
COMBATIVES VIENNA SELF-PROTECTION
We offer a safe place for you to learn self-defense.
Everyone is welcome: beginners or advanced students.
FAQ
How much does training cost?
1) Regular weekly training:
The first lesson is always free. You may bring another person if you wish. You must make an appointment in advance for this first lesson. After that, tuition is €38 per month, and is payable by the 1st of the month.
Or you may pay €13 per lesson, payable at the start of each lesson.
No contract—just month to month or week to week.
2) Workshops:
Workshops are 3 hours long, for groups of 4-10 people. The cost is €38 per person, payable in advance.
3) Private individualized training:
Each session is 90 minutes long, for 1-2 people, and the cost is €75 per session, payable in advance.
Do you have a separate class for women only?
No. Almost all violence, whether against men or women, is committed by men. Training only with other women is unrealistic and implies that women “can’t cope with” the realities of self-protection training, or cannot train alongside men, which of course is nonsense.
Where and when is the training?
Regular weekly training is every Wednesday from 1800 – 2000, except holidays. Location is Drorygasse 8/1, 1030 Vienna.
Workshops and private individual training is scheduled for times convenient to you. Our facility is perfect for training, but we can also teach at a suitable location of your choice.
Do I need special clothing or equipment?
The only special equipment you will need is a mouthguard like boxers wear (not needed for the first lesson). Just wear comfortable athletic clothing. We provide the other training equipment.
Do you have children’s classes?
No, our training is only for adults age 18 and over.
What is the difference between traditional martial arts, combat sports, and Combatives?
Each form of training has its benefits. However the purposes and goals of each, what the practitioner hopes to achieve, are very different.
Traditional martial arts began as methods of combat but gradually became methods of improving oneself mentally and physically, with decreased effectiveness as a method of self-protection. They are “de-tuned” considerably from their original purposes and the argument can be made that their training methods are “stuck in the past.” Think of them mostly as a form of “movement art” or a form of exercise, but not as a viable form of self-protection against predatory people.
With combat sports, the emphasis is on training for amateur or professional athletic competition with other athletes who also train in that sport—the fighters are willing participants in contests with weight classes, safety measures, time limits, and rules. Combat sports are excellent for developing timing, speed, power, and other important physical and mental aspects of fighting. But they do not focus on how to deal with predators who follow no rules.
With Combatives, the emphasis is on avoiding violence that others wish to threaten you with, or actually employ against you. You do not wish to argue or engage in a “contest” or a “fight” because your adversary will not give you a “fair fight” with rules. You don’t seek trouble, but somebody may choose you as a potential victim. They may be bigger, stronger, meaner, and willing to severely injure you, or even kill you. Nobody is coming to help you, and you must face the situation effectively on your own. This can be the worst day of your life. Therefore it requires a different mindset and preparation than traditional martial arts or combat sports offer.
I have never studied self-protection before and I am a bit nervous about the training.
No worries. We are experienced instructors and we pride ourselves on creating a safe, welcoming, and friendly atmosphere. We all help one another to learn.