Damsels in distress? No! Ladies, it’s time to lace up your kicks, put on the war paint, and look those bad guys in the eye while punching them in the face!

Okay, that may sound a little too aggressive without context, but that kind of imagery is something that you want to project when faced with a robber, attacker or hostile adversary who intends to do you harm. That is why it is important to equip yourself with some self-defense skills that could potentially save your life.

Some jobs are inherently more dangerous than others – e.g. police officer, firefighter, construction worker – but there are hidden risks to every job. Being a real estate agent may be a ‘safe’ occupation by any count, but when you are required to go out and meet customers and clients on a daily basis, that risk increasesly significantly. Just imagine the dangers that a lone female agent, going to an unfamiliar place to meet an unknown person for a property viewing, might face!

Those in the real estate profession are not without occupational hazards, as proven in this infographic (Source: The Edge)

Those in the real estate profession are not without occupational hazards, as proven in this infographic (Source: The Edge)

Thus, we hope to shed a light on the importance and advantages of learning self-defense, especially for female real estate agents. Below are just a few of the reasons why it pays to have some knowledge of self-defense.

 

#1 Safety
The main reason female real estate agents in Malaysia need to learn how to defend themselves is, of course, personal safety. News about women being victims of crime are reported in the media almost every day, and female real estate agents are often regarded as easy targets by unscrupulous characters. More often than not, these baddies pretend to be a house owner wanting to sell their property, or a potential client who requested a property showing, luring the victim to a specific place before carrying out their wicked plan. A study by a University of Oregon sociologist found that women who took a ten-week self-defense training course were significantly less likely to experience unwanted sexual contact than those who didn’t.

Therefore, it is important for women, especially working adults who often have to go out for meetings alone, to acquire at least some basic self-defense skills so that they can protect themselves when such situations arise. If you think it only happens to naive young ladies, think again; in the local news articles involving real estate agents that we found, most of the victims were mature women who found themselves helpless when encountering such a grim situation.

#2 Confidence
Learning self-defense skills benefits women in ways that extend beyond discovering how to protect themselves. It can help to boost confidence, and positively affect mood and personality, according to a University of Washington study. Just the knowledge that you are equipped with the right set of skills to defend yourself or escape from a dangerous situation can be very reassuring, and you’ll be able to go about your daily life with confidence and be prepared to react appropriately in a sticky stituation.

#3 Awareness
Self-defense training helps you prepare to face the unexpected, and makes you more aware of your surroundings. When you are aware of your surroundings, you will be more alert to any activity around you, and people will not be able to easily creep up on you in quiet alleys or deserted parking lots. An unexpected attack may shock you for a second or two, but if you do not neglect your self-defense training, you will have the necessary reactions to protect yourself by escaping your attacker and seek help nearby.

#4 Fitness
As the agents who attended our Self-Defense for Lady Agents event found out, learning and practicing self-defense skills is not a walk in the park! Even basic self-defense techniques need to be practiced on a regular basis so that it becomes a muscle memory (thus becoming a natural reaction when encountering danger), and doing so will keep you in shape as it is a form of exercise too. Practicing (or exercising) regularly will also help to increase your stamina, build muscle (memory) and overall improves your health, so it’s definitely a win-win situation. In shopping terms, it’s like a Buy 1 Get 1 Free deal, so why not? 😀

#5 Social
Learning self-defense is a social activity, because you’ll need to learn from an instructor. And unless you’re wealthy enough to hire a private coach, chances are you’ll be signing up for a class where you’ll learn self-defense techniques together with a group of other people. This will definitely help to widen your social circle and improve your social life. You might even make new friends with common interests (besides martial arts)! If nothing else, it will provide you with a good opportunity to sharpen your networking skills and increase your business contacts.

Of course, all the benefits mentioned above (and more besides) apply to both men and women, regardless of whether you are a real estate agent or not. Learning self-defense not only empowers you with the skills to protect yourself, it also helps to boost your mental and physical health.

Still not convinced? Take a look at what went down at our Self-Defense for Lady Agents event two weeks ago!

Additional Sources: Lifehack, the nest