Concerned by the persistently high levels of rape and gender-based violence in SA, martial arts practitioner Lubabalo Mapuko has written a 611-page self-defence guide aimed at helping women develop practical safety awareness and self-defence skills.
Mapuko’s book, How To Defend Yourself Against Rape, combines techniques drawn from several martial arts disciplines, with mental preparation strategies designed to help people respond under pressure.
He told the Go! the idea for the book was inspired by stories of women who had successfully defended themselves against attackers and his own background in martial arts, in response to the high rate of rape in the country.
He has trained in Krav Maga, Japanese jujitsu and Russian martial arts, all of which influenced the techniques and scenarios featured throughout the publication.
Mapuko describes the book as one of the most comprehensive self-defence guides on the subject, containing 34 chapters, more than 1,000 step-by-step photographs and 215 scenarios covering a wide range of threats.
The publication includes chapters on physical self-defence techniques, pressure points, mental conditioning, dealing with fear, avoiding “freezing” during traumatic incidents and responding to threats involving knives and firearms.
“Mental training is very important in dangerous situations,” said Mapuko.
“You learn how to deal with fear, avoid freezing and use visualisation and breathing exercises to prepare yourself mentally.” While the book focuses on personal safety, Mapuko acknowledges that self-defence alone cannot solve the GBV crisis in SA.
He believes stronger action is needed to address the root causes of violence and improve education around respect and the treatment of women.
The techniques outlined in the book are designed for people with little or no martial arts experience and can also be applied in situations such as home invasions, car hijackings and bullying, according to Mapuko.
He says one of the most important lessons readers can take from the book is that preparation matters.
“The most important message I hope readers take away is that women can be trained to defend themselves and improve their chances of responding effectively in dangerous situations,” he said.
Though the book is still new to the market, Mapuko hopes it will encourage more people to learn personal safety skills and seek formal self-defence training.
He also expressed a willingness to conduct self-defence workshops in communities across SA.
For parents looking to equip their children with personal safety skills, his advice is simple: encourage them to attend self-defence classes and learn how to recognise and respond to potentially dangerous situations.
As conversations around personal safety continue across the country, Mapuko hopes his book will contribute to empowering people with knowledge while highlighting the importance of prevention, awareness and community action in tackling violence.
