Institute for Woman's Safety and Personal Protection

What is Self-Defense?

IWSPP

To most of the world "self-defense" means: A set of practiced physical techniques one uses to protect oneself against (read as fight off) an attack. In reality 99 percent of "self-defense" has very little to do with physical technique. So what is "self-defense" and is there really any need to differentiate between Women's Self-Defense and any other kind?

First and foremost personal protection (i.e. self-defense) is about awareness and "understanding human behavior". It developing is a set of awareness, assertiveness, verbal confrontation skills, safety strategies, and physical techniques that enable someone to successfully foresee, prevent, escape, resist and survive violent assaults. Our Personal Protection program provides psychological awareness and verbal skills, not just physical training and will expand the way you think about violence prevention, help you deal with your fears and enable you to feel more empowered in your life.

One thing you should understand is that when one uses the term "defense" you are actually promoting a position of weakness and reinforcing a "victim mentality". How can this empower anyone? To be on the defensive is to be functioning with a "victim's mind set" to events that one should have initially recognized and been prepared for in order to make and take decisive action! No military force, sports team, debate team or chess player ever won a battle, game, match or argument by being on the defensive. They only suceed and win when they take an offensive position and attitude.

There is truth to the old adage "the best defense is a strong offense". At the Institute for Women's Safety and Personal Protection (IWSPP) we help you develop these offensive strategies because you only survive by taking the offensive!

Programs

Every martial arts school out there has a "women's self-defense" program. Women's centers and rape support groups offer some form of "self-defense" training as well. None of these programs are equal and everyone has there own opinions on the subject however 99 percent teach the exact same thing. They all focus on the last stage in a cycle of violence.

So what are we really talking about? We are talking about qualifications. It is interesting to note that there is no governing body that regulates self-defense programs. However there are organizations that regulate and certify those in the Personal Protection Industry. So ask yourself, who is it that is "qualifying" those who are teaching these programs?

Just because someone has trained in martial arts does not make them a qualified personal protection professional. Neither does a degree in psychology qualify someone to teach personal protection techniques that can save your life. So it would stand to reason that the best qualified persons to teach you how to protect yourself are those of us who are Personal Protection and Security Professionals. Our S.E.A.M. and S.E.A.M. II seminars were developed by our President, a long time Personal Protection Professional, so you can take control in violent situations should they occur.

If you'd like to learn more about developing you personal protection strategies and techniques, our e-book, Safeguarding Yourself Against Predatory Violence, is available and you can sign up to attend a S.E.A.M., S.E.A.M. II or IMPACT Training seminars. If you are unable to attend any of our seminars you can sign up for our online video S.E.A.M., S.E.A.M. II or IMPACT Training progams.

SELF-DEFENSE TIPS

Here are some free Personal Protection Safety Tips that are perfect for classrooms, youth groups, church groups, Sorority Houses, HR Departments, etc.

You can download the PDF file of over 50 Personal Protection and Safety Tips HERE and our online video versions will soon be available!

No 1. Awareness: Your first line of proactive protection. Most women think of kicks to the groin and blocking punches when they hear the term "self-defense." However, true self-defense begins long before any actual physical contact. The first, and probably most important, component in personal protection is awareness: awareness of yourself, your surroundings, and your potential attacker's likely strategies. The criminal's primary strategy is to use the advantage of surprise. Studies have shown that criminals are adept at choosing victims who appear to be unaware of what is going on around them. By being aware of your surroundings and by projecting a "force presence", many altercations which are commonplace on the street can be avoided.

No 2. Action: If you find yourself in a violent situation, the most important thing is to do is take action immediately. You have three advantages going for you; first Surprise! Your attacker believes you will not fight back, that’s why he targeted you so cath him off guard. Second, Speed! What ever you do, do it quickly. And third Violence of Action! Make it hurt!

No 3. Action: If you find yourself in a violent situation, the most important thing is to do is take action immediately. Stay Put. Do not let your attacker take you to an abandoned area. If he does, the likelihood that you will be seriously injured increases tenfold. You do not want to get to "crime scene number two" so do whatever it takes and never give up.

No 4. Action: If you find yourself in a violent situation, the most important thing is to do is take action immediately. Try Anything and Everything.

No 5. Action: If you find yourself in a violent situation, the most important thing is to do is take action immediately. if in a car, jumping out at a stoplight or doing something to cause an accident, or signaling to other drivers. If you are thrown into the trunk of a car one piece of advice is to kick out the back tail lights, stick your arm out the hole, and start waving wildly (NOTE: This only work on older cars. Most new cars, due to their modular construction, do not have access to the tail light assemblies via the truck making this technique impossible). The driver won't see you but everyone else will. This trick is said to have saved lives.

No 6. Be Paranoid and Suspicious. It is always better to be safe than sorry. When in a parking lot, look at the cars parked on either side of your vehicle. If a male in a vehicle is sitting alone in the seat nearest your car, or if you are parked next to a van, always enter your car from the side opposite the strange vehicle. If the parking lot is particularly dark or deserted, it may be wise to go back and find a friend or guard who can walk you to your car.

No 7. Change It Up. Regularly change your walking or driving routine. Plan out a few different routes that you can take and mark out "safe houses" in your mind at intervals along the way. In the event of attacks, you can stop at these shops or homes where you know you will be safe. Try to incorporate these houses every time you vary your route

No 8. Self-Defense Training. It is important to evaluate the goals and practical usefulness of any self-defense program especially those focused toward women before signing up. Here are some general tips: 1) Avoid martial arts studios unless you specifically wish to train in the martial art's techniques and are prepared for a long-term commitment. Many women's self-defense programs teach watered-down martial arts techniques that are complex and unrealistic under the stress of an actual attack; 2)The instructor(s) should be qualified Personal Protection or Security Specilists and not just "insert style of martial art" instructors; 3)Avoid MMA and Grapeling based arts as these tend to have you directly enter into conflict rather than avoid it; 4)The self-defense program should include simulated assaults, with a fully padded instructors in realistic rape and attack scenarios to allow you to practice what you've learned; 5) Most importantly a program should include skill sets to identify predators.

No 9. Use Your Sixth Sense. "Sixth sense." ""Gut instinct."". Whatever you call it, your intuition is a powerful subconscious insight into situations and people. All of us, especially women, have this gift, but very few of us pay attention to it. Learn to trust this power and use it to your full advantage. Avoid a person or a situation which does not "feel" safe–you're probably right.

No 10. Escape: Always your best option. What if the unthinkable happens? You are suddenly confronted by a predator who demands that you go with him–be it in a car, or into an alley, or a building. It would seem prudent to obey, but you must never leave the primary crime scene. You are far more likely to be killed or seriously injured if you go with the predator than if you run away (even if he promises not to hurt you). Run away, yell for help, throw a rock through a store or car window–do whatever you can to attract attention. And if the criminal is after your purse or other material items, throw them one way while you run the other.

What is Self-Defense?

Programs

SELF-DEFENSE TIPS