Body Language - Introduction

Body Language and Self Defense

One of the course aims is to train a self-confident body language. In self defense the body-language is very important.

Attacks on women or girls - whether there is sexuality involved or not - are acts of violence, by means of which the attacker tries to demonstrate his power over the attacked. For this purpose he needs somebody who does not offer much resistance. A self-assured behaviour shows the attacker that there will be resistance. It is therefore a good deterrent against being harassed or attacked.

Self-confidence shows itself in the first place in the body language and in the voice. During the first contact between a woman or girl and a potential attacker the body language is especially important: before starting an attack the attacker often keeps watching several women or girls. In this time the communication is lead by means of body language, which so takes an important part in the decision if the attack takes place or not.

Also a posture which expresses self-confidence is good for feeling well in everyday life and for having good social relations.

Moving in a self-confident way

There are different ways to move self-confidently: One person is walking casually and easy, another one powerfully and speedy, the third one strolls in a relaxed way through the streets. Insecurity, too, shows itself in different ways.

Yet there are certain kinds of posture and movements that evoke quite unmistakeably the impression of insecureness and weakness or, respectively, self-confidence and alertness. Someone who is walking with a bowed head and looking down looks insecure. At least somebody watching will draw the conclusion that this person is not attentive and therefore will probably nor react fast. A raised head and eyes that are looking straight on express self-confidence and alertness. Small tripping steps make a helpless impression. A person who is striding purposefully looks self-assured. The same applies to an upright and relaxed posture, while a rigid posture with the shoulders drawn up seems tense and insecure.

Of course the impression that is evoked by the body language depends of the situation and the position of the involved persons: the chairman of the board walking up and down during a break of a meeting can afford to keep his head inclined - instead of insecure he will be looking thoughtful; nobody will misunderstand this posture as weakness. But girls and most women, too, are in a different position - their status is often challenged. So we should make clear from the beginning that we won´t accept any offensive behaviour.

The exercises

The exercise "Doing Sport" is meant to be a warm up for the subject "Body Language". By doing the mime "Expressing Emotions" the students get into contact with their body language acting different kinds of moods. In the exercises "Walking Along a Street" and "Walking in Different Ways" the students practise to move self-confidently.

Of course there are many other possibilities in a course to train a self-confident body language: combined exercises like "Say Stop and Kick" or "Parcours" for example, the exercises for the voice and all kinds of role-plays.