Also, I can assure you that, with the right training, a woman can successfully defend herself against a male attacker. We pressure test all our training regularly to ensure it works in a real situation. If it didn't work, we wouldn't teach it. As said, we are not about making money, we are simply trying to make a difference and help people lead safer, more confident lives. What we would like to do is invite you to attend one of our seminars to see for yourself and if, at the end of the seminar, you still feel this way, we will give you a full refund.

Mike B, you are absolutely right! In fact, research shows that statistically men are twice as likely to become victims of violent attack as women. And mobile phones are stolen in half of all street robberies. However, it is women who are far more likely to suffer a sexual attack and that is what our Ladies Self Defence Seminars are aimed at preventing. Men are encouraged to attend our general self defence courses and we have taught many men so far who have all benefited from the training. Also, we have lots of free advice on our website under the Self Protection Tips section, including a page on safety tips for men.

Mike, great advice from someone who clearly has a lot of experience on the subject. You are absolutely right about the need to train the mind. We spend a lot of time in our courses teaching people about this factor and getting the mind ready for both verbal and physical attack. Regular practice is also something that we wholeheartedly encourage in our courses. None of our moves are fancy though, so that they can be performed when the mind and body are under the immense pressure of conflict and the adrenalin is pumping through the body causing a whole host of unwelcome and unexpected effects. As mentioned above, we put all our methods through extreme pressure testing to ensure they work in the real world. Thanks again for adding some great tips of your own.

Best wishes,
Bristol School of Self Defence”

“Personally I find it disgusting and tasteless that these men would try and sell their services off the back of women's fear. They are also giving women a false feeling of security by giving them a few tips to defend themselves. Ultimately, if a man wants to overpower a woman, he will. I am disappointed that the Evening Post would allow these men to use the sex attacks as a way to make money.”

“It's not just females who need to be 'streetwise' and aware. From the reports I've read over recent weeks in the BEP, there have been just as many fellas, as females, who have been mugged for MP3 players and mobile phones.and cash :-(”

“Self defence classes are good, however as someone who has trained in marial arts for years, worked as a doorman for 14 years I can tell you that unless you train regularly it will all go out the window if attacked as it's as much about training the mind to be able to deal with confilct as it is being able to do some fancy move against someone when your scared. Best advice is this. Don't walk in lonely areas or late at night or early morning. Carry an attack alarm an offender does not want attention drawn to himself. Try to walk in groups. Be aware of your surroundings. Most of all use common sense.”