Self-defence course at USC always fully booked: “Wanted to learn how to protect myself”
For six years, the Self-Defence for Women course at the University Sports Centre has been fully booked. Trainer Maarten Lok teaches women how to be resilient during a possible attack. “Participants feel more confident from the outset once they start to pick up the techniques.”
From a man sitting next to you in an otherwise empty train to being followed as you walk away from the metro at night. These are situations in which women may need to defend themselves, and which self-defence instructor Maarten Lok prepares his students for. Some of the women who sign up for his course have had unpleasant experiences in the past.
The lesson starts promptly at 8 p.m. Around ten female students of various ages trickle in and begin the warm-up. They punch the air with their fists, like shadow boxing. After five minutes, Lok calls them to a stop and begins the training.
He calls one of the participants to the front. As a demonstration, he roughly pulls her ponytail, while she is instructed to try and strike him in the groin (though she aims for his legs). Lok guides her in how to deliver a strong hit. “Cup your hands like this,” he says. After demonstrating the move a few times, the participants pair up to practise together.
In February, the CBS published figures on sexually transgressive behaviour. More than 15 per cent of women experienced it in 2024. Lok says he also hears many stories from women in his own circle about being harassed.
Xinyi Guo (20), a first-time participant, hopes the course will help her feel more confident when walking alone at night. “One of the reasons I signed up was because I wanted to learn how to protect myself if I ever found myself in a dangerous situation,” she says. She realises she isn’t stronger than most men, but believes that strength isn’t always necessary. “With smart techniques and a confident posture, you can get a long way.”
Intuition
Still, when it comes to assessing a potentially dangerous situation, Lok believes it is essential that women trust their intuition. “It’s your first line of defence,” he says. According to Lok, intuition isn’t about feelings, as many people assume. “To me, it’s a sum of information on which you base a decision. That lightning-fast computer in your head helps you sense when something isn’t right. It’s important to listen to that intuition immediately.”
During the course, Lok emphasises that women can almost always rely on their intuition. “I’ve never encountered a situation where a woman thought she was in danger and turned out to be wrong,” he says. “And if, by chance, you misjudge someone and offend them — which hardly ever happens — you can simply apologise.”
Saying No
Self-defence starts with setting boundaries. Saying “no” is one of the skills Lok teaches his participants. “One of the girls in the group was regularly harassed by a stranger on the street,” he explains. At first, she didn’t know how to handle it. During the course, she gained the confidence to confront him and firmly tell him to leave her alone. “Of course, he gave her a mouthful and snapped at her,” Lok says, “but she felt much calmer afterwards.”
Sexual harassment in the ‘real world’ – not online – ranges from unwanted sexually suggestive remarks to witnessing sexual acts without consent. According to the CBS, nearly 12 per cent of Dutch women aged 16 and over reported in 2024 that they had experienced sexual harassment the previous year, without any physical contact. Forms of harassment include receiving sexually offensive comments, being stared at in a sexual way, and being pressured into having sex – without it actually taking place.
Physical sexual violence refers to all forms of sexually transgressive behaviour involving physical contact, ranging from unwanted touching to rape. According to the CBS, over 5 per cent of Dutch women aged 16 and over reported in 2024 that they had experienced physical sexual violence the previous year. Forms include being touched in a sexual manner without consent, being kissed against one’s will, and being forced to have sex.
Lok knows that, fortunately, his students rarely find themselves in situations where they actually need to use the self-defence techniques they’ve learned. Still, it’s important that they’re prepared for the moment when it is necessary. One of the participants, for example, ended up in an uncomfortable situation with an Uber driver after class, where the man began acting strangely and aggressively. Her first thought was: maybe I need to fight. It ended without incident, but the fact that she knew what she could do is what matters most to Lok. “Participants feel more confident from the outset once they start to grasp the techniques,” he says.
Worst case scenario
Lok knows that, fortunately, his students rarely find themselves in situations where they actually need to use the self-defence techniques they’ve learned. Still, it’s important that they’re prepared for the moment when it is necessary. One of the participants, for example, ended up in an uncomfortable situation with an Uber driver after class, where the man began acting strangely and aggressively. Her first thought was: maybe I need to fight. It ended without incident, but the fact that she knew what she could do is what matters most to Lok. “Participants feel more confident from the outset once they start to grasp the techniques,” he says.
