Last year I came home to find my back door hanging off the hinges. The wooden frame around the door was busted, pieces of wood littering the floor of the laundry room. I stopped in the doorway, not comprehending at first that I was a victim of a break-in. Frightened as the realization dawned, I backed out of the room and ran for the phone.

A police officer arrived shortly after I called and walked me through the house, checking closets and under beds in case the intruder was still in the house. Every time he opened a closet, I shied back, hoping nobody would come bursting out. It was then I realized I was completely defenseless against any sort of personal attack. I didn?t like the feeling of helplessness and decided to do something about it.

I searched the Internet, looking for a course in self-defense. My needs were specific. I wanted a class of adults, not children. I also wanted a course that addressed the needs of a woman who lived, and often traveled, alone. I had financial limitations as well. While personal safety is important, I didn?t have a huge amount of disposable income!

At first, my search yielded a lot of classes that didn?t meet my needs. I found many martial arts schools that sounded interesting, but either required a yearlong commitment and payment, or required participation in competitive events. I kept searching, knowing I would find something to meet my needs.

My search was not in vain, I did find a school that suited me and met my requirements. A little over a year later, I can?t imagine how I survived without knowing how to defend myself. It?s given me a new lease on life. I now travel armed with a new sense of awareness and confidence. I know I couldn?t get out of every situation, but I am not the complete victim I once was.

I highly recommend every woman take a course in self defense. Before searching for a course, I suggest you make a list of what you are looking for in a class. Some questions you should consider are:

• How much time are you able to devote to the training?
• How much money are you willing to pay for the training?
• What do you want to get out of the class?
• What size class would you prefer?

We live in a violent society. This isn't something we like to acknowledge, but hiding from this fact only makes us victims. To counter this, we need to be aware of our surroundings and able to defend ourselves. You won't be able to defend yourself in every situation, but you have an advantage if you can surprise your attacker. A little knowledge goes a long way. If you are attacked, be prepared to fight back!

Sonia Fischer is an author on Writing.Com.