A LEVEL OF ASSURANCE OF SELF–DEFENCE INSTRUCTORS FOR WORKING WITH PEOPLE WITH SPECIFIC GROUPS

Abstract

The number of attacks on people with different types of special needs worldwide is growing. It causes the increasing request for self-defence courses created for a group of people with disabilities. Most self-defence systems dealing with specific groups focus on women or elderly people. People with disabilities are least included. The aim of this research was to find how self-defence instructors feel prepared to work with specific groups, including people with disabilities. This research involved 65 respondents (52 men and 13 women). Self-assessment of the ability and willingness to lead, communicate or organise self-defence courses for individual groups with special needs or willingness to integrate these people into regular self-defence lessons were evaluated by a created questionnaire. Results showed that self-defence instructors are most concerned about working with people with mental impairments and do not feel well trained or prepared to work with specific groups, except for self-defence of women, children, and seniors. For improvement, self-defence instructors require a level of self-assurance for working with people with special needs. This will require targeted education aimed at working with people with disabilities.