Self-Defense


Disclaimer – I do not own Fairy Tail


*Author's Note #1 – WARNING: The moves described in this fic CAN hurt others. Do NOT use these moves unless it is for SELF-DEFENSE. If you are interested in learning/practicing SELF-DEFENSE, please CONSULT a PARENT/GUARDIAN and/or sign up for a CLASS on SELF-DEFENSE.


Chapter 8 – Groin Grab (Rated M)

4th Period – Self-Defense

"Are you okay, Natsu? You look a bit out of it," commented Gray quietly as the students trickled into the gym.

"I'm fine. I guess I'm just a bit nervous about having our first class discussion. That's all. I just hope it doesn't get out of hand," replied Natsu honestly.

"What do you mean?" asked Gray. However, his questioned wasn't answered since Natsu decided to leave his side to start class.

"Morning, everyone!" started Natsu. "Today we're gonna learn another Self-Defense move called the Groin Grab."

The class seemed unsure about this particular move.

"Let's get started. Now, the Groin Grab is gonna be a bit different than the other moves you've learned in this class because the situation is changed for this one. Your weapon is gonna be your hand for grabbing and your target on your attacker is his testicles, not the penis. What you do is grab, twist, and pull. This move is used in advanced stages of sexual attack and when your attacker is partially or fully disrobed. There is no snap back and you will use an extended yell."

Many of the guys cringed at the thought of the Groin Grab being used on them.

"I see many of the guys flinching, so let me explain a little further. I know that this move seems for geared toward women protecting themselves from sexual assault, but this isn't always the case. Men and children are sexually assaulted, too. But since we have a class discussion today on the article, we'll talk about assault on both sexes tomorrow."

Natsu then showed them the movement of grabbing, twisting, and pulling. He addressed the class to do the move a few times—not literally grabbing anyone, of course, but doing the motion in the air.

"Okay. Next, I'd like for us to discuss a few ideas about abuse. Let's start."


Step #1 – Understand that abusive behavior is psychological as well as physical

Emotional bullies are abusive, verbally and mentally. Remember, no one just gets up one day and just hits another person. Abuse is gradual and builds over time. All physical abuse started out as emotional abuse.


"Who would like to start?" inquired Natsu.

Lucy raised her hand and when Natsu gave her permission to speak, she did. "Well, I think that abuse isn't always gradual. Sure, verbal and mental abuse might often be accompanied by physical abuse, but there are probably some instances where the physical aspect starts out with the emotional one."

"If I may comment on that," Jellal interceded, "abusers sometimes know what they're doing in terms of…abusing others. They start out with verbal and mental abuse, calling you names, insulting you, degrading you, letting their anger and words instill fear in you. When that builds up you're…you're terrified. So when the physical abuse starts, you feel like there's no way of fighting back. I do believe that physical abuse started out as emotional abuse."

"I have to agree with Jellal on that one," added Erza. "When emotional abuse doesn't seem to have the desired effect, physical abuse is integrated in order to get that desired effect again."

"Would anyone else like to comment?" asked Natsu. "Well, all of you are right. Lucy made the point that abuse isn't always gradual. It might be more common, but it doesn't always happen that way. Some people might just have that snapping point, let it all out at once, and it just continues from there. Other times, the process is gradual as Jellal and Erza pointed out. Now, let's move onto the next one."


Step #2 – Immediately set boundaries; you are being bullied because you allow it

Sometimes when the abuse has been going on for awhile, you are very isolated, without friends and family. This is what the abuser is counting on. Reach out and ASK for help – from anyone who will listen!


"I completely disagree with this one!" Gajeel snapped immediately.

"Would you care to explain?" inquired Natsu.

"Every single person on this planet handles things differently. Some are bolder than others, stronger than others, and I'm meaning this mentally. After enduring abuse, you can't just immediately set boundaries. That doesn't always work. An abuser will find a way to get to you. And the whole 'you are being bullied because you allow it' is total crap!"

"But if you're being abused, you should ask for help!" interrupted Wendy. "Don't just sit there and let it happen to you!"

"It's doesn't always work like that!" Gajeel retaliated. "What if you ask for help and it doesn't work?"

"If you tell the police or social services or something, they would help you!" Wendy argued back.

"Okay! I'm interceding now. I have something to say to all of you. Oftentimes, it's really hard to prove child abuse. The proof—depending on the severity of the abuse—can sometimes be nonexistent. You have bruises? Your parent says you're a clumsy child. Cuts and scrapes? Your parent says you get into fights at school or are hanging around the wrong people. Sometimes the word of the adult takes over the word of the child. And some could care less if you're being verbally abused. So what if you report it, they send social services to inspect your home, they leave, and your parent discovers you told? You asked for help. Nothing happened to help your situation. And you're right back where you started. The abuse might even get worse because you told."

"Then…what do you do?" Wendy asked helplessly. She hadn't thought of that.

"I hid a camera…and recorded my father abusing me. I took it to the police, but they refused to see it because of where I came from. I knew that was wrong and I kept trying, but they always refused me. Had I thought of it at the time, I could have given the tape to a teacher and that might have helped me sooner. And if a teacher suspects abuse or you tell a teacher you're being abused, they're required by law to report it. Be smart about your situation and be safe. There are other things you can do and finding a Safe House Center is one of them; they provide shelter and other services to help you. Let's move on."


Step #3 – Going for the jugular is a sign of emotional abuse; it destroys people and relationships and nothing good can come of it

When your most sacred secrets are used as a weapon to hurt you, you are being abused. There is nothing uglier than this. It is a betrayal of all that is loving and good.


"You're aware that 'going' for the jugular' is a metaphor, right?" Natsu asked them. They nodded. "Would anyone care to begin?"

"Can you give us an example to help us get started?" Levy piped up when it was quiet.

"All right," replied Natsu. "Let's say you confided in your partner about something that had happened to you in your life. Like…maybe when you were a child, your sibling had a serious asthma attack and your mom or dad told you to run off and get the inhaler. But by the time you found it and came back, your sibling stopped breathing. The inhaler is empty, your parents try CPR, the paramedics arrived too late and nothing could be done to save your sibling.

"Maybe you blame yourself for their death even though it wasn't your fault. This could be an instance where your partner uses what you told them against you, telling you that you killed your sibling, that you're worthless, and any other number of degrading insults they can throw at you."

"I guess that means that an abuser will take something they know that already hurts you and uses that knowledge to further hurt you," said Levy. "It's a sensitive subject and they know that, so they'd be inflicting pain on you emotionally just so they can hurt you."

"I agree with what Levy said. I just think that the part where it says, 'There is nothing uglier than this. It is a betrayal of all that is good and loving,' is unnecessary," added Rogue. "This article should be meant to help people, not inflict further pain to one's already fragile psyche."

"What do you mean?" asked Sting.

"Well…I kind of feel like some of these comments on here are attacking the abused for not doing anything about their situation. I don't think that's right," explained Rogue.

"That's a very good point," said Natsu. "Let's continue."


Step #4 – Use discipline and do not participate in the interchange; leave the room; go for a drive, if necessary

There is only one way to survive and that is not to engage on any level. It is difficult to walk away, but the only way to stop abuse is to not participate on any level.


"This one is stupid," Gray blurted immediately. "It doesn't even specify what type of abuse! If you don't engage on any level when being verbally abused, then it might make the abuser escalate to physical abuse? And what if the abuse here is already physical? It's not like the abuser would be willing to just let you go!"

"Not only that, but it would be unwise to drive anywhere in a severely emotional state. You could endanger yourself or others," continued Loke.

"If you don't participate, it's not like the abuse is going to stop. Like Gray said, it could just escalate," agreed Jellal.

"And it's not the only way to survive," added Natsu thoughtfully. "How you react to your abuser depends on how your abuser acts. As Gajeel said in the beginning, everyone is different. This doesn't just go for the one being abused, but the abuser as well. If you need to defend yourself—especially physically—do it so that you can get away. Thinking about your survival is important. Okay, we have one more to go."


Step #5 – Seek professional help if you cannot change the situation on your own

Once you do this, the rest will follow. This is the first step in the long process of healing.


"Another stupid one," Gajeel muttered.

"Would you care to elaborate?" urged Natsu.

"You're going to have to seek professional help at some point," barked Gajeel. "Trying to handle a situation of abuse without reporting it isn't safe. If you're doing all you can to prevent the abuse, you still need to contact someone. Keep reporting and contacting the police, social services, or whatever."

"Yes. They'll keep records of your reports and if your situation is taken to court, it may go in your favor. Someone else should know about your situation other than you and your abuser. And once out of that situation, seeking professional help, such as counseling, is a very good idea," said Levy.

"Yeah, they can help you work through the problems you've been faced with and will do what they can to help you both mentally and physically," Jellal supplemented.

Natsu smiled at the class. "Thanks, you guys. This went a lot better than I expected. You were very insightful and understanding. I appreciate your feedback. See you all tomorrow."

The bell rang and the class left with a new view of the world, especially the people in it.

"I think that went pretty well," said Gray, breaking the silence.

Natsu nodded. "I have to admit, I expected them to be a little more…blind-sighted about this, but they showed me. We've really grown up, haven't we?"

Gray pulled Natsu into his arms. "We have. I thought the students in our class would be really immature about learning Self-Defense, but they've impressed me. We're slowly becoming adults. And I think those who are already adults forget that."

"I agree with you on that. We can handle a lot more than what most people think. I mean, sugarcoating things will only last so long. We'll be out in the real world eventually, and with what we're currently learning in school, is everyone really ready for that?"

"Not all of them," surmised Gray. "But either way, everyone will do the best they can."


Self-Defense Recap – Groin Grab

*WEAPON: Hand for grabbing

*TARGET: Testicles (not penis)

*"Grab, twist, and pull"

*Used in advanced stages of attack; attacker partially/fully disrobed

*NO SNAP BACK! Use extended yell


End Chapter