Just wanted to put a new spin on the idea of self defense and share a recent experience with readers.

As most people know, I'm a secondary school teacher during the day and am often called upon to break up the numerous fights that break out between students. However, when recently writing a discipline note in a year 10 boy's planner I was subject to a physical assault by that student.

Not a moment in my life I particulary want to dwell upon, but the aspect I want to point out is that as much as we train physically in our respective martial arts for self defense, we cannot control at that moment in time for the mental and nervous reaction being assulted has upon yourself. My situation was a bit odd as by law, being a teacher, I'M NOT ALLOWED TO DEFEND MYSELF! However, the feeling is very, very different to even the most tricky sparring match you will encounter in a competition. Your stomach flips, you panic, your limbs feel like lead and you are faced by someone who really, really hates you.

I've rattled on enough but my point is, no matter how hard you train, when it comes to the crunch it is still frightening.