Self-defense classes in Montreal: workshop, system or martial art?

01The short answer

02Three options, three goals

• The one-off workshop. A few hours, no experience needed. A Montreal borough sometimes holds a free introductory workshop, for example a workshop for women, run with an assault prevention organization. It can cover prevention, assertiveness, boundaries and a few simple escapes. It is an excellent starting point; it is not training.
• The self-defense system in regular classes. Systems such as krav maga are presented first and foremost as self-defense: scenarios, varied attacks, reacting under stress. Their value depends, as with anything, on how you train against a partner who resists. Kyokushin vs krav maga compares the two.
• The martial art or combat sport. Karate, boxing, Brazilian jiu-jitsu: you learn a specific discipline, for years, and, depending on the style and the club, against an opponent who resists. Each covers part of the problem: boxing covers punching, jiu-jitsu the ground game, Kyokushin full-power striking, punches to the body and kicks anywhere from the legs to the head.

If you are looking for self-defense martial arts classes to feel more confident on the street, first ask yourself which of these three you want: a few reflexes and new awareness, a complete system, or a long-term regular practice.

03What a Kyokushin karate class brings

At our dojo, you strike and take hits for real, gradually, on padded mats, with headgear, gloves and shin guards for kumite, and a black-belt instructor on the mat. Week after week, you work on:

• managing distance and balance, even when fatigue sets in;
• kicks and body strikes;
• getting used to taking a hit without panicking, and keeping a clear head;
• endurance.

None of this comes in one evening: it takes consistency. Is Kyokushin good for self-defense? details its strengths and gaps, without dressing them up.

04What it does not bring, and how to fill the gaps

WKO competition rules ban punches to the face; not training to defend against them is an often-cited gap: Why no punches to the head explains the rule, and Is Kyokushin unrealistic? discusses what follows from it. Kyokushin has no ground work either, and no class of any kind safely recreates an armed attack, the element of surprise or multiple attackers.

Practitioners who want to fill these gaps can cross-train in another discipline, or take a workshop focused on prevention and de-escalation. A karate class and a one-off workshop do not answer the same question; together, they cover more.

05Five questions to ask any self-defense class

• Are avoidance and de-escalation discussed as much as technique?
• Do you train against a partner who resists, or only drill memorized moves?
• How is contact managed for a beginner, and who supervises?
• Does the class promise fast results? Be wary of any promise of that kind.
• Is the legal framework explained? In Canada, the Criminal Code governs self-defense: among other things, the act must be reasonable in the circumstances. This page is not legal advice.

A good class, whatever it is, lets you watch or try before you pay.

06Who it is for, at our dojo on Nuns’ Island

Adult classes are open to everyone from age 14, women and men, no experience needed, in French and in English. Kids train from ages 4 to 13, by age and level. The women’s classes led by Joanie Roussy are fitness classes; if self-defense is what interests you, the adult karate classes are the ones to take, open to all.

The dojo is at 550 chemin du Golf, on Nuns’ Island (Verdun), with free parking. The first class is a free trial: nothing to buy beforehand, workout clothes are enough.

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