麻豆传媒

Finding Confidence and Courage in Self-Defense

Kent State alumnus helps students learn how to fight their way 鈥 or talk their way 鈥 out of aggressive encounters

鈥淥vercoming obstacles, overcoming fear 鈥 if you can overcome that part of yourself and manifest courage and become strong, that applies to everything in life,鈥 said Matthew Kane.

Matthew Kane suiting up for self defense demonstrations

Matthew Kane, teaching in the MACC Annex. Photo and header photo by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing 

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Kane is a graduate of 麻豆传媒鈥檚 master鈥檚 program in sports management and owner/founder of Paragon Martial Arts and Fitness in Tallmadge, Ohio. He鈥檚 also an adjunct professor in Kent State鈥檚 School of Teaching, Learning and Curriculum Studies within the university's College of Education Health and Human Services. Kane recently led a literal 鈥渉ands-on鈥 final exam with the students in one of the self-defense classes he teaches at Kent State.

Matthew Kane speaking to his class before their final exam

Photo by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing 

This one-credit-hour course is designed for students with little or no martial arts or self-defense training. Physical, verbal and mental defensive techniques, tactics and strategies are taught to prepare students for any potentially dangerous situation they may encounter.

A student practices what he learned in Kane's classes

Photo by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing 

In the final exam, Kane and two of his associates from Paragon Martial Arts and Fitness don protective gear and take turns playing the 鈥渂ad guy鈥 in different scenarios designed to test the students on what they have learned in the class. Each student is tested with four scenarios, which can include someone throwing a punch at them, getting them in a 鈥渂ear hug鈥 from behind, unwanted, aggressive advances, a kidnap attempt, a knife attack or a holdup at gunpoint.

A student practices verbal and physical defense in her final exam

Photo by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing 

Choosing Safety

Kane鈥檚 students are taught that some situations are best resolved not with physical defense, but mental and verbal defense. In several of the test scenarios, the students resolved the conflict simply by 鈥渢alking down鈥 the 鈥渂ad guy,鈥 and keeping a safe distance from them. In scenarios where the 鈥渂ad guy鈥 had a (rubber) gun and was going to rob them, students gave them what they wanted to end the interaction peacefully, without injury. However, in the scenario in which the person with the gun had intent to kidnap the student, the student鈥檚 response was to use their training to fight back and get away.

Protective gear and props used by the trainers in Kane's class

Kane said he talks to his students about 鈥渃hoosing safety,鈥 and what he calls 鈥淭he Three I鈥檚: Instinct, Intuition and Intelligence.鈥

Beating the 鈥淏ad Guys鈥 to Be Your Best

Students in the class fared well against 鈥渢he bad guys鈥 and gave excellent demonstrations of the things they had learned from Kane. They handily defended themselves against physical attacks and demonstrated exceptional skill in de-escalating and defusing verbal attacks that could have easily become physical.

A student and Kane determine the proper contact pressure for their demonstration

Photo by Bob Christy, senior photography coordinator, University Communications and Marketing 

鈥淚t鈥檚 more than just learning how to kick and punch and knee a bad guy in the groin,鈥 said Kane. 鈥淚t鈥檚 really about becoming the best version of themselves, and that鈥檚 the main value of their self-defense class here.鈥

Kane offers a  to all Kent State students who would like to take classes at .

Kane takes a selfie with his class after their final exams

 

POSTED: Tuesday, December 5, 2023 04:24 PM
Updated: Monday, December 11, 2023 04:11 PM
WRITTEN BY:
Phil B. Soencksen