In this engaging episode, we are thrilled to have Christun Erwin of Healthy Buffalo join us to share her journey in martial arts, self-defense, and her experiences training and teaching. Listen in as she discusses the importance of foundations and the concept of ‘white belt foreva,’ a phrase Christun uses to remind herself to remain humble and always learn. Discover how she runs her business, Healthy Buffalo, which focuses on boundaries and awareness, as well as the seminars she leads for women.
We also explore the misconceptions about martial arts and self-defense and the difference between sport and reality-based martial arts. Christun shares her insights on the importance of size in self-defense and why it’s crucial to provide a reality check for people. We discuss the freeze response and the drills used to demonstrate the power of size. Additionally, we cover the differences between teaching men and women and how to encourage women to get in and mix it up.
Christun also shares her experiences with teaching martial arts and setting boundaries, the importance of goal setting, and her thoughts on keeping kids safe. She emphasizes the significance of situational awareness and we discuss concept of the surprise attack, as well as the red flags to look for when choosing a martial arts school. Don’t miss out on this valuable conversation filled with her unique perspective and valuable insights on martial arts, self-defense, and teaching.
EPISODE CHAPTERS
(0:00:00) – Martial Arts Training and Teaching
(0:10:27) – Martial Arts and Self-Defense Truths
(0:19:58) – Firearm and Knife Training Gender Differences
(0:24:27) – Women in Martial Arts and Trauma
(0:30:34) – Choosing a Martial Arts Instructor
(0:41:40) – Teaching Martial Arts and Setting Boundaries
(0:48:55) – Keeping Kids Safe
(0:58:34) – Self-Defense, Situational Awareness, and Karate Training
(1:04:48) – Martial Arts and Red Flags
(1:10:27) – Effective Instructors and Learning From Others
Martial Arts Training and Teaching
Christun’s journey in martial arts began almost a decade ago, where she has earned a second-degree black belt in Karate, trained in Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, and has also become a martial arts instructor. She emphasizes the importance of foundations in martial arts and adopting a ‘white belt foreva’ mindset, which means always being open to learning and improving. Through her business, Healthy Buffalo, Christun focuses on boundary setting and spacial awareness and leads seminars for women in the martial arts.
Martial Arts and Self-Defense Misconceptions
One of the most common misconceptions about martial arts and self-defense is that size doesn’t matter. Christun stresses that size does matter in self-defense situations and that martial arts experience doesn’t automatically translate to effective self-defense skills. Another misconception is that sport-based martial arts, such as MMA, are the same as reality-based self-defense. In reality, the goals and techniques used in each are different, with self-defense focusing on getting away from a threat and sport-based martial arts focusing on staying in the fight or scoring points.
Teaching Men and Women
When it comes to teaching martial arts and self-defense, there are unique challenges and opportunities in a diverse learning environment. Christun discusses the differences between teaching men and women, noting that women often need more encouragement to get in and mix it up. She also emphasizes the importance of creating a safe space for women to express their emotions and learn martial arts techniques tailored to their needs.
Firearm and Knife Training Gender Differences
In the podcast, Christun explores the nuances of firearms instruction and training, including the intimidation some women may feel when learning about firearms. She stresses the importance of allowing people to choose the weapon that best suits their needs and highlights the utility of Craig Douglas’ Edge Weapons Overview Program.
Women in Martial Arts and Trauma
Christun discusses the unique experiences women have in martial arts and self-defense, including the importance of creating a safe space for women to express their emotions and the differences between men and women when learning martial arts techniques. She also explores how women approach martial arts curriculum and why laughter is so important in the learning process.
Choosing a Martial Arts Instructor
Selecting a martial arts instructor is an important decision, and Christun offers advice on the qualities to look for when choosing an instructor and the type of martial art to pursue based on individual goals. She shares stories about her own experiences and the importance of strength training for women, as well as safety and firearms training.
Teaching Martial Arts and Setting Boundaries
Goal setting and boundary setting are essential in martial arts training. Christun discusses ways to make martial arts interesting for students, the balance between movement and discussion, and how to prioritize teaching women versus mixed classes. She also addresses the complexities of domestic violence and the difficulty for those in such situations to leave.
Keeping Kids Safe
Christun emphasizes the importance of teaching kids boundary setting and the phrase ‘stop, you’re making me uncomfortable.’ She explores the differences between the way men and women are taught to stay safe and the importance of situational awareness in preventing predatory situations.
Self-Defense, Situational Awareness, and Karate Training
The podcast episode concludes with a discussion on situational awareness and the concept of surprise attack. Christun shares stories and insights to help listeners prepare for surprise attack scenarios and emphasizes the importance of being aware of one’s surroundings.
Christun’s insights into martial arts and self-defense provide valuable information for anyone looking to improve their skills and understanding of these disciplines. By adopting a ‘white belt foreva’ mindset and being open to learning from multiple instructors, individuals can continue to grow and develop their martial arts abilities.
About Christun Erwin
https://www.instagram.com/healthy.buffalo/
Christun is a mom to nine children and was a foster parent for a decade to over 35 kids, mostly teen girls. With the background of foster care and understanding the cyclical nature of abuse, she has a passion for self-defense and recognizes through research that the physical safety of a person starts much sooner than a physical attack.
She has spent the last few years, in relation to her martial arts training, studying the body’s response to trauma and learning how to better understand and combat our fear responses. She started the Healthy Buffalo Project in 2019 as a blog, resource, and encouragement for women to make steps towards their own personal safety and the safety of their family. Having six daughters, she has a huge desire to build up in women an awareness of the environment around themselves, an awareness of self, and an awareness of action when needed, not a false sense of security.
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