| One of the challenges in discussing self-defense | | | | and survive. |
| training with women and girls is the denial factor. You | | | | The belief that "it will never happen to me" is |
| know the conversation: | | | | dangerous. Our motto is to prepare for the worst |
| - "I could never hurt anyone." | | | | and hope for the best. When you mentally and |
| - "That will never happen to me." | | | | physically commit to your and your family's safety, |
| - "I'm always safe." | | | | you will be prepared if God forbid you are attacked. |
| - "My husband, boyfriend (insert any male here) will | | | | And if you are not attacked, if may just be because |
| protect me." | | | | you were prepared. So, really, you lose nothing but |
| - "I live, work, shop, etc. in a safe neighborhood." | | | | gain everything in terms of both personal safety and |
| - "The class sounds great, but I just don't have the | | | | confidence. |
| time." And as they say, denial ain't just a river in | | | | No one and no neighborhood is always safe. There is |
| Egypt. | | | | the potential every day to be targeted as a viable |
| The reality is that women's self-defense training is so | | | | victim. By having the skills to recognize when you're |
| much more than just learning to "hit someone." | | | | in the crosshairs of a predator, it will give you an |
| Self-defense training involves understanding the | | | | advantage in initiating your safety plan. Although we |
| different types of crimes and learning to recognize | | | | grew up on the fairy tales of the rescuing prince and |
| the early warning signals of danger. Self-defense | | | | the protective dwarves, the reality is that no one will |
| training teaches you how to create a safety plan. It | | | | protect you but you. Given the fact that most |
| teaches risk avoidance skills. It teaches you about | | | | women know their attackers, the fairy tale rescue |
| body language, verbal skills and de-escalation | | | | protector mindset could get you killed. Do you have a |
| techniques. And of course, it teaches you how to | | | | plan when your protector becomes your attacker? |
| disable (not just hit) a predator so you can escape | | | | |